[Summer Songs] Summer tracks recommended for teens: A roundup of the latest and classic hits

Shadows of SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Summer Shadow” Official Music Video

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE’s “Natsu no Kage” is popular across generations and has a calm, slightly bittersweet vibe.

It’s the kind of song you’d want to listen to through your earphones on the way home with friends.

Since the range is B2 to A4 and not too wide, those trademark ultra-high notes from Mrs.

GREEN APPLE barely appear.

It may feel a bit low for women, but it’s a relaxing number to sing.

The key points when singing are, of course, the low notes and the switch into falsetto.

The melody starts mostly in the low range and might be hard to produce, but try singing like Omori-san: raise your eyebrows and imagine sending a lot of breath forward toward your eyebrows.

When switching from chest voice to falsetto, you’ll want to keep the resonance in the same place.

Similarly, use plenty of breath and aim to resonate around your eyebrows and head—sing gently and softly with a floating feel, and the transition will be smoother.

Keep that in mind!

More Berry SummerCUTIE STREET

[LIVE Footage] CUTIE STREET “More Berry Summer” 📍Makuhari Messe, International Exhibition Hall, Halls 9–11 (2025/7/21)

It’s a song packed with phrases about youth, friendship, and first love, so it really resonates with teenagers and is easy to sing in your own words.

It’s also performed at summer festivals and has lots of live-style callouts, so it should get everyone hyped at karaoke! The melody is catchy, and the vocal range doesn’t go that high.

Up to the chorus, there’s more call-and-response than “singing,” so enjoy it together with everyone, then switch to a “singing” mindset from the chorus to add dynamics and really bring the song to life.

For the high parts, try singing as if you’re sending your voice far away—your voice will come out more easily, so give it a try! And since the groove is key, the best way is to keep the rhythm with your body while you sing.

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

A perfect track for a summer festival from dusk into night, just as the sun begins to set.

The handclaps in the chorus are sure to get everyone clapping along at festivals and live shows! Sui’s pleasantly relaxed vocals add a touch of wistful feeling to the atmosphere.

The word “summer” appears repeatedly in the lyrics, but rather than evoking a blazing hot summer, it feels like a song that would shine on a slightly sweaty, overcast, humid day.

Dawn and Firefliesn-buna

[Hatsune Miku] Dawn and Fireflies [Original]

Many teenagers probably cite this as their favorite summer song in the VOCALOID genre.

It’s a track by n-buna, a Vocaloid producer who is also a member of the band Yorushika.

It was included on the 2015 album “Hana to Mizuame, Saishū Densha” (Flowers and Candy, Last Train).

The stylish word choices and bittersweet melody evoke a lovely sense of nostalgia.

Fanfaresumika

sumika / Fanfare [Music Video]

A refreshing song that carries a powerful message about breaking through the darkness of night to welcome a new morning.

It’s striking how the protagonist, once shut inside their shell, musters the courage to take a step into the outside world.

Many listeners will likely feel encouraged by the resolve to overcome hardship and trials and meet a new self.

Released in August 2018, the track was used as the opening theme for the anime film “I Want to Eat Your Pancreas.” It’s also included on the album “AMUSIC” and is known as one of sumika’s signature works.

A perfect song to listen to before heading out for warm-weather activities, and recommended for those moments when you need courage to try something new.

Drifting with the wavesAKASAKI

[AKASAKI] Namimakase / Drifting (Lyric Video)

Born in 2006, AKASAKI’s track—one that carries a pleasantly breezy feel perfect for summer drives—is his second single, released in July 2024.

Its irresistibly charming city-pop-inspired sound instantly conjures up scenes of racing along the coast in a retro car, an exhilarating vibe through and through.

In the song’s lyrical world, tender feelings for someone who shines even brighter under the sun are depicted with a sweet-and-sour touch.

Like drifting with the waves, the romance unfolds naturally, and it’s sure to make your heart skip a beat.

The fact that the lyrics were featured in an Asahi Shimbun web column speaks to AKASAKI’s flair for word choice.

Whether you’re cruising the seaside with a lover or savoring a sentimental moment alone, this song makes for the perfect soundtrack.

Blue HabitatTatsuya Kitani

Where Our Blue Is / Tatsuya Kitani

The piece by Tatsuya Kitani that captured many hearts as the opening theme for the hugely popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, “Hidden Inventory/Premature Death,” is this work.

It vividly portrays the pain of youth: how a once-unobstructed, pure relationship changes over time; the frustration of trying to draw close but never quite reaching; and the unspoken feelings that carve themselves deep into the heart like a “curse.” Even so, the blue-tinged memories that remain in the heart—both sweet and bitter—seem to carry the artist’s message that they become a source of support in adulthood.

It’s an emotional track that brings back memories of summers gone by.