Bid goodbye to summer in style with this list feature filled with nostalgic summer-themed songs performed by your favorite seiyuu artists and 2D groups.
Summer is a time to make good memories, find new people, catch up with old friends, and travel the world (by yourself or with someone else). Be adventurous. Have fun. Leave the worries behind.
And because summer is usually this good, it tends to fly by and when you notice… work or school is already here.
So in order to relive those good times regardless of the season you are in, I bring you awesome tunes released a couple of years ago that are perfect to get in the mood for summer
This is a playlist made for those that want to remember the summer season and indulge in its good vibes and laidback music performed by male seiyuu artists and 2D groups any time of the year. Like previous summer playlists, you can shuffle the songs around however, when I curated this playlist I had the tone and energy into account making sure it sounds and feels good in its intended track order.
A Spotify playlist featuring the songs on this list – at least the ones available on the platform – is provided below. Also, a compilation playlist is provided at the bottom of this article.
You can also find me talking about some of the songs on this list in episode #110 of SEIYUU LOUNGE. Check it out below!
Without further ado, let’s kick off this list feature.
A note that these songs aren’t ranked.
SparQlew “Dance in the Twillight
SparQlew opens this playlist with a nu-disco touch, bringing in loungy dance vibes coated in a layer of elegance and allure.
The -then-talented quintet brings its masculine charms to deliver a performance that glides on top of that smooth beat and fancy triplets.
If the intro wasn’t enough to take you back to summer, the uptempo chorus and its vocals (especially the harmonies and unisons) will either make you sit back and relax or get up and make wherever you are your dancefloor.
Addictive and classy, SparQlew‘s “Dance in the Twilight” is here to talk about romance and desire (and make you remember summer).
Anthos* “Paradiso”
Anthos* went to great lengths to change its sound from minimalistic chill out to tropical EDM but while the song strays away almost completely from its repertoire, it also brings in a nostalgia for summer that I was not expecting.
As soon as the tropical-inspired beat kicks in in “Paradiso” and the atmospheric synths envelop you, you’re in for a nostalgic, feel good summer tune.
The beat is tasteful and danceable, the synths and bassline provide it with a perfect bounce and the vocals are dreamy at all times.
When listening to this song, you feel the freedom of doing everything you want in this wide, tropical soundscape yet, at the same time, the song sounds rather intimate in its tone.
Memories of summer kick in strongly with this one.
Ryohei Kimura (as member of TRIGNAL) “Siren Fairlady”
Ryohei Kimura impressed everyone in 2018 with the release of the self-penned track “Siren Fairlady“.
Not only he is a fancy pop lyricist but he also went for a downtempo, heavy EDM tune that is all dreamy and atmospheric in the verses, actually giving a tropical hint here and there, but he also delivers a hard-hitting dance tune with a massive chorus.
And this chorus is both dancefloor-ready (just watch Kimura’s performing this song live with a suggestive choreography to go with) but it also makes you amped up for summer, wanting more of those loungy evenings, the freedom that comes with those late night parties… It is a song ready to take you back to summer.
Miyu Irino “CHEERS”
Miyu Irino arrives with a loungy tune embracing space disco and nu-disco. Synths are a big feature in this tune, slowly washing away your worries and taking you on a dreamy road in which anything can happen.
The soundscape is warm, the vibes are good, Irino’s voice glides through the instrumental taking “CHEERS” to feel good territory.
If there is a song that has turned into my go-to summer tune, especially to relax, it is this one.
Its loungy vibes will make you sit back and stare at the sea as the sun sets. It is that sort of vibe.
HARUTA “Taiyo ga Nemutteru Jikan Ni”
Anthos* has no shortage in talent and one of those big talents is Toshiki Masuda (as HARUTA). However, very few people were expecting what he delivered: a dreamy song in which you want to lose yourself.
Summer tip-toes its way into this song through its bassy synth stabs. Slowly, the beat picks up and the synths open the curtains to a hopeful, bright, and beautiful soundscape (as contradictory as the lyrics may be).
And on top of it all, in the chorus, Masuda delivers smooth, almost ethereal head voice notes with an R&B touch. This part is swoon-worthy from how pleasing it actually sounds.
Nostalgia for summer is now well ingrained in you but be ready for the rest of the playlist.
Koutaro Nishiyama “Sweet Lemonade”
Koutaro Nishiyama has established himself as the only seiyuu with a nostalgic citypop sound.
And that is exactly the type of sound that brings the fun of disco music, the punchy elegance of funk and the nostalgia that only citypop itself is well known for.
“Sweet Lemonade” is a tune all about its funky guitar work and simple synths, painting a beautiful orange-hue soundscape for you. Nishiyama’s vocals almost lullaby you through this tune.
The vibes are good, the temperature is nice and you just want to hop in a convertible and ride along the seashore.
Toshiki Masuda “ordinary”
Funk-rock takes over with a layer of nostalgia being introduced by the high-pitched synth in the intro to “ordinary“.
As you go through this tune, nostalgia is all you get. The dreamy synths, the atmospheric piano melodies, the funky riffs, and washy drums… all take you to a dreamy, summer day back in the day.
The nostalgia in Toshiki Masuda‘s vocals – a result of the legato style of singing and higher range he chose to perform in – completely immerse you in this feel-good tune that takes you back in time to a warm, welcoming soundscape.
GRANRODEO “Aoiro Sensation”
70s style of funk takes over for GRANRODEO‘s laid-back tune “Aoiro Sensation“.
The verses set the tone for you. The landscape in front of you is far and wide, the warm orange hues make you feel good and the music is good.
Strings, snary drums, and funky guitar riffs create this setting as KISHOW brings those beautiful nostalgic vocals.
This is the kind of song that, as soon as it starts playing, you know you are in for a good time.
Tetsuya Kakihara “Player”
The tone changes ever so slightly in this playlist with the introduction of Tetsuya Kakihara‘s “Player“, song that brings funk-rock to the spotlight.
While not necessarily a song that screams “summer” as soon as it starts, it’s an almost acid-jazz approach to its sound that is enough to take you to a loungy soundscape that is insanely addictive.
The funky riffs, the deliberately slow hi-hat hits, the irregular snary beat, jaunty piano melody, and those vocals… yes, those vocals by Kakihara are a thing of beauty. Falsetto and head voice galore, this is a memorable performance that brings a playful element to this playlist.
It’s game over for you. Kakihara has you ensnared in this funk meets acid-jazz tune. And, honestly, you won’t want to get out of this trap.
BYAKUYA (CV: Yuya Hirose) “Looping”
R&B takes over for Byakuya‘s “Looping“, song all about romance and the nostalgia that comes with it when things don’t seem to go well.
Acoustic guitars, a simple triplets-driven beat and beautiful synths hitting in a pizzicato style make this song one to remember.
At the same time, the vibes are all summery and cozy. There is care, there is a relaxing twist to this tune. When the chorus kicks in, this song goes all intimate, putting in a soundscape facing the sunset alongside your significant other.
To top it all off, Yuya Hirose cranks up that nostalgia with a performance that pulls your heartstrings with smooth legato sections as well as a whole lot of emotion in every single word he sings.
Summer can be nostalgic and for sure this tune brings that up with quite the punch.
Shunichi Toki “Original Scenery”
Miyu Irino gets a double feature in this list and that’s because “Yulansen” is that good of a late summer type of vibe track.
The pacing to this song is comfortable, guitars are melancholic and the piano carries a bit of nostalgia with it as Irino gently paints the soundscape you’re in.
Funky guitar riffs play alongside splashy drums and a punchy bassline – I dare say the best bassline in this list feature – as Irino delivers the whole chorus in a dual fashion of all-out falsetto and all-out warm mid-tones.
This is a song that will give you late evening lounge vibes or take you on a drive with the sunset as your destination. The guitar solo makes its entrance and that nostalgia cranks up to the maximum.
A masterful song and a must add to this list feature.
Tasuku Hatanaka “Solid”
As a solo artist, Tasuku Hatanaka is well known for both releasing music during the summer as well as releasing awesome music that always takes you back to the summer.
“Solid” is such song.
A bit like Shunichi Toki’s “Original Scenery”, “Solid” is all about its strong 90s pop vibe and executes that sound and feel insanely well.
Dreamy synths paint a fun, bubbly soundscape with city pop influences. The intro kicks off in a jaunty way, taking you by the hand to the fancy danceable verses.
“Solid” has a ridiculously addictive chorus made for the summer. The vibe is laidback and the bassline is punchy and the beat is a blast to listen to, slowly pounding its way through the jaunty piano melody.
The soundscape in front of you is warm and the vibes are good throughout. You won’t want this song (and summer) to end.
SparQlew “Beauty Girl”
Welcome to a punchy bassline, acid-jazz beat + synths, as well as funky guitar riffs, and a jolly piano melody.
SparQlew has been, since 2021, treating its fans to funky, stylish music that revisits the 90s in a tasteful way while delivering some of the most in-sync vocals you can get.
The verses in “Beauty Girl” are incredibly elegant, bringing a cool mixing of electronica, funk, and jazz to the spotlight. The bassline is king, serving as the perfect contrast for the slightly higher-keyed vocals.
The soundscape is that of an elegant party or a casino outing during the summer. There is a class and elegance that seem unattainable yet, at the same time, you are being invited to this party and let me tell you, it’s the grooviest you can get.
Tsubasa & Ichiru “Arata na COLOR”
“Arata na COLOR” doesn’t shy away from being funky, danceable yet loungy right from the start.
This is a song that is confident in its presentation and has a tasteful instrumental to go with it.
The beat is punchy in an old-school fashion, the same can be said about the leading synth in the chorus – that will go almost unnoticed to most listeners for quite a lot of time until you reach the final 10 seconds of the chorus.
QUELL’s trademark minimalism and ethereal sound shine in this track, with the strings adding dashing accents that take “Arata na COLOR” to a whole other level.
This song is all about its massive dreamy and punchy chorus and let me tell you, this is a song that is as ethereal as passionate, the perfect summary of what summer is all about.
Marginal #4 “HAPPY ROLL”
Marginal #4 explores a groovy sound with strong 90s pop vibes in “HAPPY ROLL”. A jaunty piano melody will almost immediately grab your attention, taking you by hand to its warm soundscape.
The verses are overflowing with good vibes, with the bassline and synths being prominent, creating a bouncy, danceable sound.
The chorus will soon have you singing and jamming along to it. Feel good vibes all around and a set of stellar performances make “HAPPY ROLL” one of those songs that has to be on your summer playlist.
Daisuke Ono “DING DONG”
Sit back and relax as you’re taken on a car ride by the seashore with the one you love.
“DING DONG” brings to the spotlight gate funky riffs, a laidback beat, and citypop-inspired washy synths, creating a citypop sound that is overflowing with nostalgia for 80s citypop music, the summer and those beautiful neon lights reflecting in the car as you drive by.
The setting is dreamy and passionate.
It feels like the seashore is endless as you ride into the sunset. The verses are sweet and groovy with a punchy bassline + clap track mix playing on top of the washy and atmospheric synths.
Daisuke Ono’s vocals glide through this song, counting as well with stellar backing vocals by the legendary acappella group, The Gospellers.
As you get closer to the end of this song, the melancholic – yet extremely beautiful – high piano notes slowly signal that the end of this dream is almost here.
These were my picks for the 16 Nostalgic Summer Songs by Male Seiyuu/2D Groups. There are many more songs that would fit this list feature – or even the Spotify playlist, had they been available for streaming – but as it is, I believe this is a tight playlist for you to enjoy when you want summer back.
You also have a link below to the complete playlist/mixtape featuring 18+ songs and up to 1h10 of pure good feel good music with a touch of nostalgia on top.
Autumn/Fall is here and so is the nostalgia and longing inherent to it.
Yet again, hold on to the good memories of this summer and smile.
And the complete Summer 2022 mixtape is here!
