Ballad songs that were hits in the 2000s
Here are some popular ballad songs from the 2000s.
We’ve gathered tracks that will feel nostalgic to those who spent their youth in that era, as well as songs that remain karaoke staples even today.
The themes vary—love, family, life—but every song is a moving piece that touches the heart.
If you’re in the mood for ballads, looking for beloved classics, or curious about what was trending back then, be sure to give these a listen!
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Ballad songs that were hits in the 2000s (11–20)
Song of LoveEvery Little Thing
This work is marked by a gently soul-soothing melody and a sweeping string arrangement.
It’s a gem of a ballad that symbolizes the period when Every Little Thing became a duo and their music gained deeper richness.
Written as the theme song for the 2002 theatrical film Inuyasha: Affections Touching Across Time, it was placed near the end of the album Many Pieces.
Kaori Mochida’s crystal-clear vocals deliver a universal message of peace and love with direct sincerity.
The lyrics, which feel like a prayer for a world without conflict, resonate deeply with the film’s story and light a warm flame of hope in the listener’s heart.
It’s the perfect song for moments of anxiety or quiet nights when you want to calm your mind.
A timeless classic that continues to be loved across generations.
Lovers AgainEXILE
This is a ballad by EXILE released in 2007.
It was featured in a commercial and is also a popular karaoke song.
From start to finish, it overflows with an irresistible sensuality.
The romantic atmosphere created by the sound is simply overwhelming.
As with many EXILE songs, it’s great for karaoke not just to sing solo but as a duet.
Listening to this track might even let you bask in nostalgic memories of past romances.
Good-bye daysYUI for Amaoto Kaoru
“Good-bye Days” is a song by YUI released in 2006.
The name Kaoru Amane is the character YUI played in the film “Midnight Sun.” It was a deeply moving movie about a girl who, despite suffering from a serious illness, continued to love music.
“Good-bye Days” is widely regarded as a ballad that beautifully complemented the film, and it is also YUI’s best-selling song to date.
Its popularity, surpassing hits like “CHE.R.RY,” shows just how beloved YUI is by the public.
It’s a song that invites reflection alongside the movie.
Name of the FlowerBUMP OF CHICKEN
This is a song by BUMP OF CHICKEN released in 2007.
It was written as the theme song for the film Always: Sunset on Third Street 2.
Its sound, which evokes a sense of nostalgia, further heightened the emotion of this warm, human-centered film set in the Showa era.
The use of instruments is exquisite.
From beginning to end, the song has an appeal that grips the listener’s heart and never lets go.
Motoo Fujiwara, who serves as the vocalist for BUMP OF CHICKEN and also writes the songs he sings, is truly astounding in his level of expressive artistry.
Song of LoveKōda Kumi
A love ballad told from a woman’s perspective, “Ai no Uta” (“Song of Love”).
Released in 2007 by Kumi Koda, the song earned her a Gold Award at the Japan Record Awards.
She also performed it on NHK’s year-end music program “Kōhaku Uta Gassen,” so many of you may already know it.
Its straightforward lyrics express the longing to see someone you love, and while it’s heartbreaking, it also feels powerful.
If you listen to it when you’re feeling timid about love, it just might give you the push and courage you need.
