Breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s
Breakups with a beloved partner, unrequited love that never comes true…
Heartbreak is something many people experience at least once in their lives.
Precisely because it’s so universal, countless artists have sung about heartbreak over the years.
In this article, we introduce heartbreak songs that were hits in the 2000s.
For those who spent their youth in that era, some of these songs may have comforted your broken hearts back then.
And for anyone who’s recently gone through a breakup or can’t forget someone, these tracks are sure to resonate.
Find the one song that helps heal your wounds.
- Heart-wrenching Japanese hit songs from the 2000s. Songs that make you cry.
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- Breakup songs popular among women in their 20s. Tear-jerking love songs.
- Love songs that were hits in the 2000s. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
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- Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks.
Top 10 breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s (1–10)
AitaiKato Miria
It seems that Miliyah Kato wrote the lyrics to this song after listening to her fans’ voices.
The person you like has someone they like.
Haven’t we all experienced a situation like that? Even if it’s a lie, I want you to love me the most.
This song expresses the feelings of a girl who knows her love won’t come true but still can’t give up.
nape (of the neck)aiko
This is the 14th major-label single by singer-songwriter aiko, who has garnered support from people of all ages with songs that pair jazz- and blues-tinged chord progressions with cute melodies.
The beautiful opening of piano and strings hints at the beginning of a heartrending story.
The contrary behavior that comes from loving one’s partner, and the unwavering feelings that remain even after a breakup, are emotions that anyone who has been in love can likely relate to.
It’s a love song whose delicate vocals seep into the heart, offering comfort through the pain of heartbreak.
planetariumOtsuka Ai
From pop tunes like “Sakuranbo” to lyrical love songs like “Renai Shashin,” singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka has created hits with her cute voice and expressive range.
This is her 10th single.
Chosen as the image song for the first season of the TV drama “Boys Over Flowers,” the track uses traditional Japanese instruments, and its Japanese-style melody evokes the world of the lyrics.
As you listen to the words, which sing of unchanging feelings for a precious person you can never meet again, many listeners may find themselves recalling breakups brought about by different circumstances.
It’s a heartbreaking number with an ambiance that conjures a summer night sky—one that may bring you to tears.
Breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s (11–20)
let gom-flo loves YOSHIKA
This is the 17th single by the music group m-flo, featuring the then–pre-debut singer-songwriter YOSHIKA.
The track was used as a tie-in for NTT Docomo’s commercial “m-flo ga…,” and later drew attention in 2013 when it was featured as an insert song in the TV drama Bibliophile Princess Case Files (Bunko: Biblia Koshodō no Jiken Techō).
Its depiction of knowing in your head that a love won’t be rewarded yet being unable to stop your feelings is something many listeners are likely to see themselves in.
Even while knowing there’s no future, the message of wanting to drown in the feelings of the present resonates deeply—a stirring number whose delicate melody moves the heart.
KanadeSukima Suichi
This is the second single by Sukima Switch, a two-member music unit that has focused on creating all their songs themselves since their debut under the theme of “life-sized music.” In addition to being featured as an insert song in the film Rough, it has also been used in TV dramas and commercials, making it one of Sukima Switch’s signature tracks.
The straightforward feelings one has at the moment of parting, and the scenes that defy words precisely because you care about the other person, have surely resonated with many listeners.
Widely covered by numerous musicians, it’s recognized as a masterpiece—one of the defining breakup songs of the 2000s.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
This is the theme song of the film “Crying Out Love in the Center of the World.” Many people probably have someone they can’t forget, even if they wish they could.
The lyrics about how your heart and body remember the one you love are very romantic.
It’s a song I’d like those with someone unforgettable to listen to.
Love SongGO!GO!7188
This is the third single by GO!GO!7188, a three-piece rock band that gained popularity with melodies evoking a sense of “wa” (Japanese aesthetic) and an alternative sound, despite disbanding in 2012.
The song was used as the AX POWER PLAY #005 theme on the music program AX MUSIC-FACTORY.
It’s a striking number with a simple yet richly layered arrangement and distinctive harmonies.
The lyrics convey steadfast feelings that remain unchanged even if the other person doesn’t return your gaze, and a sense of being dazzled by their very presence—evoking a kind of human love that feels different from typical romantic love between men and women.
It’s a quintessential love song of the 2000s that brought the name GO!GO!7188 to a wider audience.