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.
- A melancholic “yami” song that was a hit in the 2000s. A bittersweet track.
- 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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- Breakup songs sung by male artists that I’d recommend to Gen Z
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- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- Masterpieces of bittersweet breakup songs. Recommended popular tracks.
Top 10 breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s (1–10)
SEASONSHamasaki Ayumi
This is the 16th single by singer-songwriter Ayumi Hamasaki, who enjoyed immense popularity in the 1990s to the point of being called a “charismatic icon for high school girls,” and is known as one of the quintessential divas of the Heisei era.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Weatherman’s Lover” (Tenki Yohō no Koibito) and is recognized as her biggest hit among her many million-selling tracks.
The message—that even the days we believed would never change, and the sorrow of losing them, will eventually heal—surely resonates with many people’s experiences of love.
A gem of a ballad with a beautiful yet heartrending melody that stirs the soul.
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.
SaudadePorunogurafiti
This is the fourth single by Porno Graffitti, the rock duo that has released numerous hits since their debut, including Apollo and Agehachō.
The song had multiple tie-ins with TV dramas, commercials, and anime, and it was the first track to incorporate the Latin-style arrangement that has now become synonymous with the band.
The dilemma of still thinking about someone despite having reasons and reality leading to a breakup is something both men and women may relate to.
With the pleasant sound of a lively acoustic guitar, it’s a track that, true to its title, evokes a sense of melancholy.
Breakup songs that were hits in the 2000s (11–20)
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.
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.
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.
SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu
A singer-songwriter who continues to showcase his talents not only as a top-tier actor but also as a radio DJ and photographer, Masaharu Fukuyama’s 15th single.
It achieved the last double million of the 20th century according to Oricon figures, and is widely known as one of Fukuyama’s signature songs.
The heartrending lyrics, themed around his own heartbreak, are something anyone who has experienced parting with an irreplaceable person will likely see themselves in.
With a sensual, low-register voice carrying a lyrical melody that tugs at the heartstrings, it’s a staple “sakura song” from the 2000s onward.