A melancholic “yami” song that was a hit in the 2000s. A bittersweet track.
Everyone must have experienced it at least once.
In those moments when you feel like your heart is about to break, a lyric or melody suddenly reaches your ears and, in a mysterious way, resonates with you and lifts you up.
The 2000s in particular were a tumultuous era when the way we enjoyed music changed dramatically.
Amid the shift from CDs to online distribution, countless “yami songs” (songs that grapple with darkness or emotional pain) were born, and they still support many people’s hearts today.
Lyrics you can’t help but relate to, melodies that pierce the chest.
Let yourself sink into that bittersweet feeling, along with the nostalgic memories of those days.
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Yami songs that were hits in the 2000s. Bittersweet tracks (21–30)
Summer IllusionGARNET CROW
Formed in 1999 and debuted independently.
Made their major-label debut in 2000.
Sadly disbanded in 2013.
This is their fifth single, released in 2000.
It’s a summer heartbreak song, but the gentle vocals and upbeat sound are soothing.
It was used as the 10th ending theme for the TV anime Detective Conan.
a burned-out plainCocco
If we’re going to talk about dark-themed J-pop songs from the 2000s, we can’t leave out Cocco.
Since her debut in 1997, she has taken breaks from music while also working as an actress and picture-book author.
In 2009, she spoke about her experiences with anorexia and self-harm, and she commands a cult-like following in some circles.
She is a singer-songwriter from Okinawa.
This is her 11th single, released in 2001.
ShuraDOES
The fourth single, released in 2007.
It became the ending theme for the TV Tokyo anime Gintama.
Later, their sixth single, “Donten,” and their tenth single, “Bakura Dancer,” were also used as tie-ins, cementing the equation among fans that “Gintama equals DOES.” It’s rock that captures the rebellious spirit of youth.
red-orangeACIDMAN
Indie debut in 2000.
Major label debut in 2002.
This is their signature work, first released as an indie record in 2000 and later released as their third single after their major debut in 2002.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to at dusk, perfectly capturing feelings of loneliness and impatience.
GibbsShiina Ringo
Debuted in 1998.
When it comes to discussing the dark, angst-ridden songs of 2000s Japanese pop, she’s indispensable.
Now a nationally beloved singer who even became involved with the Tokyo Olympics, Ringo Sheena once reigned as a youth icon, constructing a singular artistic world.
This is her fifth single in total, released in 2000.
The lyrics mention the legendary rock band Nirvana’s vocalist, the late Kurt Cobain, and his wife Courtney Love, but it wasn’t because Sheena herself was a fan—rather, it’s said to stem from the fact that a partner she dated before her debut was a Nirvana fan.
fragileEvery Little Thing
Released in 2001, this song was used as the theme for a popular romance reality show.
It’s a poignant ballad that captures the feeling of being in love while sensing a breakup is inevitable.
It expresses unforgettable emotions while encouraging you to move forward.
rose flowerkururi
They made their major debut in 1998.
This is their seventh single, released in 2001.
It was used as an insert song for the TBS drama Orange Days.
With Miki Furukawa of SUPERCAR contributing chorus, it truly stands as a quintessential youth anthem of the 2000s.
Incidentally, in 2003 they handled the soundtrack for the film Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, another masterpiece that captures the raw edge of youth.
Dedicated to troubled young people.