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 hit in the 2000s. Heart-wrenching tracks (31–40)
Love songSambomasutā
They made their major debut in 2003.
In 2005, the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Densha Otoko,” titled “Sekai wa Sore o Ai to Yobun da ze,” became a huge hit and boosted their popularity.
Many people have likely been saved by the strongly message-driven lyrics.
This is their 13th single, released in 2009.
Recommended for young people heartbroken and hurting after a breakup.
MissingELLEGARDEN
Formed in 1998.
Made their indie debut in 2001, and achieved their U.S.
debut in 2006, proving their talent.
They went on hiatus in 2008 to much regret.
This is their fourth single, released in 2004.
The lyrics are in English, and the nostalgic themes about youth may resonate with a heart worn down by loneliness.
By the way, vocalist Takeshi Hosomi is still active with the HIATUS and MONOEYES.
It’s also recommended to check those out if you haven’t in a while.
Ultramarine of a Certain TownASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Formed in 1996.
Made their major-label debut in 2003.
In 2004, Rewrite, which was used as the opening theme for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, became a massive hit.
This is their ninth single, released in 2006.
It was written specifically as the theme song for the animated film Tekkonkinkreet, and incorporates the line from the movie, “What can you see from there?” into the lyrics.
It’s a meticulously crafted track that includes the sounds of crowds recorded in Kabukicho in its intro and outro.
Both the film and the original manga come highly recommended.
LOVE Zukkyunsōtaisei riron
A music project formed in 2006, centered around vocalist Etsuko Yakushimaru.
Billing themselves as a “pop maestro of the post-YouTube era,” they’re a must-watch from both art-history and subculture-history perspectives, and an essential group for any music aficionado.
This is the lead single from their first album, Shifon Shugi (Chiffonism), released in 2008.
Its distinctive worldview is part of its allure.
Just… I want to see youEXILE
This is the 19th single by EXILE, the dance and vocal group that leads Japan’s entertainment scene and has won listeners across a wide demographic.
Chosen as the campaign song for KDDI and Okinawa Cellular’s “au × EXILE,” it resonates with its rich vocals and a wistful arrangement.
The lyrics, which mirror the universal feeling of realizing someone’s importance only after parting ways, likely struck a chord with many.
It’s an emotional love song that stands beside those torn between their true feelings and reality.
Yami songs that were hits in the 2000s. Heart-wrenching tracks (41–50)
EverythingMISIA
Released in 2000, this is one of MISIA’s signature songs.
It was also used as a TV drama theme song, and I think its unparalleled ballad—with a majestic melody that evokes a wintry sky and a voice that feels beyond what you’d expect from a Japanese singer—is truly exceptional.
It’s a defining song of the 2000s that fully conveys the ache of not being able to see someone you love and the intensity of those feelings.
nape (of the neck)aiko
A singer-songwriter who blends cute melodies with chord progressions that evoke jazz and blues and has won support from people of all ages, aiko releases her 14th major single.
The beautiful opening of piano and strings hints at the beginning of a bittersweet story.
The contrary behavior that stems from loving a partner, and the unwavering feelings that persist even after a breakup, are emotions anyone who’s experienced love can relate to.
With delicate vocals that sink into the heart, it’s a love song that stands by you through the pain of heartbreak.