[Songs of Infidelity] A collection of forbidden love songs about unattainable romance
Have you ever been in a love where you couldn’t tell anyone about the things that made you happy, the moments of joy you felt, or even the tiniest bits of happiness? You might think, “I’d never fall for a love that won’t be returned!” and yet, isn’t it often the case that you realize, before you know it, that you’ve fallen for someone? In this article, we’ll introduce songs we want you—who are experiencing such a sorrowful love—to listen to.
There are countless love songs out there, but we’ve carefully selected tracks that are perfect for those troubled by an unattainable love.
May you find a song that stays close to your heart.
- [Cheating Song] A forbidden love that crossed the line — infidelity song
- [An Adulterous Love] A love song about a secret affair you can't tell anyone about
- Unattainable Love: A Heartbreaking Love Song About Falling for a Married Person
- A classic song about a forbidden love
- [Unattainable Love] A love song about two people who feel the same way but can’t be together
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- A song of forbidden love. A heartrending, sorrowful love song.
- A song of forbidden love. A love song about feelings that can't be stopped.
- Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a girlfriend or boyfriend
- [Songs About Loving Yet Parting] Love songs for those who want to overcome heartbreak
- “I Want to See You”: A love song that makes you cry when you listen to it while you can’t meet
- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
- [Today’s Heartbreak Song] A poignant love song that gently wraps your wounded heart
[Adultery Songs] A Collection of Forbidden Love Songs About Unattainable Romance (71–80)
A Place in the SunHamada Shogo
Released in 1981, this is Shogo Hamada’s 12th single, a ballad about an extramarital affair.
While many of his works hint at infidelity or can be interpreted as one-sided love, this song depicts, in a straightforward manner, the emotions of a man who is cheating.
The two know they each have separate lives, yet when they are together, they resolve not to show any trace of that reality.
It’s not something that can be condoned, and beyond mere pleasure, you can feel the constant presence of suffering mixed in.
Being drawn to someone may be unavoidable, but a dangerous love that robs someone else of their happiness is something we should still try to avoid.
a burned-out plainCocco
There are songs that, while not necessarily written with infidelity in mind, sound that way to those involved and draw them in emotionally.
Cocco’s “Yakenohara” is surely one of those songs.
Released in 2001 as her 11th single, it’s also one of her more popular numbers.
It’s a track that powerfully conveys the ache of a sad love—an unfulfilled romance and feelings that never reach their destination—and surely many listeners find their chests tighten when they hear it.
Manhattan KissTakeuchi Mariya
There are surprisingly many songs themed around forbidden love by singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi.
The subtle, uniquely female perspectives and emotions she portrays often feel very real and pierce the heart.
The song introduced here is Manhattan Kiss.
Released in 1992, it also served as the theme song for a film of the same name that premiered at the same time.
The lyrics read like the thoughts of a woman left alone in the hotel where she always meets her married lover.
It’s a track that makes you empathize with the protagonist’s inability to make a clean break and say goodbye.
[Songs of Infidelity] A Collection of Forbidden Love Songs About Unattainable Romance (81–90)
Just a little more… a bit more…ZARD
A single released in 1993.
It was the ending theme for the drama “Lullaby Detective ’93.” It’s well-known as a song about an extramarital affair.
The lyrics mention places that still exist today.
I don’t know whether it’s based on a true story or fiction, but the lyrics are very painful.
The vocals are clear and the melody is refreshing.
The delicate emotions unique to women are something people can relate to in any era, I think.
Happy Endingback number
A song written by back number as the theme for the film “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday.” It drew renewed attention after a certain affair scandal, and some people say it even sounds like an infidelity song.
If you’ve seen the movie, I think it comes across as a pure love song that tightens your chest, but if we define an affair as an unattainable love, then the lyrics certainly resonate in that sense as well.
The ending, where the person steps back so as not to cause trouble for the other, is one that leaves you in tears.
366 daysHY
A bittersweet love song that sings of unforgettable feelings for a former lover.
“If only I’d told you how I felt from the start, maybe I wouldn’t be hurting so much…” Even if you regret it, it’s already too late.
The more you try to forget, the more you can’t stop thinking about that person.
Perhaps such secret feelings you can’t tell anyone are best left to time.
But this song isn’t just about single-minded unrequited love.
In fact, it’s also said to be a song about a forbidden love for someone who already has a family.
What kind of love story does it bring to your mind? Featured on HY’s April 2008 album HeartY and used as the theme song for the film Threads of Destiny, this piece is a must-hear ballad for anyone struggling with love.
A midsummer passing showerUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada’s “Manatsu no Tooriame” is also known as a forbidden affair song about an unattainable love.
The lyrics, imbued with thoughts of her late mother, recount a sudden loss and an unfillable hole in the heart, expressing profound love and grief for someone precious who is gone.
Chosen as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “NEWS ZERO,” it received high acclaim, reaching No.
5 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 weekly chart.
Though the seasons change, the feelings for the person etched in memory remain the same; this work delicately portrays the longing for the days spent together.
It is a masterpiece that stands by those who have had similar experiences, offering empathy and comfort.