Mutual love, unrequited love, familial love... classic songs that sing about affection

selling oneselfRosu

selling oneself

Set in a red-light district, this narrative song portrays a courtesan bearing an aching love for a man she adores.

With delicate wording, it weaves the emotions of a woman wavering between her unrequited feelings for someone who won’t even meet her gaze and the reality of living as a courtesan.

Ros’s protean vocals vividly express the poignancy and sorrow.

Released digitally in March 2022 and included on the album “Yoru no Shito,” the piece has also been tied to projects such as the drama series “My Beautiful Man.” It will resonate deeply not only with those suffering from impossible love, but with anyone who knows the bittersweet ache of loving someone relentlessly.

Why not me?Misaka Saki

Saki Misaka – Isn’t It Fine If It’s Me (Full ver.)

This song delicately portrays the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love.

They were close as friends, but before he knew it, romantic feelings had begun to grow.

Those complex emotions of a boy are expressed through a clear, transparent singing voice.

Released in February 2021 as the theme song for ABEMA’s popular romance reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita” (Today, I Fell in Love), it resonated with many listeners.

It’s a perfect track for anyone struggling with their feelings for a crush.

Listening to this song might give you the courage to take a step forward.

senpainozomi

Noashi (Noa) – Senpai [Official Music Video]

An unforgettable song that delicately captures wavering feelings for an older upperclassman.

Told from the perspective of a younger student tossed about by their senior, it portrays the anguish of love.

While captivated by every little gesture—the red lipstick, swaying earrings, and pale fingertips—the narrator is painfully torn by the fear they might be nothing more than a way to pass the time.

Released in August 2023, this self-produced work was entirely handled by Noshi, from lyrics and composition to arrangement.

It’s a song that speaks for your heart—highly recommended for anyone who has fallen hard for someone much older, or who’s stuck in the haze of not knowing how the other person really feels.

LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu

Toshinobu Kubota – LA･LA･LA LOVE SONG with NAOMI CAMPBELL [Official Video Short ver.]

An R&B masterpiece ballad that lifts your spirits like a carousel.

It beautifully captures both the sweetness and the ache of romance.

Toshinobu Kubota’s silky vocals and Naomi Campbell’s whisper-like chorus blend in exquisite harmony.

Released in May 1996, it became a breakout hit as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Long Vacation,” selling 1.856 million copies and winning the Japan Record Award for Excellence.

With a warmth that gently wraps the rain in your heart, this song is perfect for those newly in love and for adults who cherish precious memories.

just a littleIgarashi Haru

Haru Igarashi – A Little (Official Music Video)

A song whose heartrending, soul-stirring vocals move every listener.

With delicate wording, it weaves a poignant love swayed by the whims of fate—encounters that come at the wrong time.

Haru Igarashi is a singer-songwriter with the unusual background of being a former police officer.

Released in March 2024, this work has drawn major attention, topping the Billboard JAPAN Heatseekers Songs chart for two consecutive weeks.

The line about pretending to like what the other person likes just to stay by their side is so earnest it tightens the chest.