Ballad songs perfect for autumn. Timeless mellow hits for the fall season.
When autumn comes, many of us find ourselves wanting to listen to ballads, don’t we?
Maybe it’s because the sparkling summer has ended and we feel a touch of loneliness, or because we’re moved by the season’s charm and slip into a calm, reflective mood.
In this article, we’ll introduce some ballads that are perfect for autumn.
These rich, mellow ballads are ideal for those long autumn nights.
We’ve gathered songs you’ll want to listen to as the seasons change.
Enjoy a quiet, gentle moment with music by your side.
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Ballad songs to listen to in autumn: Classic mellow autumn tunes (71–80)
OrangeSMAP
SMAP’s “Orange” is the B-side track to the single “Lion Heart,” released in 2000.
The single reached No.
1 on the Oricon Singles Chart and became SMAP’s second million-selling single.
Even though “Orange” is a B-side, it consistently ranks highly in fan favorite song polls and is often called the most famous B-side.
Its lyrics, which depict a breakup, evoke a poignant, bittersweet feeling—making it a perfect classic ballad for the melancholic autumn season.
Innocent SkyYoshikawa Koji
When you suddenly look back on yourself alone and think, “I’m not the person I thought I was,” isn’t that something anyone can feel? In those solitary moments when you feel down or get lost in thought, this song quietly stays by your side.
It somehow makes you want to open a window and look up at the sky.
TSUKIAmuro Namie
Namie Amuro, a singer whose popularity became a social phenomenon in the 1990s and who is remembered as one of the divas of the Heisei era.
Her 41st single released under her solo name, “TSUKI,” used as the theme song for the film “I Just Wanna Hug You,” also drew attention for its dreamlike music video filmed in Iceland.
The lyrics tell a story of gazing up at the moon while thinking of a precious person after parting, stirring up sentimental feelings.
With its translucent vocals and a melody that evokes a sense of wistfulness, it’s a heartrending yet beautiful number that resonates deeply.
SeptemberTakeuchi Mariya
Singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi has been active since the 1970s and is known for signature songs like “Genki wo Dashite” (“Cheer Up”).
Among her works, the one that evokes the coming of autumn is “September,” released in 1979.
Its lyrics about parting with a loved one are perfectly matched by a sprightly band sound, and her voice gently wraps the sadness of farewell, offering comfort.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to while taking in autumn’s natural scenery and cityscapes.
Be sure to pay attention to the poetic, story-like lyrics as well.
don’t apologizeNagie Lane
The cosmos flower carries meanings like “a maiden’s sincerity,” “humility,” and “harmony.” Nagie Lane, a four-member a cappella group, offers a beautiful ballad titled “Ayamaranai” (“I Won’t Apologize”), whose lyrics portray a brave, tender maiden’s heart—just like those symbolic meanings of the cosmos.
Another highlight is the emotive, conversational singing of their female vocalist, Rei, which makes the song’s poetic lyrics all the more pleasing to the ear.
How about playing this track softly in your room for a calm autumn moment?
SORA ~Until This Voice Reaches You~DEEP
DEEP has so many great ballads that it’s hard to choose, but if you’re looking for a song to listen to in autumn, this one is my recommendation.
Released in 2010, it’s a standout track that could be called one of DEEP’s signature songs.
It’s the kind of song that makes you feel warm and gentle, as if its tender vocals wrap up all the unbidden loneliness and bittersweetness that autumn brings.
It also drew attention when their juniors, GENERATIONS, covered it.
Tomorrow never knowsMr.Children
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call this Mr.
Children’s greatest masterpiece—a timeless classic that will go down in history.
The lyrics capture the precarious, delicate emotions of youth and the true feelings of young people burdened with hopes and anxieties.
The melody pierces the heart.
It’s truly a wonderful song.
It’s also famous as the theme song for the drama “All About Youth” (Wakamono no Subete), which starred a young Takuya Kimura.