Unrequited love songs by bands. Japanese pop/rock love songs.

low-grade feverMy Hair is Bad

Binetsu

This song, which showcases My Hair is Bad’s pop sensibilities, depicts that vague “low-grade fever” of emotion you’re not sure you can call love yet.

It’s the third track on the EP hadaka e.p., released in November 2018.

Although it isn’t a single’s title track, it’s performed often live and enjoys enduring popularity among fans.

The lyrics penned by Tomomi Shiiki—blending a frustrating longing for the other person with a touch of bite—are sure to resonate with many listeners.

While it has the driving momentum you’d expect from a rock band, the melody is catchy and very easy to listen to, making it a great recommendation for first-time listeners of My Hair is Bad.

If you’re stuck in the murky space of a one-sided crush or feeling a bit sentimental, this song will gently keep you company.

Awakening in the eyesMy Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Awakened in the Eyes

Released as a single in October 2022, this is one of My Hair is Bad’s most refreshingly exhilarating tracks.

The lyrics charmingly capture the rush of falling in love at first sight and the pure feeling of breaking into a smile just because the other person is smiling.

Chosen as the theme song for ABEMA’s “Koisuru ♥ Shūmatsu Homestay 2022 Autumn ~Honey Soda Story~,” the piece was reportedly created by Shiiki drawing on his school-day memories, brimming with a fresh sensibility.

While the band has many bittersweet songs, this one shines with a brightness that affirms the start of a pure romance.

It’s a must-listen not only for those with a crush, but also for adults who want to relive the butterflies of back then.

mayflyONE OK ROCK

mayfly

A ONE OK ROCK track that portrays the bittersweet feelings of unrequited love, where you can’t be honest even though you care so much.

The song likens the unspoken emotions flickering in one’s heart to a fragile heat haze that seems ready to vanish at any moment.

It conveys the unstable fear of admitting those feelings precisely because you love so much—so vividly that it tightens your chest.

This piece is included on their landmark first full-length album, “Zeitakubyo,” released in 2007.

For anyone struggling with a frustrating love, it’s a song that will gently stay by your side.

bright redMy Hair is Bad

My Hair is Bad – Deep Crimson (Official Music Video)

It’s an impressive rock tune with lyrics that candidly lay bare possessiveness and self-loathing in love.

The band sound shifts from a quiet, narrative tone to an explosive chorus, delivering directly to your ears and heart the feelings of spinning your wheels in the desperate wish to be loved.

The track was included on the single “Hitomebore e.p.,” released in July 2015, and later featured on the major-label album “woman’s.” It can be considered one of the band’s signature songs, having been performed on Music Station in April 2022.

When you’re struggling with the distance between you and someone you like, and feeling down about your own awkwardness, listening to it may powerfully affirm that pain.

NAOHY

SOLIDEMO / NAO（HY cover）

It’s a ballad that pierces the chest with the pain of unrequited love.

The song is included on HY’s 2006 album “Confidence,” by the Okinawa-born mix-genre band, and tells a story created by vocalist Izumi Nakasone based on a close friend’s real experience.

The piece vividly portrays the inner conflict of a woman who knows the person she likes has feelings for someone else and won’t return her affection, yet she just can’t give up.

The clear, airy vocals riding over the piano melody further highlight the sorrow of a love that won’t reach its destination.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who finds themselves empathizing with the urge to cling on, even as they sense the person they love slowly changing.

Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number

Back Number – Hanako-san on a High Pedestal

It’s a song about a slightly pathetic guy, starting with a quiet intro where only the strings resonate before a cool band sound kicks in.

The lyrics portray the frustrated feelings of someone with a crush who can’t bring himself to take action.

All he can do is wish for things like “if only it turned out this way,” which, from the sidelines, feels exasperating and pitiable.

Still, it also reminds us that this is a common aspect of unrequited love.

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Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVER

Unrequited love

A gem of a love song that portrays the bittersweet unrequited love almost everyone experiences at least once.

In this work by SUPER BEAVER, the emotional band sound seems to directly embody the world of the lyrics.

It’s featured as an insert song in NHK General’s late-night drama “Vanilla na Mainichi,” beautifully aligning with the show’s atmosphere.

Shibuya Ryota’s deeply expressive vocals are truly moving.

It’s a song that stays close to the hearts of those currently facing their feelings for someone.