[Love Songs] A roundup of classic and latest hits about love that can’t be honest

I can’t be honest.Organic Call

Organic Call "I Can't Be Honest" Music Video

A heartwarming rock number by Organic Call that expresses the feelings of someone who can’t honestly convey their emotions to the one they love, through delicate melodies and poetic lyrics.

It portrays the struggle of knowing what to do but being unable to act, the courage to move forward while carrying feelings that could be buried in everyday life, and has resonated with many listeners.

Released digitally in October 2024, the song was crafted by band member Shinya Hirata, who infused it with the difficulty and preciousness of expressing one’s feelings.

It’s a perfect anthem for those who keep their love for someone important close to their heart, and for those who want to change and become more straightforward.

EsperanzaNishino Kana

Kana Nishino “Esperanza” MV Full

A song by Kana Nishino that expresses the bittersweet feelings of a woman’s unrequited love through passionate Latin sounds.

Even though she knows the person she likes already has a partner, the woman’s complex emotions still resonate deeply.

The sound of Spanish guitar and the powerful vocals beautifully fuse heartache with a forward-looking spirit.

Released in May 2011, it was used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Sukkiri!!” and was included on the album “Thank you, Love.” It won the Excellence Award at the 53rd Japan Record Awards.

This is a song that stands by women troubled by unrequited love and gives them the courage to keep looking ahead without giving up.

I wish I were the one you liked.Te ga kuriimu pan

I wish I were the one you love / Hands Like Cream Bread (Wishing I’m her / tegacreampan) [Official Music Video]

Everyone in love wishes that the person they like would feel the same.

HandgaCreamPan’s “I Wish I Were the One You Liked” captures that aching feeling.

The simple instrumentation and the calm, matter-of-fact delivery overflow with the pain of unrequited love.

You want to confess your feelings and become mutually in love, but the fear that it might not work out makes you hesitate…

Many people can probably relate to the terror of a future where love doesn’t come true, and to the situation where, even so, you can’t suppress how much you like them.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

Song for…HY

Song for…

Born from keyboardist and vocalist Izumi Nakasone’s real-life experience, this memorable piece wrestles with the meaning of chance encounters and the intense, conflicted feelings for another.

Included on the album “TRUNK,” its earnest vocals, delivered alongside the piano’s beautiful timbre, resonate deeply.

A self-cover version appears on the album “STORY ~HY BEST~,” radiating a timeless charm that hasn’t faded with the years.

It’s a gentle ballad that invites empathy from those who can’t express their feelings, or who must seal them away due to circumstances such as each other’s situations or an age difference.

copycatkankan

Copycat / Kankan

Even if you imitate someone else, you can never become your true self.

This is Kankan’s “Copycat,” a song that portrays that heartrending inner conflict.

Interweaving romantic feelings with wavering identity, it delicately depicts a protagonist weighed down by unfulfilled longing and the frustrating gap of never quite reaching the ideal person they try to emulate.

The ambiguous bond that may or may not be called love, and the mix of self-denial and yearning, are emotions many can relate to regardless of gender or the form their relationships take.

It’s a track I especially recommend to anyone grappling with complicated feelings of love.

I feel like I’m about to cry feat. AimyonRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – I Feel Like I’m About to Cry feat. Aimyon [Official Music Video]

This is a work that makes you think, “I should go ahead and honestly tell them how I feel.” It’s a collaborative track by the rock band RADWIMPS and singer-songwriter Aimyon, included on the 2018 album ANTI ANTI GENERATION.

The sound arrangement—striking for its dynamic contrasts—features jazzy phrases, and the interwoven choral work by Noda and Aimyon is another highlight.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Araki Jakkan

Report a problem

Like the shining moonSuperfly

Superfly “Like the Shining Moon” Music Video

A Superfly ballad that gently sings of gratitude and love for another, using the light of the moon and sun as motifs.

It vividly portrays a protagonist who had carried loneliness and anxiety opening their heart through meeting someone special, and being reborn into a new self.

Released in August 2012 and featured as the theme song for the TBS drama “Summer Rescue: Tenku no Shinryojo,” the track drew significant attention.

It was also included on the album “Force,” receiving a strong response.

This song will gently resonate with those who struggle to be honest with their feelings or who wish to express gratitude to someone important.