[Touches the heart] Bittersweet commercial songs: those famous tracks that make you tear up
When you’re watching TV or browsing the internet, you sometimes come across a commercial with a song that unexpectedly tugs at your heartstrings, don’t you? Along with memorable visuals, that bittersweet feeling and the intensity of the emotion resonate within you, and before you know it, you’re wondering, “What song is this?” In this article, we’ll introduce CM (commercial) songs that evoke a certain wistfulness.
You just might find that song you couldn’t stop thinking about back then.
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[Heart-Touching] Bittersweet Commercial Songs: Those Classic Tracks That Bring You to Tears (21–30)
IMrs. GREEN APPLE
On a cold winter night illuminated by dazzling lights, there’s a warm-hearted commercial where Ren Meguro brings Kirin Afternoon Tea to Mrs.
GREEN APPLE as they perform on the street.
The song they’re playing in the video is “Watashi.” It’s a gentle, piano-driven ballad whose sound gradually expands as the track progresses, conveying a swell of emotion.
The lyrics depict a winter heartbreak and the accompanying bittersweet feelings, yet the warmth of the sound also evokes a forward-looking sentiment—cherishing the memories while moving on.
me me sheRADWIMPS
From a drama featuring Ren Nagase and Hanaka Hara that evokes Heisei-era love songs, to a commercial promoting Universal Music’s “#Let’s Listen to Playlists” campaign—this is the song used to emphasize that world.
It’s a gentle ballad by RADWIMPS, where the tender, conversational vocals still convey a strong sense of heartbreak.
As the title suggests, “clinginess” is a major theme, and the inability to move on after a breakup is depicted just as it is.
Many listeners will likely relate to the swelling regret and the straightforward expression of refusing to accept the separation.
I forget you, who are so quiet, in October.atarayo
An animation depicting how Spotify blends into everyday life, featuring a song that accentuates a sense of wistfulness.
It moves at a gentle tempo that conveys sadness, and the overlapping vocals also communicate feelings of pain and sorrow.
The lyrics portray a parting scene and the emotions within it, and the gradually swelling expressions of regret convey the depth of the suffering.
The moments when male and female vocals overlap evoke the image of two people drifting apart.
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
This is the song used to accentuate the calm atmosphere in the Suntory Maker’s Mark commercial, which portrays the unchanging deliciousness of the whiskey through a character played by Shun Oguri who is immortal.
The track is also famous as the theme song for the feature-length anime 5 Centimeters per Second, and it conveys a bittersweet sentiment over the sound of an acoustic guitar.
The lyrics honestly express memories of the past and the regrets tied to them, as well as the pain of wishing for “just one more time,” even while knowing it can never come true.
The part about instinctively looking for someone’s figure somewhere—a feeling many can relate to—also heightens the sense of poignancy.
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi
Aoi Teshima’s “Letter to Tomorrow” is a track included on her 2014 album Ren’dez-vous.
A newly arranged version was later released in 2016 as the ending theme for the drama “Love That Makes You Cry.” Its piano-centered sound carries a poignant atmosphere, over which her delicate vocals are layered, expressing a determination to move forward despite the pain.
The song was also used in an Aflac commercial, where its theme aligns with the message of taking a step forward even in the face of uncertainty.
How could I possibly know?Vaundy
Vaundy’s “Boku ni wa Doushite Wakarun Darou” is set for release in 2025, a song that feels gentle yet carries a sense of urgency.
It begins quietly, as if murmuring one’s feelings, gradually building in power, and the strings that join toward the chorus create a poignant tension.
The expressive portrayal of emotions—regret, setbacks, and other forms of suffering—is striking, and the way these are depicted with touches of dreamlike language also conveys a sense of anxiety whose true nature is unclear.
The song has been selected for a Sony Life commercial featuring Tori Matsuzaka, presenting a message of moving forward with a positive attitude.
Precisely because the bright visuals overlap with a song infused with unease, it evokes an image of striving to overcome hardship.
RhetoricMeruto Taimā
Melt Timer’s “Rhetoric,” set for release in 2025, is a song that frankly expresses affection for a loved one.
Its straightforward band sound is striking, and its refreshing development evokes a sense of hope for the future.
A key point is the uncompromising stance on one’s feelings, which also conveys just how strong that affection is.
The song is featured in a commercial for Zojirushi’s stainless steel bottles.
The ad is a drama portraying someone taking on their first presentation, expressing a positive emotion that turns a warm drink into courage.