[Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces that depict various kinds of gloom.
Sad events and days when nothing goes right can happen to anyone.
At times like that, isn’t it music that saves us?
When you’re feeling down, you might immerse yourself in what you love or just take it slow and rest.
On top of that, listening to music that matches your feelings can bring a deep sense of calm.
It’s great to get energy from bright, upbeat songs, but we’re also drawn to darker, more serious atmospheres and lyrics that seem to speak for us.
Here, we’re featuring songs that stay close to a melancholy mood.
Some of them let you feel a light shining in the darkness.
If it’s tough to listen to cheerful music when you’re low, or if you want to let yourself sink all the way down and then reset your feelings, please use this as a reference.
- Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- [Yami Song] A mental breakdown track that sings the true feelings of a melancholic heart
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs.
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Hidden gems of yami songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Relatable Lyrics] Emo songs to listen to when you're stuck after a breakup or relationship troubles
- Masterpieces that sing about loneliness: J-pop to listen to when you're alone
- [For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [When You're Lonely] A Collection of Songs That Resonate With Those All Alone
[Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces depicting various kinds of gloom (1–10)
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
Chihiro Onitsuka’s “Gekkou” centers on the theme of liberation from oppression.
As one of her signature songs, it arguably established her emotional artistic world.
Singing of a sorrowful world, this track is the very embodiment of a depressive song.
When you’re in the mood to immerse yourself in dark music, put it on repeat and listen.
NonfictionHirai Ken
You might think Ken Hirai has the image of a love song singer, but he also has some great melancholic tracks.
His song “Nonfiction” explores the theme of who we live for and what we live for.
Listening to this song and reflecting on your own reasons for living and what you’re striving for could be a great exercise.
He was alive, wasn’t he?aimyon
Aimyong’s major-label debut single, released in 2016.
Sparked by a suicide, this powerful song confronts the darkness in modern society and the weight of life.
It depicts rubberneckers gathering at the scene and people who consume human life as a form of content.
It’s a deeply thought-provoking track—please take the time to listen closely at least once.
[Melancholy Tracks] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces depicting various kinds of gloom (11–20)
There’s a hole in my heart.Yorushika
This song portrays deep emotions and a sense of loss.
The lyrics capture the emptiness that follows heartbreak and the severing of human relationships.
Included on Yorushika’s first album, “Elma,” it was also released as a digital single in June 2019.
Chosen as the theme song for Teikyo Heisei University’s 2019 TV commercial, the piece is characterized by its poignant lyrics and delicate melody.
It is a song that offers comfort to those who feel as if there’s a hole in their heart or who find themselves clinging to what they’ve lost.
Please give it a listen.
Why Don’t You Play in Hell?Hoshino Gen
This song paints a brooding, oppressive worldview, deeply reflecting Gen Hoshino’s experiences with illness.
It showcases Hoshino’s unique musicality, featuring a distinctive arrangement that is pop at its core while incorporating elements of jazz and funk.
It conveys the silence and anxiety of a hospital room and offers insights into life and death, singing of accepting suffering while still facing forward.
It’s a perfect track for anyone confronting life’s hardships yet trying to keep moving ahead.
Young adultmakaroni enpitsu
Macaroni Enpitsu has delivered a masterpiece that captures the hearts of young people.
Featured on their mini-album “season,” this song portrays the loneliness and despair of youth while powerfully singing about the importance of finding hope beyond them.
Released in September 2024, the track was also featured on Space Shower TV and resonated with many young listeners.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s experienced heartbreak or a setback in their dreams, or who feels like they don’t belong.
Hearing this song will make you realize that even in despair, there is light.
Especially when you’re struggling alone, why not listen and let it soothe your heart?
Pain, go away!ZORN
It has been attracting attention as a song that stays close to the pain of the heart.
The lyrics convey the anxiety of almost losing oneself, resonating with many listeners.
The phrase “Itai no tondeike,” which is also the title of the song, expresses a strong wish to take away emotional pain.
The piece also carries messages of encouragement and support for friends, giving courage to those who listen.
Released in July 2022, it has received high ratings on many music streaming platforms.
It’s a recommended track for those seeking music that comforts the heart or for anyone who wants to encourage someone.