[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 (21–30)
main actorMinami
It’s an emotional piece that sings, “I might be insignificant, but I still want to live—I want a place where I belong.” It’s a song by Minami, a singer-songwriter from Saitama Prefecture, released as her debut single in 2017.
The track begins with a poetry reading, and as it progresses, you gradually find yourself drawn in.
It makes you realize, deep down, that I feel this way too—that we all carry these feelings.
It’s a moving, heartfelt ballad that really hits home.
Tenshō Shō Tenshōkikuo
This is “Tenshō Shōtenshō,” written, composed, and arranged by sound creator Kikuo.
It’s reputed to be something you want to listen to when you’re depressed or feeling down.
The addictive rhythm and atmosphere make you want to play it again.
The title is written as “Reincarnation: Ascension Anthology,” and it’s also been talked about for having a scary meaning when played in reverse.
[Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way down. Masterpieces depicting all kinds of gloom (31–40)
Nothing I do goes well.meiyo
It’s an addictive song that lays bare the muddled thoughts and days when nothing goes right.
Released by meiyo in January 2022, it unfolds a distinctive sound that deftly weaves together humor and relatability.
Packed with contemporary themes—self-loathing, comparing oneself to others, and the struggle with social media validation—it’s sung in a self-addressing tone that leaves a strong impression.
The music video also portrays everyday “not going well” moments—like failing to split disposable chopsticks cleanly, or finding chopsticks included with a pudding—creating a unique, offbeat world.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you can’t sort out your feelings or when you feel unable to move forward.
reassessmentMARETU
From the very beginning, this track hits you with an unsettling, anxiety-stirring sound that leaves a strong impression.
It’s also well-known as a “depressing” Vocaloid song.
The lyrics convey a sense of being fed up with the parts of yourself you can’t stand, yet at the same time they carry a positive message: “Let’s accept it and start over!”
Silent majorityKeyakizaka46
A song released by Keyakizaka46 in 2016, and one of their signature tracks.
As the title suggests, it delivers a warning-like message to modern people who live without raising their voices or asserting their will.
You can hear a call to “live as you are, without being bound by society.” I think the lyrics, which confront gloomy depictions, give courage.
night after nightKurahashi Yoeko
It’s a song that’s famously impossible to get out of your head once you’ve heard it.
It’s by singer-songwriter Yoeko Kurahashi and was included on her first single, “For Ladies,” released in 2002.
The melody has a slightly dark vibe that meshes with its distinctive, jazz-based style—and honestly, it’s irresistible.
You’ll want to listen to it over and over.
The lyrics feel almost like cut-and-paste snippets of words, yet they carry a curious persuasive power, and when you’re feeling down, you can really relate to them.
Fruit of SandNakatani Miki
This song is a masterpiece that portrays the transience of life and the pain of growing up.
Ryuichi Sakamoto’s delicate music and Miki Nakatani’s expressively rich vocals blend beautifully.
Released in March 1997, it was used as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Stalker: Nigekirenu Ai” (An Inescapable Love).
Its lyrics about lost innocence and dreams, and human degradation, deeply resonate with listeners.
It’s a song that offers empathy and healing when you’re weary of life and on the verge of losing yourself.