[Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
There are times when something tough or sad happens and you just feel down, right?
In those moments, listening to overly positive songs like “Keep your head up!” or “You can do it!” can actually make things harder for some people, surprisingly.
So in this article, instead of upbeat tracks, we’ll introduce songs with a darker mood that gently sit with your more negative feelings.
By intentionally listening to songs with heavy or heartbreaking lyrics, you might find your feelings become just a little easier to bear.
- [Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces that depict various kinds of gloom.
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
- Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs.
- [For High School Students] Melancholy Songs That Stay Close to Your Feelings [Tough Times]
- [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
- [Yami Song] A mental breakdown track that sings the true feelings of a melancholic heart
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- Hidden gems of yami songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Relatable Lyrics] Emo songs to listen to when you're stuck after a breakup or relationship troubles
[Dark Songs] A curated selection of deeply dark and bittersweet tracks that resonate with painful feelings (61–70)
Tenshō Shō Tenshōkikuo
This is a track by Kikuo, a Vocaloid producer known for his distinctive musicality and creativity that could be seen as art.
It has an addictive sound—something like EDM or dubstep, yet not quite describable by those labels alone.
It was released on a video-sharing site in 2012.
If you reverse the latter half of the vocals, a hidden message emerges, so definitely give it a try.
The illustrations used in the video are scary as well…
Hill of DespairPlastic Tree
A dark and lonely song that tells you there’s despair because there’s hope.
It’s an early Plastic Tree track, and it’s a masterpiece marked by a heartbreaking surge of emotion and vocalist Arimura’s wistful, sultry delivery.
It’s not just sad—it also carries a sense of beauty.
AkariMy Hair is Bad
A warm mid-tempo track from the album “ghosts,” released in July 2024, that gently kindles a flame in the listener’s heart.
The lyrics are striking in the way they portray the feeling of pushing toward tomorrow, even while weary from daily life, guided by the small light within oneself.
The use of realistic imagery—like comparing one’s situation to traffic light colors or evoking the idea of resting one’s wings—really resonates.
It features My Hair is Bad’s signature robust performance paired with rounded, gentle tones, and Shiiki’s vocals brim with warmth and compassion.
The vocal range isn’t very wide and the melody is calm, making it perfect when you want to sing at your own pace.
It’s a song that will gently nudge forward anyone striving to live each day earnestly.
Darkening RoomMatsutōya Yumi
It’s an incredibly luxurious combination: YOSHIKI from X JAPAN on piano and Yumi Matsutoya on vocals.
The phrases in the lyrics, which evoke a somewhat dark impression, feel as if they’re comforting a weary heart, don’t they?
QCQCKamisama, boku wa kizuite shimatta
The song starts with a light, upbeat guitar sound, but it carries a message of having become aware of the sad realities of this world.
It conveys sorrow and anger sent toward God over an unfair life—feelings that resonate with a poignant sadness.
With a catchy melody, it’s a track you’ll want to listen to again and again.
It was also used as the theme song for the 2017 TV drama, “Anata no Koto wa Sorehodo” (I Love You Just a Little Bit).
It’s a song that speaks for how we feel when we’re going through something painful.
Child of the devilHiguchi Ai
Akuma no Ko, which was chosen as the ending theme for Attack on Titan The Final Season Part 2, was released in 2022 by singer-songwriter Ai Higuchi, who draws attention with songs told from a unique perspective.
It’s a powerful, message-driven track that questions what justice really is.
The dramatic, evolving band sound is striking—from the dark piano tones to strings brimming with a sense of release, it gradually seeps into the heart.
It’s a healing song, carried by her clear, translucent voice.
Your Dissection Pure Love Song ~Die~aimyon
This is a song about obsessive love, sung by the popular female singer Aimyon.
It carries a straightforward message: “You are mine.” You could call it possessiveness.
From a man’s perspective, it’s a heavy and quite frightening song.
Aimyon’s excellent vocals convey the song’s world powerfully.
It also serves as a warning of what can happen when feelings of love become too strong.