[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] Carefully selected deeply dark and bittersweet tracks that accompany painful feelings (11–20)
Words I will never forgetAjimine Kiwako
With its fantastical worldview and narrative richness, this gem of a track comes from Okinawan singer-songwriter Kiwako Ajimine and the group Future Ancient Orchestra.
A dreamlike melody that fuses classical, folk, and electronic sounds intertwines with Ajimine’s translucent vocals, evoking a poignant longing that seeps into the heart.
Released in July 2016 as the theme song for the smartphone game “Grimms Notes,” the piece transcended the game’s bounds with fairy tale–inspired lyrics and a beautiful melody that captivated many listeners.
Its ethereal atmosphere, as if you’ve wandered into a storybook world, makes it perfect for moments when you want a little distance from reality or time to sit quietly alone.
confessionHirai Ken
This is a song whose profound vocals by Ken Hirai resonate deeply, portraying hopeless darkness and profound sorrow.
Released in May 2012, it was used as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “W no Higeki” (The Tragedy of W).
The suffering and feelings of resignation depicted from the perspective of a woman carrying sadness are made even more striking through a music video with a unique visual aesthetic.
The work drew attention for its innovative production that fuses traditional Japanese performing arts—such as Awa Odori and Kabuki—with dance, leaving a strong impression both musically and visually.
It is a song that gently stays by the side of those trying to move forward despite their pain, or those who wish to confront the darker emotions within themselves.
The holeKing Gnu
A ballad that gently accompanies those carrying loneliness, loss, and wounded hearts.
It begins with a serene piano melody, then unfolds into a deeply poignant soundscape woven from strings and reverb-laden drums.
The lyrics, crafted by Daiki Tsuneta, express profound empathy for people bearing emotional scars and a powerful desire to protect the ones they love.
The music video, directed by filmmaker Takuya Uchiyama, beautifully portrays the shifting dynamics of a couple’s love.
When you want to take time alone to face yourself, or when your heart feels unsettled, this work offers quiet healing along with deep resonance.
I thought about killing myselfNakajima Mika
Even from the title, this song, “I Thought About Dying,” is sensational.
It’s Mika Nakashima’s 38th single, released in 2013.
The lyrics and composition are by Hiromu Akita of amazarashi, and you can feel many amazarashi elements packed into the lyrics and melody.
It’s a song that shows how people can get depressed or struggle over the smallest things, and it makes you realize you’re not the only weak one.
Please take your time and listen all the way to the end.
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
When it comes to Chihiro Onitsuka, this song is the one that defines her: “Gekkou” (Moonlight).
Released in 2000 as her second single, it was also the theme song for the hit drama Trick.
It’s a track that almost always comes up when people talk about dark songs, and it can push you even deeper when you’re already feeling down.
With an end-of-the-century vibe and a powerful sense of solitude—like you’re truly alone in this world—it’s a number I recommend for those who want to sink all the way into their melancholy.
UninstallIshikawa Chiaki
If you’re an anime fan, you probably saw the title and thought, “Ah…” That’s right—it’s the opening theme of the anime Bokurano, the one that piles despair upon despair.
The lyrics depict someone desperately confronting a hopeless reality, their body trembling.
And yet the song’s title is “Uninstall.” “Uninstall” means “delete”…
there’s no light in that, is there? When you’re crushed by a reality you can’t change, this is a song of despair that drags your feelings even deeper into the dark.
[Dark Songs] A carefully selected list of deeply dark and heartrending tracks that empathize with painful feelings (21–30)
PAPARAZZI — *This story is a work of fiction.*RADWIMPS
The song opens by riding on a track with a foreboding atmosphere.
It begins with a parent–child conversation that at first seems heartwarming, but the raw lyrics, filled with anger toward the paparazzi, are chilling.
Although the title says “This is fiction,” the lyrics are so realistic that you can’t help but wonder if it’s actually a true story.
The music video’s unsettling, almost deranged finish is also a must-see.
