Recommended breakup songs for women in their 50s: classic and popular Japanese tracks

While Listening to OliviaAnri

Anri / Listening to Olivia [Official Video]

It was Anri’s debut single in 1978, and although it didn’t sell very well at the time, over the years many artists have covered it, and it’s been sung as a long‑loved heartbreak song.

For people in their 50s or early 60s, when you think of breakup songs, this one is sure to come to mind.

It’s also a song where each word strangely rings true, and the woman’s clear, rather strong line, “Don’t ever call me again,” sounded like a message about not clinging to a love that’s over.

SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko

Seiko Matsuda / SWEET MEMORIES

Once you’re in your fifties, there are a lot of parts of a song like this that strangely resonate.

In the Suntory CAN Beer commercial, the scene where a female penguin singer performs a jazz-style number at a club and a penguin in the audience is moved to tears became a hot topic.

They initially kept the singer’s identity secret, but when it was later revealed to be Seiko Matsuda, it drew even more attention and the song became a hit.

Seiko’s English pronunciation is superb as well.

Farewell SongOhashi Junko

Wakare Uta / Miyuki Nakajima

We couldn’t find a recording by the original singer, so this will be Junko Ohashi’s performance.

For people in their 50s, it was the era that shifted from folk songs to New Music, and when it comes to heartbreak songs, Miyuki Nakajima’s songs are second to none.

A notable feature this time as well is that, although the performers may differ, many of the songs were written by Miyuki Nakajima.

Personally, for breakup songs, I like “Akujo” and “Hitori Jouzu.” The sharpness of her depictions—how she can express cruelty to the point of utter despair—is truly the mark of a genius.

JunkoNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Junko High Quality

The song “Junko,” included on the album Gyakuryū (Countercurrent), gained popularity through cable broadcasting, and many people requested it be released as a single.

However, the artist strongly felt it should remain just one track among the album’s songs, so the single release was delayed by half a year.

At the time, he was dating the popular idol Mako Ishino, and there were occasions at live shows where he changed “Junko” to “Mako” when singing.

That said, it’s very much a heartbreak song, so I don’t think it suits the lovey-dovey period…

My loverGorin Mayumi

My Lover

From its uniquely weighty intro, this song about an eternal farewell—one that lets you feel the changing seasons on your skin—has also been performed by Hibari Misora and Noriko Awaya.

It’s not uncommon for artists to cover or sing many classic songs, but this piece is such a masterpiece that even these two powerhouses felt compelled to sing it.

Good-bye, My LoveAn Ruisu

Women ~ A Beauty Has A Short Life ~ Goodbye My Love / Ann Lewis w/ PINX

In the early 1970s, Ann Lewis was promoted more as a wholesome idol at the time of her debut.

Her songs matched that image, singing about heartbreak in a refreshing way.

Even now, they have a melodic beauty that doesn’t feel dated.

Later, she thrived with rock-style songs like “Roppongi Shinju,” and her extremely eccentric outfits became a major talking point.

Drinks for twoAzusa Michiyo

Kazuyoshi Saito covers Mi Chiyo Azusa’s “Futari de Osake o,” covering a cover.

Ms.

Azusa, who won the Japan Record Award with “Hello, Baby” and had been known as a pure, innocent singer because of the song’s image, was in fact far from “pure.” She drank and smoked, and she has said she couldn’t stand the gap between her public image and her real self.

Amid all that, she sang a mature breakup song that fit her true image, and it became a huge hit.

The way she sat cross-legged and sang from the instrumental break was really cool.