A song of forbidden love. A heartrending, sorrowful love song.
A forbidden love you can’t tell anyone about.
If you’re reading this article, perhaps you’re experiencing a similar kind of love.
If so, there are probably many painful moments.
I’ve gathered some songs I want you to hear.
They capture the pain of falling for someone who already has a lover or partner and feeling lost, or knowing it won’t come true yet being unable to give up.
When things are tough, try finding one song that stays close to your feelings.
Like when someone listens to you, it might make your heart feel just a little lighter.
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A forbidden love song. A heartrending, sorrowful love ballad (71–80)
Love’s Melody and Rainy SkiesAAA
This song depicts the frustration and inner turmoil of having someone you love but not being able to say the simple words “I like you.” Even if you confess, it may not come true; the feelings are so serious that you can’t express them.
People who are in love will surely find this very relatable, won’t they?
I love you, but goodbye.CHIHIRO
CHIHRO’s heartrending song gently accompanies those struggling with unrequited love.
It delicately portrays the inner conflict of a woman who chooses to part ways despite still being in love.
Released in October 2017, the track was also used as the theme song for a romance program on AbemaTV, resonating with many listeners.
It’s a song that supports those suffering from an unattainable love or those who have decided to end a relationship.
Crying your heart out while listening might help you take a step toward a new love.
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE
Written as the theme song for the drama “Suna no Utsuwa,” DREAMS COME TRUE’s “Yasashii Kiss o Shite” is a recommended track for adult women.
Even if this love isn’t returned, you’re still the one destined for me.
The lyrics conjure an image of a strong woman, yet you can still hear the sadness of not being able to become his “only one.” Perhaps she silences the man because she’s afraid he’ll tell her it’s over.
Try listening to it on a lonely, difficult night.
366 daysHY
A bittersweet love song that sings of unforgettable feelings for a former lover.
“If only I’d told you how I felt from the start, maybe I wouldn’t be hurting so much…” Even if you regret it, it’s already too late.
The more you try to forget, the more you can’t stop thinking about that person.
Perhaps such secret feelings you can’t tell anyone are best left to time.
But this song isn’t just about single-minded unrequited love.
In fact, it’s also said to be a song about a forbidden love for someone who already has a family.
What kind of love story does it bring to your mind? Featured on HY’s April 2008 album HeartY and used as the theme song for the film Threads of Destiny, this piece is a must-hear ballad for anyone struggling with love.
DistanceJUJU
JUJU’s “Distance” portrays the raw emotions of a woman caught in a forbidden love.
She doesn’t need “I love you” or “thank you”—she wants a certain future for the two of them.
If the future can’t be seen, she wishes at least to have him by her side for now.
She wants to be loved, yet being loved too much hurts—perhaps because she’s suppressing the sorrow of a man who says “I love you” but won’t choose her.
Listening to it is achingly sad, as it captures the delicacy of a woman trying desperately not to lose the love she’s been given.
A triangular lovesaji
A saji song that portrays the pain of unrequited love with a heart-wrenching voice and delicate words.
The aching feelings of being unable to hold back one’s love are expressed with striking directness.
Many listeners will inevitably relate to the narrator’s position—unable to become a lover yet continuing to harbor unwavering affection.
Included on their second mini-album Hanabi no Uta, released in September 2020, the track became a hit through TikTok.
The arrangement, featuring live strings, further enhances the song’s appeal.
It’s a piece that offers solace to anyone who has experienced heartbreak or unrequited love—or is struggling with it right now.
Unraveling Loveyama
A song that tightens your chest with yama’s faint, heartrending vocals.
It portrays the complexity of love and the pain that can’t be avoided, delicately depicting two people who hurt each other yet still love one another.
Wanting to be together but being unable to say it honestly reflects an awareness that someone is being hurt and that the relationship should not go on.
It makes you think deeply about whether happiness awaits a love forged at the cost of hurting many, and its quiet, lingering ache of unrequited love pierces the heart.
This is a track I especially recommend to those struggling with clumsy, awkward love.