Recommended heartbreak songs for women in their 40s: classic and popular Japanese hits

HeyDREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE – “Hey”

It was released in 2010 as DREAMS COME TRUE’s 46th single.

As the first of DCT’s two consecutive weekly single releases, it features lyrics that many can relate to, as if speaking on behalf of a woman’s feelings after a breakup.

It’s a song that lets you cry your heart out and gives you the strength to move forward again.

BELIEVEMISIA

MISIA – BELIEVE （Official HD Music Video）

For more recent listeners, MISIA is probably strongly associated with being a classic, orthodox diva, but for women in their 40s, doesn’t she evoke more of an R&B singer image? Among her songs from that era, the one I especially recommend is BELIEVE.

Although the chorus features a high-pitched phrase with quite dramatic pitch jumps, most of the rest sits in the low-to-mid range.

Since there are repeated falsetto passages, if you’re not comfortable with head voice, try lowering the key before you tackle it.

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I love you more than anyone.Furuchi Toko

Toko Furuuchi - Even Though I Love You More Than Anyone

Released in 1996 as Tokiko Kounouchi’s seventh single.

It was used as an insert song for the YTV/NTV drama “Oretachi ni Ki o Tsukero,” and both the lyrics and music were written by Kounouchi herself.

A classic heartbreak song that has been covered by many artists, regardless of gender, and continues to be sung.

Goodbyes still dwell in my heart even now.ZARD

Farewell still resides in my heart.

It was released in 1995 as ZARD’s 16th single.

It was chosen as the theme song for our film series “Reiko Shiratori de Gozaimasu!” and reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.

You can feel the resolve to look at heartbreak positively by retracing the places filled with memories of him.

It’s a song that gives strength with lyrics about sorting through those memories and graduating from him.

Dreaming I was dreamingAmuro Namie

Namie Amuro-Dreaming I was dreaming

It was released in 1997 as Namie Amuro’s 11th single.

It became a hot topic as her last single before going on maternity leave the following year, in 1998, and also because she dramatically cut her hair short.

The song was used as the TV commercial image song for Miki’s “Ginza Jewelry Maki Estate Twin Jewelry,” and it also drew attention for her dancing while cradling her pregnant belly.

Let’s count your kissesKoyanagi Yuki

Let's count your kisses {Furū} | Monique Dehany

It was released in 1999 as Yuki Koyanagi’s debut single.

Chosen as the theme song for the WOWOW-broadcast anime “Reign: The Conqueror,” it became a long-running hit, selling a total of 736,000 copies.

Many people were astonished by her extraordinary vocal ability—unusual for a Japanese singer—and by how she delivered this song at such a young age, while still in high school.

It’s a song notable for its poignant lyrics.

Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartShinohara Ryoko with t.komuro

Ryoko Shinohara with Tetsuya Komuro 'Longing, Heartache, and Strength' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Ryoko Shinohara’s classic song “Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokorozuyosa to.” Since it was composed by Tetsuya Komuro, you can feel that distinctive Komuro sound throughout the track.

For men in their 40s, it likely stands out as the theme song for the legendary game Street Fighter.

The song features expansive, soaring vocals, but the overall range—mid2B to hiD—isn’t particularly wide, so it’s surprisingly easy to sing.

There’s no use of falsetto, and the melody is fairly simple, so as long as you set the key appropriately, you should be able to sing it without issue.

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