More Than Friends, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs About That Delicate In-Between
“We’re closer than just ordinary friends, but we’re not lovers either…” Have you ever experienced that in-between relationship—more than friends, less than lovers?
If you both care for each other but just haven’t expressed your feelings yet, it might be a happy relationship.
But sometimes it can also be an unhealthy situation that just drags on without direction.
In this article, we’ll introduce a collection of songs that capture the complexity of that more-than-friends, not-quite-lovers dynamic.
You’re sure to find stories that mirror your own experiences and songs that resonate and move your heart.
Be sure to read the lyrics and listen while taking in each song’s story.
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- A song about friendship between men and women. A collection of friendship songs celebrating irreplaceable bonds.
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- [Love Songs] Say Goodbye to Uncertain Feelings! Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Not Sure If You Like Someone
- [Unattainable Love] A love song about two people who feel the same way but can’t be together
- [To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard
- Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a girlfriend or boyfriend
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- Songs About Age-Gap Love: A Curated Selection of Exquisite Love Songs
- [Empathetic & Tear-Jerking] A love song about an unrequited romance
- A love song that sings about messy, muddled feelings
- [For You in Love] A Love Song Perfect for Unrequited Feelings
- An empathy song to listen to when you’re hurting and feel like a 'convenient woman'
More Than Friends, Not Quite Lovers: A Collection of Love Songs Depicting Subtle Relationships (81–90)
someone I likeUeno Yūka
It’s not just something that happens in anime or dramas—some of you might have actually fallen for the same person as a friend, told them you’d support them while hiding your own feelings.
When it’s sprung on you suddenly, it’s understandable to feel unable to confess, yet you also can’t bring yourself to tell your friend or your crush how you feel.
It’s a helpless, brooding emotion, but here it’s expressed with truly straightforward, pure sincerity.
It’s a song that will resonate with anyone who’s had the same experience.
The distance between you and meInoue Sonoko
When it comes to songs that overflow with the desire to be even a little closer to the one you love, “Kimi to no Kyori” comes to mind.
Singer-songwriter Sonoko Inoue included it on her 2016 single “Natsukoi.” It portrays a pure figure who realizes her feelings for the person she likes but can’t quite bring herself to confess honestly.
Pay attention to her cute vocals that convey the gradually shrinking distance between the two.
It’s a song that makes your heart swell in the scene where she suppresses her pounding heartbeat to confess.
Be sure to listen to this bittersweet love song about two people with mutual crushes finally coming together.
I want to be your lover.Abe Mao
Back in your school days, didn’t your seniors seem so much more mature precisely because you were fed up with your childish classmates? Some of you might have felt shy yet secretly harbored admiration or a crush.
A song that brings back those bittersweet student memories is Mao Abe’s “I Want to Be Your Girlfriend.” The dialogue in the lyrics is in polite speech, which suggests the feelings are directed toward someone older.
It’s a classic that captures the raw emotions of unrequited love.
My friend’s lover is the person I used to date.Ren
This song, with its striking lyrics about a heartrending unrequited love, is a gem of a love ballad sung by REN.
Set in the complicated situation where the protagonist’s friend is dating their ex, it vividly portrays the inner conflict and jealousy they grapple with.
REN’s straightforward lyrics and powerful vocals resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in January 2024, the track fully showcases REN’s musicality.
It feels as if it speaks your feelings for you, making it perfect for anyone currently experiencing unrequited love or wanting to revisit memories of past relationships.
Only for you, clear skiesYorushika
It’s still the bloom of youthful love—just listening to those young feelings makes your heart flutter, doesn’t it? Even the words used as settings—torii gates, pockets, bus stops—are full of bittersweetness.
You want to say you like someone but can’t; it’s as if you’re being taught that love isn’t so simple.
Growing up is tough, isn’t it?
Banzai ~ So glad I loved you ~Urufuruzu
The lyrics are portrayed in a very straightforward way, and they match perfectly with the bright, upbeat sound and vocals.
It’s a track you can enjoy and get excited about together with your boyfriend.
It’s also fun to sing at karaoke.
[More Than Friends, Less Than Lovers] A Collection of Love Songs Depicting Delicately Ambiguous Relationships (91–100)
Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze
A massive hit by the reggae group Shonan no Kaze, featuring story-like lyrics that charmingly portray an awkward man’s feelings.
The rugged vocals pair perfectly with the straightforward, single-minded sentiments, making it a distinctly masculine track.
The chorus line, especially “You, the one who shines the brightest, are here,” resonates deeply.