A famous song about setbacks. A song that stays by your side when times are tough or you feel like giving up.
While living, there are happy moments, but there are surely many times when we feel crushed, too.
I researched songs about the theme of setbacks—ones that can give you encouragement.
Rather than songs that just say “Keep it bright and push through!”, I mainly picked tracks that stay close to those frustrating feelings during a setback and the tough times.
So when nothing seems to be going right, please give them a listen.
May setbacks become the seeds of success.
I’m sure music will give you plenty of strength!
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Masterpieces that sing of setbacks: songs that stay by your side in tough times or when you feel like giving up (31–40)
If being alive is painfulMoriyama Naotaro
This song doesn’t irresponsibly push you away with a message like “It’s tough now, but keep going and it’ll pay off.” Instead, it comforts you, telling you “It’s okay to cry,” and helps you feel at ease.
Taking a break is important too, isn’t it? And the impact of the final line is incredible.
Hello, Again ~A Place That’s Been There Since Long Ago~My Little Lover
The way it builds from the verse into the chorus is really great.
It’s a song about a young person who left their hometown to keep chasing their dream and is fighting on their own.
It inspires the feeling, “I’m sad now, but I’ll do my best for the people watching over me back home.”
Silent majorityKeyakizaka46
Keyakizaka46 feels like idols who aren’t typical idols.
The expressiveness of the center member is incredible, too.
This song, just like its title suggests, carries the message: “I don’t belong to anyone.
I will live by walking my own path, true to myself.”
As many times as you likeDREAMS COME TRUE
This song feels like it teaches you, when you’re feeling down and thinking “maybe it’s all over,” to “never give up—if you keep trying, you’ll definitely succeed.” After listening to it, I feel like I can get back up again and again.
Always, surely, it will come true.chay
There are moments when you feel like everything is going perfectly, right? When you’re feeling down, you just can’t seem to recall those times, and you sink deeper and deeper.
When things were going well, how did you feel? Surely, you weren’t overthinking—you were staying positive and looking only toward the future.
We’re human, so feeling low happens.
But when some time has passed, listen to this song and cheer up again, okay?
A collection of classic songs about setbacks: songs that stay by your side when times are tough or you feel like giving up (41–50)
Wings Named YouKobukuro
It’s the kind of song you want to listen to before a big, important moment.
It makes you feel, “With the wings called ‘you’ that were forged by all the effort you’ve built up until now, I’ll soar high!” The lyrics feel like they cheer on people who are giving their all with strength.
moonlightOnitsuka Chihiro
Overall, it’s a gloomy song.
The lyrics are about gradually losing yourself to people who mercilessly wield their power, as if there are no real adults in this world.
It’s the kind of track you end up listening to when you catch yourself thinking, “So this is what life is like.”