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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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)
Don’t give upZARD
It’s that song the performers always sing when the 24-Hour TV marathon runner is nearing the finish line.
Izumi Sakai’s clear, translucent voice is also distinctive.
Even when you stumble over something, listening to this song gives you the courage to keep running and not give up until the goal.
A classic song about setbacks. Songs that stay by your side when times are tough or you feel like giving up (51–60)
At all times.Makihara Noriyuki
Job hunting, school admissions, and other turning points in life are all around us.
This song portrays the worries and inner conflicts of people standing at those crossroads.
Even amid such difficult circumstances, it’s a track that inspires you to live true to yourself without being swept along by those around you.
IchibanboshiSnow Man
This is a message song by Snow Man that expresses the determination to keep moving forward even when your heart feels like it’s about to break.
A medium-tempo ballad, it features a warm melody and stunning harmonies that showcase the individuality of all nine members.
The lyrics carefully portray a shift in emotion—from the pain of being unable to accept even words of encouragement to a feeling of gratitude toward those who offered support.
Included on the album “i DO ME,” released in May 2023, the song has maintained strong popularity among fans.
It gently accompanies anyone striving toward a dream or hoping to support someone else.
Whether crying or laughingKetsumeishi
This Ketsumeishi song is a gem that powerfully sings about overcoming setbacks.
It’s included on the album “Ketsuno Police 10” and was released in October 2016.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama “6-Byōkan no Kiseki: Hanabishi Mochizuki Seitarō no Yūutsu” (A Six-Second Miracle: The Melancholy of Fireworks Artisan Seitaro Mochizuki).
The lyrics are striking in the way they teach the importance of accepting your true feelings—both in happy times and in hard times—as you live your life.
Like a flower that shines across the seasons, it expresses both the beauty and the transience of life.
As you listen, don’t you start to feel like you can accept every version of yourself? Give it a spin when you want to face forward and take that first step.
Hammer Song and the Tower of PainBUMP OF CHICKEN
There are times when, while you’re doing your best, you kind of wish people around you would be a little kinder, right? When you’ve hit even a small setback, you can’t help but start worrying about things you normally wouldn’t, and in the end you might end up feeling really blue.
This is a lighthearted yet gentle song that, when you listen to it in those moments, makes you think, “Huh? Maybe I was being a bit dramatic.”
HappinessAI
When you’re sad, you might want to be alone or feel unpleasant.
At times like that, this song reminds you that laughing with the people around you and keeping a smile are what matter most.
Listening to it also fills you with happiness.
Nothing I do goes well.meiyo
It’s an addictive song that lays bare the muddled thoughts and days when nothing goes right.
Released by meiyo in January 2022, it unfolds a distinctive sound that deftly weaves together humor and relatability.
Packed with contemporary themes—self-loathing, comparing oneself to others, and the struggle with social media validation—it’s sung in a self-addressing tone that leaves a strong impression.
The music video also portrays everyday “not going well” moments—like failing to split disposable chopsticks cleanly, or finding chopsticks included with a pudding—creating a unique, offbeat world.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you can’t sort out your feelings or when you feel unable to move forward.