[Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

From among the many masterpieces Japan is proud of, we’ve carefully selected songs with outstanding lyrics to introduce to you.

We’ve gathered “once-heard-never-forgotten” message songs that speak straight to the heart, ranging from universally acclaimed classics to the latest hits.

If you’re looking to listen to music that will make you cry, move you, or lift your spirits—or songs that might even influence your life—these picks are perfect.

Please give them a listen.

I believe you’ll find songs that will stay by your side, encourage you, and become a source of emotional support when times are tough.

[Must Read] Songs with Great Lyrics: Moving Tracks You’ll Want to Listen to While Reading the Lyrics (71–80)

beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko

aiko - 'Kabutomushi' music video

beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko

Aiko has released a wide range of songs, from pop tunes to tear-jerking ballads.

Her songs about love in particular resonate with many women in love.

Among them, “Kabutomushi” is a ballad in which she likens herself to a rhinoceros beetle.

The lyrics, which express feelings for someone she can no longer meet, are interspersed with uniquely rendered scenes of changing seasons and emotions, making the song even more beautiful.

It’s not just a bittersweet love song; I feel this song taught me the importance of the very act of caring for someone.

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Kado(guchi) Shichigatsu

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Love letterYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Love Letter” Official Music Video

Love letterYOASOBI

YOASOBI’s song “Love Letter” is a single released on August 9, 2021.

Alongside ikura’s richly expressive vocals, the lyrics—filled with the joy and love of having found beloved music—captivate listeners.

Based on a letter from a sixth-grade listener, the piece vividly depicts how profoundly music can touch the human heart.

With Ayase’s delicate melodies and arrangements bringing warm emotion, this work is dedicated to everyone who has ever been encouraged or uplifted by music in their everyday life.

Give it a listen when you want to start something anew or express gratitude for irreplaceable encounters.

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Child of the devilHiguchi Ai

Ai Higuchi / Devil's Child [Official Video] | Ai Higuchi “Akuma no Ko” Attack on Titan The Final Season Part 2 ED theme

Child of the devilHiguchi Ai

“Doing the ‘right’ thing may not always be the correct answer.

This is a stirring track imbued with philosophical questioning in its lyrics.

It’s a song by singer-songwriter Ai Higuchi, released as a single in 2022, and used as the ending theme for the anime Attack on Titan.

Its shadowy, message-driven tone, which reflects the work’s worldview, leaves a strong impression.

It makes you think about what kind of life you should lead from here on.

Take some time alone and listen closely.

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[Must Read] Songs with Great Lyrics: Moving Tracks You’ll Want to Listen to While Reading the Lyrics (81–90)

Daydream BelieverTHE TIMERS

THE TIMERS – Daydream Believer (Hammock Mix)

Daydream BelieverTHE TIMERS

A number released in 1968 by The Timers, led by Kiyoshiro Imawano.

It’s a bright, pop tune that sings about realizing the importance of the precious girlfriend who had always been by his side only after she’s gone, and feeling deeply that she will never come back.

He’s enveloped in a strange feeling, as if the days spent with her were just a dream.

It must have been a wonderful romance.

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Blown by the windElefanto Kashimashi

Blown by the wind

Blown by the windElefanto Kashimashi

This is a song by The Elephant Kashimashi, released in 1999.

The band often sings about “wind,” and this track is one of those—its charm is sprinkled throughout with images of the wind.

While being blown by the breeze, it sings about reflecting on the days we’ve lived so far and taking a step toward tomorrow.

It feels like the kind of song that would put a spring in your step on your way home from work or school.

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Sayonara ColorSUPER BUTTER DOG

Sayonara Color

Sayonara ColorSUPER BUTTER DOG

“Sayonara COLOR,” released in 2001 by the five-piece Japanese band SUPER BUTTER DOG.

After the band’s breakup, vocalist Takashi Nagazumi continued as a solo artist under the name Hanaregumi.

It’s a song about parting that looks forward with positivity, set to a slow tempo, with gentle vocals that quietly seep into the heart.

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A bird that cannot flyyuzu

Yuzu - A Bird That Cannot Fly (solo acoustic)

A bird that cannot flyyuzu

Yuzu has many songs with moving lyrics that resonate deeply.

Their track “Tobenai Tori” (“Flightless Bird”) is also filled with a range of emotions and inspiration.

Released in 2000 as Yuzu’s 10th single, it was also used as a TV drama theme song.

Sometimes you feel down even when nothing in particular has happened—no incidents or failures.

This is a song that gently cleanses that heavy, gloomy feeling, and after listening, it makes you think, “Alright, I’ll try my best again tomorrow.”

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