[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 Words (141–150)

DreamerJO1

JO1 | ’Dreamer’ Official MV

DreamerJO1

This song, released in February 2022 as an anthem to support those chasing their dreams, was written as the theme for the omnibus drama Short Program, in which all JO1 members starred.

It’s a medium-tempo ballad filled with encouragement for everyone who refuses to stop moving forward, featuring a dramatic structure where stillness and motion intersect.

The lyrics portray a positive resolve to press on, carrying the light received from someone dear, and the image of continuing step by step despite uncertainty inspires courage.

For JO1, it is also a song that symbolizes the bonds among the members.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

heavy smokenishina

Nishina – Heavy Smoke [Official Video]

heavy smokenishina

Nishina is a rising young singer-songwriter who debuted in 2017.

She is also a member of Prasonica, an acoustic session unit formed by singer-songwriters.

“Heavy Smoke” is a song that portrays the feelings of a woman in unrequited love who wants to be dyed in the colors of the person she likes.

It hints at a slight possessiveness—never wanting to be apart, wanting to keep them close—but that only shows how deeply she cares, which is quite charming.

It’s a recommended track for anyone experiencing unrequited love.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci

wacci “I Became Someone Else’s Girlfriend” Music Video

I became someone else's girlfriend.wacci

The very title alone tugs at the heartstrings—wacci’s “I Became Someone Else’s Girlfriend” leaves you with an indescribable feeling.

This song is well known as a tearjerker and a heartbreak anthem, and it’s a track from their third album, “Ultramarine Refrain,” released in 2018.

Written like a letter to an ex, it calmly lays out the narrator’s feelings: in the first verse it sounds almost like she’s boasting about her new boyfriend, but by the second verse, his stifling side and her lingering attachment to her ex start to quietly seep through.

As that lingering attachment gradually heats up, a wave of poignancy comes crashing in.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Must-Read] Songs with Great Lyrics: Moving Tracks You’ll Want to Listen to While Reading the Words (151–160)

In My RoomUtada Hikaru

In My Room / Hikaru Utada cover by MALIYA

In My RoomUtada Hikaru

Singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada, who made a sensational debut in her teens and has continued to influence the J-POP scene since 2000.

“In My Room,” a track from her first album First Love, lingers in the ear with its wistful melody and stylish ensemble.

The lyrics, which reveal a loneliness behind a somewhat cool, detached stance, may make some listeners feel the same way as they listen.

It’s an emotional number that feels timeless, blending coolness with a touch of melancholy.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Listening to OliviaAnri

Anri / Listening to Olivia [Official Video]

Listening to OliviaAnri

In 1978, Anri burst onto the music scene like a comet with her debut single, “Oribia wo Kikinagara” (“Listening to Olivia”).

The song delicately portrays a woman, encouraged by Olivia Newton-John’s music, trying to move forward while grappling with heartbreak and inner conflict.

Anri’s crystal-clear vocals gently envelop the listener’s emotions.

For those freshly heartbroken or ready to take a new step, this track offers quiet courage and healing.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

KoiAndrop

androp – “Koi” Music Video, theme song for the film “Until I Meet September’s Love”

KoiAndrop

This is androp’s “koi,” released in February 2019.

It’s the theme song for the film “Until I Meet September’s Love.” A poignantly sad love song, which is androp’s forte.

Its simplicity allows the lyrics to truly resonate.

Even outside of romance, it overflows with the feeling of cherishing someone.

The wistful melody further enhances the beauty of the lyrics.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Where dreams resideno ano wa

Noanowa “Yume no Arika” Music Video

Where dreams resideno ano wa

When I first listened to this song, I immediately wondered, “What kind of person is singing it?” When I looked into it, I found out the vocalist plays the cello, and the band itself feels like a musical ensemble, which struck me as very unique.

The song portrays someone desperately living in the present while being separated from a loved one.

The balance between the music and the vocals is a perfect match, and it’s the kind of band that makes you want to listen to their other songs too.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem