[Songs with Great Lyrics] Masterpieces you’ll want to listen to while savoring the words that resonate with your heart

heavy smokenishina

Nishina – Heavy Smoke [Official Video]

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.

I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci

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

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.

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utatane

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In My RoomUtada Hikaru

In My Room / Hikaru Utada cover by MALIYA

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.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Listening to OliviaAnri

Anri / Listening to Olivia [Official Video]

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.

Tokyokujira

Kujira – Tokyo (Official Video)

“Tokyo” portrays the mixed emotions of starting a new life—heart fluttering with excitement yet tinged with loneliness and anxiety.

Released in 2023 and featured on Kujira’s third album, Vegetable Drawer, the track unfolds a fresh, vivid soundscape around the themes of new challenges and farewells.

The protagonist in the lyrics confronts moments of emptiness and solitude amid hectic, time-pressed days, while harboring a complex desire to find a new self in the dazzling lights of Tokyo.

It’s a song that gently supports anyone facing a move or a new chapter.

Standing at your starting line, Kujira’s warm voice will surely send you a powerful cheer.

Where dreams resideno ano wa

Noanowa “Yume no Arika” Music Video

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.

road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE

EXILE / Road

EXILE’s “Michi (Road)” is a warm ballad released in 2007 that leaves a resonant message in listeners’ hearts.

Its lyrics, which depict cherished memories of the past and hope for the future, are perfect for graduations and new beginnings in life, gently encouraging many people.

ATSUSHI’s soulful vocals convey both poignancy and strength at the same time.

Like a supportive song for life’s turning points, it stands by each listener and gives them courage.

For those leaving their hometowns or embarking on new challenges, this is a song we’d love to send their way.