Classic and popular ballad songs recommended for high school students

Love songMarushii

marsi – Love Song (Official Music Video)

Marcy’s latest work is a song that finds the warmth of romance in everyday life.

Released digitally in September 2023, it’s a love ballad that also carries a refreshing feel.

An original music video created in collaboration with LINE MUSIC has been released as well, highlighting the close connection with fans.

It’s recommended for those who want to cherish the small, everyday moments with their partner or have someone they wish to stay with forever.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to not only on special days but on ordinary days, too.

AnswerIkuta Rira

Lila Ikuta 'Answer' Official Music Video

A moving ballad by Lila Ikuta that weaves delicate emotional expression with a powerful message, portraying the search for answers to forge one’s own future.

It beautifully captures the protagonist’s emotional journey—from anxious nights curled up in tears to the resolve to carve out a path with their own hands.

Released in March 2021, the song was also featured in a Tokyo Marine Nichido Anshin Life commercial.

It gently encourages people who, despite feeling anxiety and loneliness in their daily lives, choose to face forward and overcome them.

It’s also recommended when you want to convey your feelings at karaoke.

I wish I were the one you liked.Te ga kuriimu pan

I wish I were the one you love / Hands Like Cream Bread (Wishing I’m her / tegacreampan) [Official Music Video]

A heart-stirring ballad by Tegami Cream Pan, where earnest feelings and a bittersweet mood are woven together through a clear, transparent vocal.

It gently portrays a woman who carries deep feelings for someone important yet struggles to express them.

Featuring an evocative piano melody, the song was released in April 2023.

Showcasing her delicate expressive power to the fullest, this piece speaks on behalf of girls in love.

It’s a must-listen for those who keep their feelings for a crush to themselves or find it hard to be honest about their emotions toward someone dear.

AzaleaYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Azalea

A song by Kenshi Yonezu written as the theme for the Netflix drama “Sayonara no Tsuzuki.” Reflecting the story of meeting a stranger who has inherited the heart of a lost lover, it portrays the sorrow of losing someone beloved and the hope that life carries on nonetheless.

Blending delicate piano melodies with electronic elements in a modern ballad style, it was released in November 2024.

In step with the drama’s narrative, it centers on themes of inherited memories and unwavering love, resonating with the sentiment embodied in the white azalea’s language of flowers: “fulfilled love.” It is a gentle companion for those who have lost someone dear or wish to heal the pain of heartbreak.

Versailles – Versailles –ayaka

Ayaka / Versailles – Versailles – Animation Lyric Video

The theme song of the theatrical anime The Rose of Versailles captivates with its sweeping, moving melody and heartfelt lyrics.

Ayaka’s powerful yet delicate vocals elegantly express the emotions of characters who confront fate in pursuit of love and freedom.

Written specifically as the theme for The Rose of Versailles, released in January 2025, the song masterfully captures the film’s world through music.

The dazzling orchestral arrangement and crystalline vocals weave a harmony that further elevates the movie’s majestic atmosphere.

It’s a perfect choice for singing with thoughts of someone dear, or when you want to perform with heartfelt emotion in a calm, intimate mood.

Sandaime J Soul Brothershanabi

Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE / Fireworks ~Short Version~

Released in 2012 as the seventh single, Hanabi was selected as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Onegai! Ranking” in August 2012.

The song surpassed 750,000 downloads as a single track and was certified Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

It’s a piece that conveys both the beauty and ephemerality of fireworks.

tomorrowNoda Megumi

Manami Noda – Tomorrow (Official Music Video) [Thursday Theater: Theme Song of “My Treasure”]

A ballad that portrays a bittersweet state of mind with a voice where gentleness and strength coexist.

The delicate conflict of trying to move forward to protect what’s precious is expressed with nuance.

Woven with a tender, translucent vocal, the melody sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.

Released by Emi Noda in October 2024 as the theme song for the drama “My Treasure,” the track features a sound marked by evocative piano and strings.

It’s a song that gently gives a push to those who, despite their doubts, choose to face forward and live on.

Perfect for moments when you want to convey your feelings to someone important through song, or when you need to rouse your own spirits.