Classic and popular ballad songs recommended for high school students

Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi

Letter to Tomorrow – Aoi Teshima (Full) Theme song for the getsu9 drama “Someday I Will Surely Cry When I Remember This Love” cover

This is Aoi Teshima’s fifth single, released in 2016.

It was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Someday, I Will Remember This Love and Surely Cry.” Many people are likely soothed by Teshima’s distinctive singing voice.

It’s a heartwarming song.

Night journeyYorushika

Yorushika – Night Journey (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

On quiet nights, memories of days gone by sometimes drift through your mind, don’t they? There’s a song by Yorushika that gently stays by your side in those wistful moments.

Conjuring scenes like swaying on a night train, the track depicts an inner journey of facing forward even while carrying past pain and farewells.

Suis’s clear, translucent voice conveys the stillness and solitude of the night—and the faint hope beyond—seeping deeply into the heart.

Released in March 2020, the song was featured as an insert track in the animated feature film “A Whisker Away.” Why not give it a listen when you want to take your time and sit with the sorrow of heartbreak?

rendezvousshaitoopu

rendezvous

Shytope is a three-piece rock band whose name comes from the “shy moles”—a group formed in a university music club that practiced in an underground studio.

Their popularity grew mainly through social media, and they made headlines for topping the Billboard JAPAN charts.

This song is a poignant breakup ballad that gazes back at a love that has passed.

Even while knowing it’s impossible, the protagonist dashes through the rain, longing to reunite with their lover—a scene likely to resonate with many teenagers.

The languidly sweet vocals and emotional soundscape make it perfect for nights when you want to sink into your feelings.

It’s a stylish, sentimental rock tune also included on their first full-length album, “Hors d’oeuvre.”

Hide-and-seekYuuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

A poignant ballad that likens a breakup with a live-in lover to the children’s game of hide-and-seek.

Through images of a tumbler left behind and a messy room, it vividly portrays a man’s heart steeped in emptiness and loneliness.

Yuuri’s delicate vocals, paired with a simple, guitar-centered arrangement, superbly convey the pain of heartbreak.

Released in December 2019, the recording was supervised by Hiro of MY FIRST STORY.

The music video, directed by Elizabeth Miyaji and featuring actress Yuu Kinoyama, further deepens the work’s world.

It is a gem of a love song that closely resonates with those who have just experienced a breakup or who still harbor longing for someone dear.

lemonYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

Released in 2018 as their eighth single, it was featured in the TBS television drama “Unnatural.” The music video was directed by Tomokazu Yamada, known for his work with Wednesday Campanella and Sakanaction.

It has a very dark atmosphere, yet the song is deeply moving.

futureKobukuro

Kobukuro “Mirai” film “orange” version

This is a song written specifically as the theme for the film “Orange.” With the star-studded pairing of Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya, many people likely went to theaters to see it.

The song is about the future, and it’s characterized by the two singers’ heartrending harmonies.

Happy Endingback number

Happy End – back number (Full)

A three-piece rock band, back number’s poignant 2016 number.

It became a hot topic as the theme song for the film “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday.” I bet many fans would say this is their favorite song.

If you watch it together with the music video featuring Erika Karata, it’s a real tearjerker.