RAG MusicTeens
A wonderful classic

Classic and popular ballad songs recommended for high school students

The great thing about ballad songs is that you can really take in the emotions and messages in the lyrics and enjoy them while relating them to your own experiences.

I’ve picked out some ballad songs I’d recommend to high school students!

You might just discover a new favorite ballad.

Playlist

Classic and popular ballad songs recommended for high school students
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastClass journalmurasaki ima
Class journalmurasaki imaplay_arrow
A gospel ballad set in a school that shines a light on those who are hurt
2eastBlue JeansHANA
Blue JeansHANAplay_arrow
HANA’s youthful love song that sings about real, down-to-earth feelings of romance
3eastMay it be filled with kindnessFlower
May it be filled with kindnessFlowerplay_arrow
A classic with poignant lyrics and a beautiful melody
4eastbowknotAimer
bowknotAimerplay_arrow
Aimer’s bittersweet ballads and heartwarming vocals
5eastKanadeSukima Suichi
KanadeSukima Suichiplay_arrow
An inspiring track featured across numerous media outlets
6eastLetter to TomorrowTeshima Aoi
Letter to TomorrowTeshima Aoiplay_arrow
Aoi Teshima’s theme song, a heartwarming and soothing singing voice
7eastlemonYonezu Kenshi
lemonYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
The theme song of “Unnatural” is dark and moving.
8eastGloriousBE:FIRST
GloriousBE:FIRSTplay_arrow
An anthem that celebrates effort, with the powerful push to keep you moving forward
9eastSparkleRADWIMPS
SparkleRADWIMPSplay_arrow
The moving theme song of the movie “Your Name.”
10eastBunny GirlAKASAKI
Bunny GirlAKASAKIplay_arrow
AKASAKI’s famous song, with a narrow vocal range that anyone can sing
11eastHappy Endingback number
Happy Endingback numberplay_arrow
Theme song for a film: a bittersweet love song by back number
12eastStoryAI
StoryAIplay_arrow
AI's masterpiece: powerful vocals and captivating R&B
13eastfutureKobukuro
futureKobukuroplay_arrow
The poignant theme song of the movie “Orange”
14eastA Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaru
A Bouquet for YouUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada’s heartwarming theme song
15eastprecious loveEXILE ATSUSHI
precious loveEXILE ATSUSHIplay_arrow
A classic song that gently sings about the feeling of being in love.
16eastHEROMr.Children
HEROMr.Childrenplay_arrow
A song that sings of a hero for someone special
17eastNight sky.miwa feat. haji→
Night sky.miwa feat. haji→play_arrow
A heartfelt love song that sings of a bittersweet love
18eastpupilŌhara Sakurako
pupilŌhara Sakurakoplay_arrow
An upbeat song that cheers on people who chase their dreams
19eastrendezvousshaitoopu
rendezvousshaitoopuplay_arrow
Shytopes’ bittersweet heartbreak song
20eastHide-and-seekYuuri
Hide-and-seekYuuriplay_arrow
A ballad that likens a breakup with a live-in partner to a game of hide-and-seek
21eastMetronomeYonezu Kenshi
MetronomeYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu’s love ballad, feelings passing each other by
22eastNight journeyYorushika
Night journeyYorushikaplay_arrow
A song that nestles close to memories on a quiet night
23eastMAYBETomioka Ai
MAYBETomioka Aiplay_arrow
A love ballad that sings of Ai Tomioka’s hope for the future
24eastglobeYonezu Kenshi
globeYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu’s moving theme song portrays the journey of life.
25eastDinner Songtuki.
Dinner Songtuki.play_arrow
A song that gently expresses the struggle between love and parting
26eastWherever you areONE OK ROCK
Wherever you areONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
A moving song that portrays the bonds of family
27eastWe againSG
We againSGplay_arrow
A ballad depicting parting and reunion
28eastAbout meMrs. GREEN APPLE
About meMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s moving masterpiece that resonates with the heart
29eastspring melancholyMrs. GREEN APPLE
spring melancholyMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A youth song by Mrs. GREEN APPLE
30eastDarlingMrs. GREEN APPLE
DarlingMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
A coming-of-age song about embracing your true self
31eastDear Sir or Madam, on this day when cherry blossoms fluttermafumafu
Dear Sir or Madam, on this day when cherry blossoms fluttermafumafuplay_arrow
Mafumafu’s Spring Youth Story
32easthorizonback number
horizonback numberplay_arrow
A poignant song for rebirth that resonates with the heart
33eastMy BooShimizu Shota
My BooShimizu Shotaplay_arrow
Shota Shimizu's heartrending love song
34eastWish: To You Back ThenMirei Touyama
Wish: To You Back Then Mirei Toyamaplay_arrow
A 2017 answer song by Mirei Toyama
35eastPromise of SunflowersHata Motohiro
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiroplay_arrow
The heartwarming song that's the talk of the movie scene, a smash hit
36eastMay it be filled with kindnessJUJU
May it be filled with kindnessJUJUplay_arrow
A song famous for the Cube commercial
37eastplanetariumOtsuka Ai
planetariumOtsuka Aiplay_arrow
A classic ballad that portrays a heartrending love
38eastSakuraCrystal Kay
SakuraCrystal Kayplay_arrow
A bittersweet song depicting high school graduation and romance
39eastLook Up at the Stars of the Night ~Our Song~yuzu
Look Up at the Stars of the Night ~Our Song~yuzuplay_arrow
A support song that delivers Yuzu’s hopes
40eastblue skyMarushii
blue skyMarushiiplay_arrow
A rock ballad that portrays confusion and hope
41eastmore than anyoneBE:FIRST
more than anyoneBE:FIRSTplay_arrow
A ballad depicting the struggles of a man tormented at heart by BE:FIRST
42eastUnrequited loveSUPER BEAVER
Unrequited loveSUPER BEAVERplay_arrow
A bittersweet love ballad by SUPER BEAVER
43eastSummer MeteorAMPTAKxCOLORS
Summer MeteorAMPTAKxCOLORSplay_arrow
AMPTAKxCOLORS’s summer shooting star is youthfully nostalgic
44eastElfAdo
ElfAdoplay_arrow
A ballad depicting an elf’s loneliness and inner conflict
45eastOLDROSEAqua Timez
OLDROSEAqua Timezplay_arrow
Aqua Timez’s gem of a track. The fifth collaboration work with BLEACH.
46eastGirl Like MeCream
Girl Like MeCreamplay_arrow
The song “Cream” that went viral on TikTok
47eastForget-me-notGReeeeN
Forget-me-notGReeeeNplay_arrow
GReeeeN’s new song is the ending theme for the anime
48eastCorrectRADWIMPS
CorrectRADWIMPSplay_arrow
RADWIMPS' graduation song resonates with the hearts of young people.
49eastContrastTOMOO
ContrastTOMOOplay_arrow
Expressing youthful romance with care through TOMOO’s piano piece
50eastWinter and Springback number
Winter and Springback numberplay_arrow
A song about the heartache of heartbreak and the courage to overcome it
51eastFinale.eill
Finale.eillplay_arrow
A moving ballad as a movie theme song
52eastSpring Notesmiwa
Spring Notesmiwaplay_arrow
A soothing song written by miwa with a youth theme
53eastMelancholy Cherry Blossomsatarayo
Melancholy Cherry Blossomsatarayoplay_arrow
Atarayo depicts a spring departure
54eastYELLikimonogakari
YELLikimonogakariplay_arrow
A forward-looking cheer song, “YELL”: Courage for a new life
55eastLove songMarushii
Love songMarushiiplay_arrow
Depicting the warmth of love in everyday life
56eastSakura Clear SkiesYuuri
Sakura Clear SkiesYuuriplay_arrow
Yuri’s poignant masterpiece depicting feelings about graduation
57eastSakura PhotographHatsuboshi Gakuen
Sakura PhotographHatsuboshi Gakuenplay_arrow
A ballad for the season when cherry blossoms dance, an emotional song
58eastSakura RabbitKawasaki Takaya
Sakura RabbitKawasaki Takayaplay_arrow
Kawasaki Takaya’s spring youth ballad song
59eastAnswerIkuta Rira
AnswerIkuta Riraplay_arrow
Depicting the resolve to carve out my own future
60eastI wish I were the one you liked.Te ga kuriimu pan
I wish I were the one you liked.Te ga kuriimu panplay_arrow
Cream Bun, a ballad depicting a woman who cannot express her feelings
61eastGazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiro
Gazing up, the sky is blueHata Motohiroplay_arrow
An inspiring song by Motohiro Hata that captures the milestone of graduation
62eastAzaleaYonezu Kenshi
AzaleaYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
A ballad depicting lost love and hope for the life that follows
63eastVersailles – Versailles –ayaka
Versailles - Versailles - ayakaplay_arrow
Ayaka’s theme song expresses feelings of love and freedom
64eastSandaime J Soul Brothershanabi
Sandaime J Soul Brothershanabiplay_arrow
Fireworks, TV show theme song, big hit
65easttomorrowNoda Megumi
tomorrowNoda Megumiplay_arrow
A ballad that portrays a heartbreaking emotion with a gentle singing voice
66eastA Gentle BallAimer
A Gentle BallAimerplay_arrow
A fantastical piece set at a ballroom on a starry night
67eastYC&K
YC&Kplay_arrow
A sad love song, a classic by C&K
68east366 daysHY
366 daysHYplay_arrow
HY’s popular song “Akai Ito” has been chosen as a TV drama’s theme song.
69eastQuestion 1Ao
Question 1Aoplay_arrow
A moving song depicting the anxieties and hopes of high school students
70eastScooping up blueatarayo
Scooping up blueatarayoplay_arrow
A refreshing song that colors a page of youth
71eastBlue BenchSasuke
Blue BenchSasukeplay_arrow
Regret and feelings toward my ex-girlfriend after our breakup
72eastBe the soil that makes flowers bloom, rather than the flowers themselves.berii guddoman
Be the soil that makes flowers bloom, rather than the flowers themselves.berii guddomanplay_arrow
You, who keep trying, are a wonderful cheer song
73eastMarch 9Remioromen
March 9Remioromenplay_arrow
A graduation song as a love song. Expressing feelings of gratitude.
74eastWords of FarewellŌhashi Torio
Words of FarewellŌhashi Torioplay_arrow
Ohashi Trio gives a jazzy cover of “Okuru Kotoba.”
75eastGraduationOzaki Yutaka
GraduationOzaki Yutakaplay_arrow
Yutaka Ozaki’s message of youth, expressing a longing for freedom
76eastBeautiful DaysHirai Dai
Beautiful DaysHirai Daiplay_arrow
Sing of hope and bonds in Dai Hirai’s youth anthem
77eastDREAMERIkuta Rira
DREAMERIkuta Riraplay_arrow
A gem of a mid-tempo ballad whose passion for chasing dreams and unwavering devotion strikes the heart
78eastBlue in the classroomHoshimachi Suisei
Blue in the classroomHoshimachi Suiseiplay_arrow
A moving song that portrays the parting and hope of youth.
79eastperiodIshizaki Hyuui
periodIshizaki Hyuuiplay_arrow
A warm ballad depicting the end of love and a new beginning
80eastSCHOOL DAYSshiritsu ebisu chūgaku
SCHOOL DAYSshiritsu ebisu chūgakuplay_arrow
A song of anticipation and determination for a new life
81eastGraduation PhotoArai Yumi
Graduation PhotoArai Yumiplay_arrow
A classic of youth and memories, painted with a gentle singing voice
82eastTo My AdolescenceAka-hoho Shishunki
To My AdolescenceAka-hoho Shishunkiplay_arrow
A coming-of-age song that gently portrays adolescent emotions
83eastAfter-schoolDaisycall
After-schoolDaisycallplay_arrow
A fast-paced song that captures youthful romance
84eastNAOHY
NAOHYplay_arrow
HY's "NAO" is a song about unrequited love.
85eastGraduationMy Hair is Bad
GraduationMy Hair is Badplay_arrow
High school romance is brief and marked by bittersweet farewells.
86eastHeroineback number
Heroineback numberplay_arrow
back number's winter love songs
87eastUnrequited lovemiwa
Unrequited lovemiwaplay_arrow
Miwa is a singer and popular among young people.
88eastSakura, You, and Ituki.
Sakura, You, and Ituki.play_arrow
tuki.’s songs express the bittersweetness of youth.
89eastBe My LastUtada Hikaru
Be My LastUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
A heartbreaking breakup song that resonates with high school students
90eastsecret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE
secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONEplay_arrow
A classic anthem of youth and farewell, newly appreciated by a younger generation
91eastYou are my friend.Hirai Ken
You are my friend.Hirai Kenplay_arrow
A classic ballad by Ken Hirai brimming with friendship
92eastDear My FriendEvery Little Thing
Dear My FriendEvery Little Thingplay_arrow
This one is Every Little Thin…
93eastroad; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILE
road; way; path; street; route; Tao (in philosophy)EXILEplay_arrow
A song of parting and hope—an emotionally resonant track from EXILE
94eastThank youMACO
Thank youMACOplay_arrow
A heartwarming song that conveys feelings of gratitude
95eastI stillmilet
I stillmiletplay_arrow
milet’s love ballad that serves as a movie theme song
96eastMiracleGurīn Bōizu
MiracleGurīn Bōizuplay_arrow
The moving theme song of GReeeeN’s film
97eastVoice of the Seaurashima tarou
Voice of the Seaurashima tarouplay_arrow
A bittersweet sea ballad that portrays unrequited love
98eastsoupFujihara Sakura
soupFujihara Sakuraplay_arrow
Masaharu Fukuyama’s theme song, a heartwarming and gentle track
99eastlike; to like; fond ofNishino Kana
like; to like; fond ofNishino Kanaplay_arrow
Kana Nishino’s song sings about youthful love.
100eastLove StoryAmuro Namie
Love StoryAmuro Namieplay_arrow
Namie Amuro moves the heart with a drama theme song
101eastfateTani Yuuki
fateTani Yuukiplay_arrow
A song that portrays the wavering heart of a dream-chaser