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