Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs.
I’ve put together a generous selection of negative, melancholy songs with the theme of “despair.” Whether it’s heartbreak from unrequited or impossible love, or setbacks in life, the shades of despair vary, with each artist’s individuality and emotions on full display.
When you just want to sink into your feelings, why not listen closely and let yourself fully experience despair, all the way to the very bottom? Some songs even let a glimmer of hope shine through the despair.
Savor that deep despair, then switch gears and get back to enjoying life!
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Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs (11–20)
When that day comesHaruka to Miyuki
From the very first note, it makes you think, “A great song just arrived!” It’s a track packed with a powerful message from Haruka to Miyuki, and even on first listen you’ll immediately want to replay it.
The addictive, catchy melody combined with the meticulously crafted, emotional backing sound really makes your heart race.
The progression from the spoken-word interlude into the final chorus hits so hard it’ll give you chills.
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a song that blends raw emotion with a sense of despair.
Boukyaku featuring KOHHUtada Hikaru
From the intro, it’s a song that evokes despair.
If you listen to it when you’re struggling, it will lead you even deeper into a world of sorrow.
When people experience great sadness, they forget even their happy memories.
The past is unnecessary.
It sings of such a sorrowful life.
“There isn’t always light beyond hardship,” and right now we are in the dark.
It’s a song that stays close to those going through such difficult times.
I don’t mind being unhappy for the rest of my life.mafumafu
Sung by singer-songwriter Mafumafu, this piece candidly portrays profound despair and self-denial.
The lyrics include expressions like apologizing for being born and an unending loop of nightmares, resonating deeply with listeners.
For Mafumafu—who returned in June 2022 after about a year-long hiatus—this song holds a special meaning.
It’s a track especially worth hearing for those who have been hurt by heartbreak or relationships, or who are struggling to find their own worth.
UninstallIshikawa Chiaki
It was used as the opening theme for the TV anime “Bokurano.” It’s a song with a strong sense of emptiness and lethargy, so it doesn’t even feel like an anime song.
It’s also one of the most popular tracks among anime songs, so I imagine many people know it.
Why Don’t You Play in Hell?Hoshino Gen
This is a celebrated masterpiece by Gen Hoshino, praised as a soul-baring song that candidly voices profound despair and loneliness.
Born from his time battling illness in a hospital room, the piece powerfully portrays a person struggling on in the face of hopeless circumstances.
Though a pop song, its sophisticated arrangement deftly weaves in elements of jazz and funk, brilliantly expressing emotions swaying between life and death.
Released in October 2013, it was created as a movie’s theme song and carries Hoshino’s earnest feelings as he awaited surgery.
The grand soundscape, adorned with lavish strings and a horn section, conveys a fierce will to claw one’s way back from the brink of despair.
It’s a track you should listen to when you’re exhausted by life and on the verge of breaking.
It will surely resonate with anyone who, even while confronting harsh realities, still strives to look ahead and keep moving forward.
NonfictionHirai Ken
This is a gem-like ballad by Ken Hirai that powerfully portrays the profound sorrow of losing a close friend and the struggles of life.
Its tender, moving sound centered on acoustic guitar and Hirai’s rich, lustrous vocals gently envelop the heartfelt longing for someone lost.
In the music video, filmed at an amusement park at night, dancer Takeki Kudo’s striking performance gives visual form to a cry of the soul.
Released in June 2017, the song also drew attention as the theme for TBS’s Sunday drama “Chiisana Kyojin” (A Small Giant).
This work resonates deeply with those grieving the loss of a loved one or standing at a crossroads in life, offering a song that truly stays close to the heart.
Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs (21–30)
Only on nights when I want to dieAina ji Endo
This is a heartwarming song that delicately portrays how the smile of someone precious comes to mind in moments when your heart feels like it might break amid an unremarkably passing everyday life.
Aina the End wrote and composed the song, with production by Shingo Sekiguchi of Ovall.
Her quietly companionable husky voice blends exquisitely with the warm acoustic sound.
Written in February 2020 as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS drama “Shinitai Yoru ni Kagitte” (“Only on the Nights I Want to Die”), Aina the End—who was a fan of the original work—carefully captured the story’s worldview.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you feel lonely, hopeless, or on the verge of breaking.
The presence of someone dear, and the warmth of shared memories, will surely become a source of support for your heart.