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 (21–30)
Our FailureMorita Doji
Released in 1976.
From the very first lines, the lyrics are shocking.
It was used as the theme song for the 1993 drama “High School Teacher” starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Yukiko Sakurai, and it became a major topic of conversation.
It became a hit ten years after the singer had retired.
Partly due to the drama’s influence, the song leaves a very lonely impression.
KemuriONE OK ROCK
ONE OK ROCK usually has lots of high-energy, rocking tracks, but they also have songs like this with a negative vibe, huh? Some people might not find it so dark as to feel hopeless, but compared to their usually bright songs, the contrast is striking.
vortexPorno Graffitti
A track with an irresistibly seductive, almost hypnotic adult melody that’s beyond anything you could imagine right now.
Its lingering sensuality is addictive.
It isn’t just dark; because the song expresses desire, its sense of longing and helplessness is also captivating.
You’ll be drawn into a world that only they can create.
When Someone’s Wish Comes TrueUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada’s clear, translucent vocals and the sorrowful lyrics are exquisitely combined.
I want to listen to it when I’m feeling down by myself.
It’s a song that, as if resonating with me, lets me feel something warm even amid despair.
LonelinessMrs. GREEN APPLE
Among Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s songs—often associated with a bright, upbeat image—Loneliness stands out with a distinctly dark tone.
The lyrics open by depicting a sense of despair with the world, but in the next verse the singer confesses a single ray of hope: “I want to keep loving you.” For the protagonist, this love is the only reason to live.
While it might seem like an overwhelmingly heavy feeling at first glance, it may well be the truest emotion overflowing from within him.
It feels imbued with a heartfelt wish to love someone and share an ordinary life together.
the saintsnatori
A track steeped in deep darkness and despair, themed around a stolen future and the feeling of hopelessness amid boundless hope.
Included on Natori’s album “Absolute Zero,” this song captivates with its powerful vocals and emotionally rich performance.
Released in May 2024, it features a striking blend of emotional melodies and profound lyrics.
While reflecting the anxieties and suffering of modern society, it also conveys a yearning for a glimmer of hope.
It’s perfect for those moments when you’re at rock bottom and everything feels hopeless.
Natori’s deeply stirring voice is sure to give you courage.
Crimson MoonShibata Jun
When you listen alone at night to Shibata Jun’s voice in a calm room, it seeps into your body.
Truly heartrending and beautiful, her singing surely heals many people.
She writes both the lyrics and music herself, and in “Guren no Tsuki” as well, the longing she feels day by day is woven into the song.
She looks so beautiful when she sings, doesn’t she? Her voice, the melody, and the lyrics blend together naturally, and there’s something that quietly resonates in your heart.
When you feel like you want to fall as far as you can fall, please listen to Shibata Jun’s voice.
