A collection of timeless ballads sung by idols—songs that deeply touch the heart
When people think of idol songs, many might imagine bright, energetic tracks.
However, there are also many idol groups that sing beautiful ballads that truly touch the heart.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of wonderful ballad songs performed by idols.
We’ve chosen tracks that portray a variety of emotions and stories.
Be sure to read the lyrics as you listen, find your favorites, and take your time savoring their unique worlds.
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Ballad songs sung by idols: A collection of timeless, heart-touching masterpieces (11–20)
I/meSixTONES
There are times when, the moment you notice your own feelings, your heart starts moving on its own and you’re left bewildered, aren’t there? This work by the popular group SixTONES is a ballad released in June 2022 as their seventh single.
It was used as an insert song for the drama “Why Would You Do Love Seriously?” starring member Hokuto Matsumura, and it recorded 471,000 copies in its first week on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Because of its deliberately sparse, minimal arrangement, the delicate breaths and contours of the six members’ words stand out vividly.
The chorus, which unfolds like an emotional dam bursting, is so dramatic it tightens your chest.
It’s a masterpiece also included on the album “Koe” (“Voice”), perfect for immersing yourself alone on a quiet night.
Color contacts winkAKB48
This dazzling number was created as the culmination of Yuki Kashiwagi’s idol career, with Kashiwagi—who has long led the group—serving as center for the first time on her own.
You can practically picture the bittersweet scene of unrequited love, where feelings are conveyed not through words, but through glances and gestures.
Released as a single in March 2024, it was composed by Yoshimasa Inoue, the hitmaker behind numerous chart-toppers.
The melody, blending nostalgia and freshness, is sure to set listeners’ hearts dancing.
In the music video, a world surrounded by colorful flowers beautifully portrays the “life of an idol.” Perfect for the spring season, this work gently encourages those embarking on a new chapter.
It’s an ideal track when you want to immerse yourself in a classic idol song.
You are the melody.AKB48
An anniversary song that can truly be called monumental, created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of AKB48’s formation.
Amid a dazzling sound that evokes the arrival of spring, a bittersweet melody tinged with nostalgia intertwines—doesn’t it make your heart flutter every time you listen? Released in March 2016 as their 43rd single, this track drew major attention for featuring legendary graduates like Atsuko Maeda and Yuko Oshima.
The vividly colored music video, directed by Mika Ninagawa and inspired by “Ōoku,” is striking, and the song was also widely known as the theme for GYAO! commercials.
Why not pick it for karaoke with friends reuniting after a while, or when you want to bask in fond memories?
I don’t need wings.AKB48
This work features a pleasantly nostalgic, folk-inspired melody.
Released as a single in June 2016, it marked Mion Mukaichi’s first time as center.
The warm lyrics—telling you it’s okay not to rush, that even without wings you can keep walking firmly on the ground—really resonate.
The music video, crafted with a worldview reminiscent of the student movements of the 1970s, also drew attention, and the song is known as the theme for the Amazon Prime Video drama “AKB48 Sousenkyo Scandal: Akiba Document.” With the acoustic guitar tones layered with the members’ gentle chorus, it’s a track packed with a timeless charm that transcends generations.
Its relaxed tempo and comfortable range make it easy to sing, so it’s also a great pick when you want to raise your voices together and have fun at karaoke.
Mermaid in FebruaryAKB48
This AKB48 song paints a romantic scene that makes you want to head to the chilly seaside in lingering-February cold.
It’s memorable for lyrics that liken carefree frolicking by the winter ocean to a mermaid, turning even the cold spray of the waves into shared memories.
Performed as a unit song with Azuki Yagi on vocals at a theater show in December 2024, it was later included on the album “AKB48 ~studio recordings collection~ AKB48 18th Stage ‘Koko Kara da,’” released in December 2025.
This work is a bittersweet love song that captures feelings of affection so strong they make even selfish behavior seem adorable.
It’s the perfect track for gazing out at the quiet winter sea and sinking into a sentimental mood.