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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.

Ballad songs sung by idols: A collection of moving masterpieces (21–30)

Search for Diamond Lily=LOVE

=LOVE (Equal Love) / 5th Single “Sagase Diamond Lily” [MV full]
Search for Diamond Lily=LOVE

Cherry blossoms, an old school building, a uniform button—packed with such scenes of spring, this =LOVE song is the group’s fifth single, released in April 2019.

With lyrics written by Rino Sashihara and a fresh melody crafted by multiple composers, it pairs a bright tempo with lyrics that gently ache with the passage of time.

It reached No.

2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

The track was also featured in Mr.

Fusion’s programming school “Prosta Kids” commercial.

In its story-driven music video, the turmoil of parting with friends is portrayed with care.

It’s recommended not only for those approaching graduation, but also for anyone who struggles to put their gratitude for friends into words.

Listen as spring arrives, and you’ll feel moved to cherish the time you have with the people who matter most.

It smelled like shampoo.22/7

22/7 2nd single “It Smelled Like Shampoo” music video
It smelled like shampoo.22/7

A 2nd single by 22/7 that portrays a secret longing for an upperclassman at an all-girls school.

Released in April 2018, the song delicately weaves the feelings of a faint, bittersweet crush.

It tells of parting with a senior who is leaving the club, the image of a white blouse turning translucent in backlight, and a gently drifting scent.

While carrying a love that can’t be told to anyone, the story unfolds up to the moment the senior embraces her, tightening the chest with every scene.

This work leaves the ache of an unfulfilled first love, yet also a lingering sense of solace.

It’s a song that quietly stands by those who cannot confide their feelings for someone of the same gender.

Lost and Found at the Graduation CeremonySKE48

“Lost and Found at the Graduation Ceremony” Music Video / SKE48 White Team [MV full / HD]
Lost and Found at the Graduation CeremonySKE48

A graduation day, that special day, is something that slips by in the blink of an eye before you even notice.

This song, included as a coupling track to SKE48’s fifth single “Banzai Venus,” released in March 2011, delicately portrays the bittersweet emotions that well up at such turning points.

Set against scenes like a schoolyard with cherry blossoms dancing and the spring breeze, the lyrics touch the heart by using the metaphor of a “forgotten item” to express feelings that were close by yet went unnoticed.

With Jurina Matsui as center and the cross-team Shirogumi members singing, it becomes a universal piece that anyone can overlay with their own experiences.

It’s a song that those who know the hollow emptiness after a graduation ceremony will especially want to hear—one that accompanies your memories of spring.

Smiling Backkyandīzu

Candies, an idol group that defined the Showa era.

The last single they released in February 1978, just before their breakup, is an eternal classic themed around springtime farewells and new beginnings.

While vividly depicting the real-life scene of tidying up a room for a move, the lyrics cleverly weave in the titles of their past hit songs—a stylish touch.

Filled with gratitude and a farewell message to their fans, the song moved the entire nation, even reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

Despite its bright, lighthearted melody, it carries a bittersweetness that warms the heart—perfect for graduation season.

Brimming with the poise and kindness of waving goodbye with a smile at the end, this work gently supports those setting out on a new path.

Graduation of Unrequited LoveAKB48

Unrequited Love Graduation (Team K Ver.)
Graduation of Unrequited LoveAKB48

Let me introduce an AKB48 number that marks the passage of time at graduation and portrays an unspoken one-sided love.

Released in March 2007 as part of Team K’s 3rd Stage “Nounai Paradise,” it’s a song that has been passed down in theater performances.

You can laugh within your circle of friends, yet say nothing in front of the person you like as graduation day draws near.

Those bittersweet feelings are carefully spun over a gentle, mid-tempo melody.

Rather than flashy production, the arrangement treasures the afterglow of the words, quietly seeping into the listener’s heart.

This work captures a moment of youth swaying between the fear that love might end unfulfilled and the desire to express your feelings anyway.

It’s a number we recommend not only to those about to graduate, but also to anyone who wants to remember who they were back then.