Recommended ballads for men: classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth.
When you’ve had your heart broken, reached a turning point in life, or are struggling with something…
In times like these, many people want to listen to a touching ballad that stays close to the heart, or belt one out at karaoke, don’t they?
But even when we say “ballad,” there are all kinds: songs with lyrics about love, ones that feel like an anthem cheering on your life, and others that evoke youthful days.
The musical styles vary too—pieces featuring the beautiful tones of piano and strings, rock ballads with a full band sound, and acoustic numbers with just a guitar and voice.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of ballads—picked from among the many out there—that we especially recommend for men!
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Recommended ballads for men: Classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth (111–120)
The Aye-Aye Song: Days of You, Me, and UsC&K
It’s a bittersweet yet warm love ballad about parting with someone you love who’s going far away.
It’s the seventh single released in 2013 by the male duo C&K.
The beautiful choral work is captivating.
It has a charm that makes you want to sit back on the sofa and keep listening forever.
Recommended ballads for men: Masterpieces about love, encouragement, and youth (121–130)
One moreFUNKY MONKEY BABYS
This song was chosen as the support anthem for the 92nd National High School Baseball Championship in the summer.
Released in 2010 as FUNKY MONKEY BABYS’ 14th single, its lyrics inspire and lift the spirit with every word.
It also drew attention for featuring a photo of professional baseball player Masahiro Tanaka on the CD jacket.
Bye-bye.yamazaru
This is a song by YamaZaru, a singer-songwriter from Fukushima Prefecture.
It was released in 2017 as his ninth single.
It’s a heartbreak song that expresses feelings for a loved one you’re being separated from.
It’s a ballad you’ll want to listen to when you’re feeling down from relationship troubles.
Love Story Comes SuddenlyOda Kazumasa
Singer-songwriter Kazumasa Oda, who rose to popularity with his high-toned voice tinged with transience and his playful character, continues to be highly active today.
“Love Story wa Totsuzen ni,” written as the theme song for the quintessential trendy drama Tokyo Love Story, was originally included as the B-side to his sixth single, “Oh! Yeah!” Its airy, urban arrangement still feels timeless even now.
It’s a pop tune whose massive success makes perfect sense—the opening guitar alone brings back iconic scenes from the drama.
Blue BenchSasuke
This song is the debut single by the male vocal duo Sasuke, and it became a huge hit from its release in 2004 through 2005.
If you were born before the 1990s, you may well have heard it in real time back then.
The lyrics describe the narrator revisiting his feelings for the girl he liked in his school days, as a class reunion approaches some time after graduation.
Sung with a plain, straightforward voice over a simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar and harmonica, the bittersweet emotions in the lyrics come through directly to the heart.
It’s a song that can’t help but move you when you’re feeling nostalgic, recalling an old romance.
Precious LoveEXILE ATSUSHI
The ballad “Precious Love,” woven by ATSUSHI’s overwhelming vocal power.
It was also featured in the commercial for the wedding magazine Zexy, and is a moving, dramatic love song that sings about “the greatest day awaited by two people in love.” It seems poised to become a go-to song for grooms to send to brides at weddings from now on.
I hope he’ll sing the gentle spoken lines without feeling shy!
Beyond the goodbyeMatsushita Kohei
Kohei Matsushita, who is active as both an actor and a singer, is a true multi-talent.
His song “Sayonara no Mukou ni” is perfect for when your heart is weary.
It’s a love ballad featuring a man who has gone through a breakup, vividly portraying how he’s crushed and loses the will to carry on.
But it’s not only about that— it also sings of how he rises again and starts walking toward the future.
If you listen to it when you’re feeling down, it will surely encourage you.
The gentle, enveloping, jazz-tinged melody is another highlight.
