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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- [For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
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- A poignant ballad song. A tear-jerking masterpiece of Japanese pop music.
- A ballad that will definitely make you cry at karaoke
- Nothing but masterpieces! Love songs by male artists recommended for Gen Z
- [Deeply Moving] A Compilation of Recommended Rock Ballads That Move the Heart
- Tear-jerking songs recommended for men in their 20s: classic and popular Japanese tracks
- For men in their 30s: Heart-touching breakup songs—masterpieces that can move grown men to tears
Recommended Ballads for Men: Classic Songs About Love, Encouragement, and Youth (31–40)
trace (of someone/something), semblance, vestige; a lingering image or memory of how someone/something used to beNovelbright
When you’re heartbroken and feeling down, I recommend trying to sing “Omokage.” It’s a song released by the rock band Novelbright.
This piano-centered ballad portrays the inability to forget an ex and the longing to see them again.
The high notes are beautifully featured, so if you’re good with higher ranges, you’ll be able to make the most of your voice.
It also seems like a great song to dedicate to a hurt friend—it’s sure to be healing.
About meMrs. GREEN APPLE
A daily life where hard times and happy moments quietly repeat.
There must be people who are tired of the same routine every day.
But this is a rock ballad that sings about how that very everyday life is wonderful.
It’s a song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, released as a single in 2019.
The vocals and lyrics blow away that baseless anxiety everyone feels sometimes.
As you listen, before you know it you’ll be thinking, “I’ve got to face forward and keep going!” If you’re feeling down, let this song give you courage.
Together foreverKobukuro
This is “Eien ni Tomo ni” (Together Forever), a song about the eternal love of two people.
It’s a hit by the folk duo Kobukuro, released in 2004, following their success with “Tsubomi.” It’s popular as a wedding staple—celebrities have even performed it as a piano-and-vocal piece at ceremonies.
The song conveys the idea of building a new life with someone important to you—and that it’s not always simple or pristine.
It’s a perfect track not only for when you decide to get married yourself, but also when a friend is getting married!
knot; tie; bind; concludeSaucy Dog
A song released in 2020 by the rock band Saucy Dog, also known for their heartbreak anthem “Itsuka.” It’s a love ballad that captures the cute feelings of a man whose love is so strong that he even feels jealous of her past.
While the melody carries a hint of sadness, listening to the lyrics through to the end reveals a glimpse of the couple’s future together, showing that it’s a song leading to a happy ending.
For women, it might be a track they’d be delighted to receive as a proposal.
It powerfully conveys the desire to face anything and live together as a pair.
LemonYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu has many hit songs, but among them, the ballad “Lemon” is especially popular.
It became a massive hit as the theme song for the 2018 TV drama Unnatural.
Written with the theme of “a gentle song that embraces those who are hurt,” it offers comfort to people grieving the loss of someone precious.
Although it was released in 2018, it remains a beloved ballad across generations.
Recommended ballads for men: classic songs about love, encouragement, and youth (41–50)
And I Love You SoAK-69
There are surely many men who feel this way, and many women who want to be thought of this way.
It’s a track by AK-69, a hip-hop MC from Aichi Prefecture, included on his 2009 album “THE CARTEL FROM STREETS.” The desire to stay with the one you love forever comes through in the unpretentious words that capture everyday life.
If couples or spouses listen to this song together, it will remind them of how important their partner’s presence is.
It might even make a great musical gift.
Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki
Japanese people usually pronounce “radio” as “rajio,” right? But in the song Kowarekake no Radio, the word “Radio” is pronounced “reidio.” Thinking about that, it really feels like a powerfully influential ballad.
The lyrics—written by Tokunaga himself—depict the happiness, love, and anxieties about the future that everyone experiences while growing from a boy into an adult.
When Tokunaga, with his husky voice, sings a ballad, it can really bring a tear to your eye.
It’s a masterpiece among male-sung ballads—one I hope will be cherished for decades to come!