[Heart-wrenching] A Special Feature on Songs Themed Around Lies That Hit You Deep—Classics and Fan Favorites
The word “lie” carries a sense of guilt and remorse, yet there are many forms it can take—poignant lies told out of love for a partner, gentle lies meant to protect someone dear.
Songs themed around such “lies,” packed with the delicate nuances of human relationships, brim with lyrics that make your chest ache and melodies you can’t help but relate to.
In this article, we’ll introduce moving songs about “lies,” from anime tie-in tracks to classic Showa-era hits.
You might just find a song that resonates with your heart.
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[Heart-wrenching] A Special Feature on Songs with the Theme of Touching Lies: Masterpieces and Fan Favorites (41–50)
True LiePlastic Tree
Plastic Tree is a rock band formed in 1993.
After making their major debut in 1997, they released this song in 1998.
While the track has a poignant resonance, the bass phrases and drum rhythms create a compelling groove, and vocalist Ryutaro Arimura’s bewitching voice lends the song a sense of splendor.
The lyrics are quite abstract and narrated in a story-like manner, leaving their meaning open to various interpretations.
Still, from the seemingly paradoxical title and lyrics—“True Lie”—one can sense a profound anguish.
SWEET MEMORIESMatsuda Seiko
It’s a song that shot to fame through a canned beer commercial, where the fact that Seiko Matsuda was the singer was kept under wraps, so it became popular on the strength of the song itself and its use in the ad.
It tells of two former lovers who meet again and relive their happy days, but when the inevitable question comes—“Are you happy now?”—the fact that she can’t instantly produce a convenient lie reflects the complexity of a woman’s psychology.
Tears of the SunAnzai Maria
The original song was sung in English by Emy Jackson in 1965, and later released in Japanese by several different singers.
Still, the version sung by Maria Anzai in 1973 is the most striking.
I love how it captures the Showa-era vibe, especially the part that keeps repeating, “Why? Why?”—asking why the sworn words were lies, in contrast to the dazzling, shining sun.
Killer BallGesu no Kiwami Otome.
A mixed-gender four-piece rock band, Gesu no Kiwami Otome, commands immense popularity for their wide-ranging musicality—from progressive rock to hip-hop—virtuosic performance, and catchy lyrics and songs.
Beyond each member’s top-tier musicianship, this track is addictive for its whirlwind structure, which even drops Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu into the interlude.
The complex progression pairs with lyrics about “keeping on dancing while turning a blind eye to people’s lies,” creating a vivid scene in the listener’s mind and delivering both a strong visual impression and a refreshing rush.
Sorry, my feelings of love.SHISHAMO
Heartbreak is always deeply painful in any era, but in youth our emotional footing is unstable, and it surely leaves a deep scar on the heart.
The lyrics that say, “I love you, yet I pretend I don’t,” and that feign not even noticing the heartbreak itself while wishing to live far away from people, exude a distinctly youthful air.
one-trick ponyRyokushokushakai
Produced by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, this work was released digitally in November 2024 and was written as the theme song for the film “The Six Lying College Students.” Its funky guitar phrases and melodic vocals are striking, delivering a sound that blends tension with a catchy groove.
The lyrics revolve around the theme of “lies,” offering sharp insights into human folly and self-deception.
It’s a song that aligns with the film’s worldview, emphasizing the importance of discerning the truth.
Liar DiamondInoue Yosui
“Usotsuki Diamond” (Lying Diamond) is a single by Yosui Inoue released in 1995.
You could call it the magic of Inoue’s lyrics—there’s a very mysterious world unfolding.
On the album, it has a jazzy feel and it’s really cool!