A masterpiece that sings of loneliness. Recommended popular songs.
What kind of music do you listen to when you feel lonely?
Some people say they listen to upbeat songs to take their mind off the loneliness, while others might prefer songs that express loneliness so they can relate to the feelings.
In this article, we’ll introduce lots of recommended songs that sing about loneliness, just for you.
Find your favorite track, and when you’re feeling lonely, try listening to a song that will stay close to your heart.
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Masterpieces that sing of loneliness. Recommended popular songs (61–70)
Spirit Boat (Shoro Nagashi)sadamasashi
A musical prayer that gently enfolds the pain of losing a loved one in a tender, wistful melody.
The poignant story Masashi Sada weaves—set around a traditional festival in Nagasaki—delicately captures the feelings of those left behind.
Through cherished promises made in life, keepsakes crafted together, and the changing shape of family, a profound love and loneliness well up in the heart.
Released by Grape in April 1974, the song gradually spread, especially in the Chukyo region, climbing to No.
2 on the Oricon chart and selling 1.3 million copies.
It shone once again in 2003 as the theme song for an NHK drama.
A gem of a ballad that quietly stays close to anyone who has said goodbye to someone important.
single bedSha ran Q
This is a wistful ballad that poignantly sings of lingering feelings for a former lover, a classic that gently teaches the preciousness of love.
As the protagonist looks back on memories left behind on a single bed, they realize that a romance once taken for granted was in fact more valuable than jewels, weaving a moving drama.
Released by Sharam Q in October 1994, the song became a major hit, ranking 24th on the year-end charts.
It was also used as the ending theme for the anime D.N.A²: They Were Once a Thing, and included on the album Inferiority Complex.
It’s the perfect track for reminiscing about youthful love while sharing memories with friends.
In that casemakaroni enpitsu
A narrative masterpiece by Macaroni Enpitsu that wraps a bittersweet longing for love in the refreshing tones of guitar and synthesizer.
While gently embracing the pain of heartbreak, the unshaken desire to believe in the other person’s dreams stirs the heart.
The melodic lines and Hattori’s emotionally rich vocals beautifully capture the warmth and ache of youth.
Released in January 2025 as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Blue Box, it weaves unattainable love and a growing inner world together with the anime’s atmosphere.
A gem of a song that stands with everyone who knows the joy of love and the pain of heartbreak, soothing the soul.
Liar MoonYorushika
It is a ballad marked by the quiet melody of the piano and Suis’s gentle vocals.
Through vivid depictions of scenes in the rain and the symbolic image of drinking down moonlight, it delicately portrays the protagonist’s emotions as they face loss and loneliness.
Produced in June 2020 as the ending song for the Netflix feature-length animated film A Whisker Away, the piece was composed by Yorushika’s n-buna to reflect the film’s worldview while capturing the atmosphere from spring to early summer.
It is a song that will deeply resonate with those who wish to relive a fragile yet beautiful page of youth, as well as those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
sympathetic tearsHitoto Yo
A debut work by Yo Hitoto that delicately portrays people’s emotions in our lonely modern society.
Amid an information-saturated daily life, the protagonist searches for a place to belong, gently expressing the warmth of a heart that empathizes with others’ tears and stays by their side.
Its original sound weaves together elements of gospel, R&B, and oriental influences, beautifully harmonizing with her crystal-clear vocals.
Since its release in October 2002, the song reached No.
4 on the Oricon weekly chart.
The following year, it won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and was performed on the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a song I sincerely want to share with those struggling with human connections or those who feel the urge to be there for someone.
White shipInoue Yosui
It’s a lyrical song that poignantly depicts a farewell at a harbor.
A celebrated piece showcased on Yosui Inoue’s debut album “Dansetsu,” it was released in May 1972.
The song calmly portrays the harbor scenery while unfolding the inner emotions of someone seeing off a loved one, woven together with a beautiful melody.
You can almost picture the protagonist standing still, eyes following a white ship quietly receding into the distance, hiding an overwhelming loneliness deep in their heart.
This work stands out as one of the most memorable tracks on “Dansetsu,” vividly capturing scenes of departures and farewells.
It resonates with anyone facing a parting or seeing off someone dear, and it’s also recommended as background music for watching the scenery go by on a long journey.
NonfictionHirai Ken
This is a gem-like ballad by Ken Hirai that powerfully portrays the profound sorrow of losing a close friend and the struggles of life.
Its tender, moving sound centered on acoustic guitar and Hirai’s rich, lustrous vocals gently envelop the heartfelt longing for someone lost.
In the music video, filmed at an amusement park at night, dancer Takeki Kudo’s striking performance gives visual form to a cry of the soul.
Released in June 2017, the song also drew attention as the theme for TBS’s Sunday drama “Chiisana Kyojin” (A Small Giant).
This work resonates deeply with those grieving the loss of a loved one or standing at a crossroads in life, offering a song that truly stays close to the heart.