[Old Love Songs] Love songs that recall a love that has ended
There are loves that are still ongoing, and loves that have ended but can’t be forgotten.
In this article, we’re introducing “songs of past love.”
They’re songs that make you remember and feel nostalgic about old romances—sometimes even bring you to tears with a passion that hasn’t cooled.
We’ve gathered a variety, from bright, breezy tracks that feel completely refreshed to bittersweet love songs where the wounds still don’t seem to heal.
If you’re looking for love songs that bring back memories of past relationships, be sure to give these a listen.
Take your time and lose yourself, alone, in the memories of a nostalgic love.
- [Once More…] A lingering-attachment song: a song about a love you can’t forget
- [No Going Back] A Love Song About Regret
- [Lingering Feelings and Regrets] A Love Song for You Who Can’t Forget Your Ex-Boyfriend
- Classic songs that sing about the past. Recommended popular tracks.
- A love song that feels like youth. Love songs you want to listen to—and remember—during your adolescent years.
- Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a girlfriend or boyfriend
- A love song that reminds those in their 60s of a forgotten romance
- Breakup songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of classic tracks that capture heartbreaking feelings
- A heartbreak song that resonates in the chest of a man in his 60s: memories of youth woven by classic Showa-era masterpieces
- Bittersweet feelings come rushing back! Recommended love songs for the Yutori generation
- [Remembering the Pain of Love…] Breakup Songs Recommended for People in Their 60s
- From bittersweet tracks to heart-wrenching tunes! Heisei-era unrequited love songs
- Recommended heartbreak songs for women in their 70s. A collection of classic Showa-era breakup masterpieces.
[Songs of Old Love] Love Songs That Recall Ended Romances (61–70)
I Want to See You ~Missing You~Matsuda Seiko
A gemlike love ballad that sings of the pain of heartbreak everyone experiences at least once and the longing for a reunion.
The tender, heartrending lyrics penned by Seiko Matsuda herself are etched deeply in the heart along with nostalgic memories.
Each time her sweet, soft voice rings out over the gentle melody, memories of a past lover come flooding back.
Released in April 1996, this song drew major attention as the ending theme for “Beat Takeshi’s TV Tackle” and as a Canon commercial song.
It’s the kind of nostalgic love song you’ll find yourself softly humming on nights when you recall the warmth of someone you once loved, immersing yourself in the feelings of those days.
FriendsRebekka
A classic that gently wraps you in bittersweet memories of youthful love.
REBECCA’s signature song vividly captures a secret romance from younger days, the memories you couldn’t tell your parents, and the sparkle of time spent with someone special.
NOKKO’s powerful yet delicate vocals blend beautifully with the memorable melody line.
Released in October 1985, it became a massive hit as the ending theme for the drama “Half Potato na Oretachi.” It was also included on the album “REBECCA IV ~Maybe Tomorrow~,” which achieved the extraordinary milestone of over 1.3 million copies sold at the time.
Evoking warm nostalgia, this song is perfect for moments when you want to look back on precious times with a lover or friends.
Why not sing it with all your heart, soaking in the feelings of those days?
Liaratarayo
This song portrays the end of a romance and the emotional path that follows.
The lyrics, illuminated by Atarayo’s delicate sensibility, skillfully express the aching feeling of being unable to forget someone even after parting.
It also carefully depicts the complex shift in emotions as feelings for a loved one gradually turn into resentment, resonating deeply with listeners.
Included on the EP “Yoake Mae,” released in October 2021, the track is also known as an answer song to the band’s signature piece, “October, I’ll Forget Your Quiet Self.” Recommended for those carrying the pain of heartbreak or in the mood to reflect on a past love.
Everyday Revolutionneguse.
This is a song by Neguse that delicately portrays the pain of heartbreak and resonates deeply with the heart.
It chronicles how everyday life is transformed by a breakup with a lover, set to a gentle melody.
The fading of ordinary morning scenes and the memories the two shared invites listeners’ empathy.
Included on the mini-album “Wonderland ni Aijō o!” released in September 2022, the track became a hot topic on social media platforms such as TikTok.
It’s a warmhearted breakup song that comforts those who can’t forget an ex and aren’t yet able to move on to a new love.
Aoba Castle Love Song 21Kazushikku
It’s a bittersweet song that looks back on a love that has already passed from our school days.
Even though I’m surely moving toward the dream I had back then, the lyrics saying that you’re the only one who isn’t here are very heartrending.
The words sung while thinking of the old you convey that I’m still in love.
Kasane AiSoala
A heart-stirring ballad by Soala that paints the ache of lost love in beautifully poignant words.
Wrapped in a clear, gentle voice, it tenderly holds the regret for a love that might have lasted if only they had met differently, and the feelings that will never again converge.
Released in January 2025 and included on the EP “Bluem,” the song also drew attention for its music video featuring model Suzuka Orita and actor Yusei Ito.
With a melody that sinks into the heart, it portrays memories of happy days and the fragile story of a love that ends in parting.
When you’re struggling in a relationship or want to sing while thinking of someone dear, this song is sure to speak for your feelings.
Until the day I can no longer rememberback number
back number is an indispensable presence when it comes to breakup songs, isn’t it? The “breakup period” is probably exactly what the title of this song, “Until the Day I Can’t Remember,” refers to.
As long as the memories still come back, all sorts of things run through your mind—you laugh at the happy moments, and the pain and regret resurface with the sad ones.
Little by little the wounds heal, but even if you could forget everything, would that really be alright…? Those hazy, conflicted feelings after a breakup are expressed here just as they are.
