[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.
[Old Love Songs] Love songs that recall a finished romance (11–20)
Before you become a memorysupittsu
A song released by Spitz in 1993.
As the title suggests, it’s about the end of a romance where the singer can no longer see “you.” Precisely because they cherish this person and want to keep the memory alive, the poignant lyrics—wishing to see that smile one last time—strike a chord.
It’s an iconic early work by Spitz, a refreshing yet heartrending classic.
A world without youto shiki
The lyrics spun from Toshiki’s own experiences depict someone who, while immersed in memories of the past, is trying to take a new step forward.
Released in August 2022, the song sparked a huge response on social media and resonated with many people.
It’s a track we’d like those of you still nursing the wounds of a breakup and unable to forget your ex to hear.
Listening to it might prompt you to look back and wonder, “Was that breakup the right choice?” And surely, it will give you the courage to move on.
Lovers AgainEXILE
It’s a song about complex emotions—being unable to forget an ex, still loving them, yet knowing you can’t go back.
Many people might relate to lyrics that make even the things that once felt painful now seem dear.
It’s one of EXILE’s finest ballads.
After a broken heartCHIHIRO
Singer CHIHIRO is known for songs with strong messages aimed at women struggling with love.
Her 2019 release “After the Breakup” is a track you’ll especially want to hear if you’ve been through a rocky relationship.
The mellow lyrics laid over an R&B-style track are sure to bring tears.
Its dramatic flow beautifully expresses loneliness, making your heart ache in the best way.
You’ll realize the tears come because you loved with all your heart.
It’s the perfect breakup song for anyone who wants to cry it all out and feel refreshed.
somedaySaucy Dog
Up until the chorus, it feels like he’s mumbling something a bit clingy… or so I thought, but then the chorus hits you straight in the chest.
I highly recommend this song.
The lyrics say that while they were together everything felt ordinary and unremarkable, but after the breakup it all feels so special.
I can only hope that lingering feelings will someday turn into fond memories.
unsatisfying; anticlimactic; abruptmei-chan
Meichan’s songs, which sing of aching love, carry a sharpness that pierces the heart.
Woven over a nostalgic, disco-tinged sound, the lyrics seep deeply into the listener’s soul.
Released in February 2024, this work drew attention for its sound production by Enon Kawatani.
It vividly depicts the fragility and complexity of human relationships, revealing a resolve to look forward even while bearing the pain of heartbreak and the weight of regret.
It’s a perfect track for those struggling with love or wishing to linger in memories of the past.
[Old Love Songs] Romance songs that recall a finished love (21–30)
Never again…BENI
“I just want to hear your voice one more time, but I can’t.” This is BENI’s renowned ballad that sings of a heartbreakingly painful wish.
The lyrics, torn between lingering feelings for an unforgettable lover and the resolve to tell oneself there’s no going back to the past, will squeeze the hearts of anyone bearing the same pain.
There’s even an anecdote that BENI herself unexpectedly shed tears during the music video shoot, which speaks to the depth of emotion poured into this piece.
Released in December 2008 and tied in with a MBS-affiliated TV program, its memorable melody—marked by piano and strings—surely lingers in many listeners’ minds.
Also included on the album “Bitter & Sweet,” this song might be the perfect one to let a few quiet tears fall to.