[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] Romance songs that recall a finished love (21–30)
GarnetOku Hanako
This is the theme song of the animated film “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,” a track where Hanako Oku’s vocals resonate deeply with the heart.
It captures the sparkle of days gone by and an unchanging feeling for someone precious—listening to it might just make your heart ache a little.
Released as a single in July 2006, it further heightened the film’s emotional impact.
Try listening to it on a summer evening when you want to sink into a slightly sentimental mood or when you’re remembering old friends.
It’s a song that will surely stay gently by your side.
I acted tough.aimyon
This is a song by Aimyon that portrays regrets and lingering feelings about a past love.
The lyrics resonate with anyone who has experienced “I actually loved them, but I put on a brave face and broke up.” The loneliness after the breakup and the desire to get it back are expressed straightforwardly, making you feel like you might cry as you listen.
Included on Aimyon’s debut single, this track is recommended for those who can’t forget an ex or who want to change the part of themselves that tries to act tough.
[Old Love Songs] Romance songs that recall a finished love (31–40)
I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci
This is a song by wacci that sings of a woman’s aching heart as she chooses love for her own sake.
Haven’t you ever tried desperately to tuck a past relationship away as a memory, telling yourself that your current partner is more wonderful than the one you broke up with? Created by vocalist Yohei Hashiguchi, the piece skillfully contrasts a present love that makes you overreach with a past love where you could be yourself, portraying a wavering state of mind with finesse.
After its digital release in August 2018, it spread by word of mouth and became a long-running hit, surpassing 100 million streams.
Even though she’s decided they’ll never meet again, the final lines let her true feelings slip out—so real they strike straight to the heart.
Old-fashionedback number
Released in November 2018, this gem of a love song gained attention as the theme for the TBS Friday drama “A Lover to Remember.” It delicately portrays the precious memories with a partner and the small joys of everyday life that begin with an unexpected encounter, and even conveys the sense of loss that follows—resulting in a track filled with profound affection.
Written and composed by Iyori Shimizu, its simple, gentle melody harmonizes beautifully with the narrative-rich lyrics, resonating deeply with listeners.
With both the timeless qualities of a love song and vocals that align with the drama’s worldview, it’s a perfect choice for those who want to sing with feeling at karaoke.
I can’t bring myself to hate (you/it).ren
A heartbreak song filled with the bittersweet feeling of not being able to hate the person you love.
You can’t get them to notice you, yet you can’t forget them… If you’ve ever felt that way, you’ll surely relate.
This piece expresses lingering attachment and affection in a straightforward way.
It also portrays the wish of ‘Even a lie is fine—just say you love me,’ along with the self-loathing of ‘I hate myself for feeling this way,’ leaving you with a tight, aching feeling in your chest.
It’s a recommended track for when you want to soothe the pain of heartbreak or when you’re struggling to be honest about your feelings.
That wonderful love once moreKatō Kazuhiko, Kitayama Osamu
A gem of a folk song, filled with longing and nostalgia in search of a lost love.
It gently embraces shifting emotional distances and reflections on youth gone by.
The warm sonic world woven by the soothing resonance of the acoustic guitar and a refined arrangement beautifully captures the farewells and hoped-for reunions we all encounter in life.
Since its release in May 1971, it has been beloved as a staple for school events and graduation season, and has been widely used as incidental music in dramas and variety shows.
When you want to linger in memories with someone dear, why not immerse yourself in its soul-stirring vocals and poetic world?
I love you. ~100 Regrets~Sonar Pocket
When it comes to songs about lingering feelings, you just can’t leave this one out! Released in 2010, it’s written from a male perspective about the unresolved attachment he can’t shake toward his ex.
The chorus lyrics might be a bit shocking, but for anyone harboring lingering feelings, I think the words are highly relatable.
Since it came out in the heyday of flip phones, the lovers’ exchanges are via email, and there’s even a depiction of protecting the special messages so they get a little lock icon—details that make it a nostalgic track for the flip-phone generation.
