[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)
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 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.
[Old Love Songs] Romance songs that recall a finished love (31–40)
Even if I forget somedayback number
There’s no such thing as forever—everything is eventually forgotten—but… I truly understand that lingering attachment.
The end of a romance isn’t something you can process quickly.
A building might go up over the parking lot full of memories, the cityscape you once saw together might change, and yet the yearning to remain within you as something that doesn’t change… that lingering feeling is so heartrending.
Because I fell in loveaimyon
Don’t you feel like Aimyon’s breakup songs don’t have that damp, gloomy vibe? You can sense the lingering feelings, but there’s also this upbeat “I’ll keep moving forward!” attitude.
The way she sings things like “Because I loved you, I got to know you” feels so quintessentially Aimyon in how she embraces it.
If it’s this kind of lingering attachment, you almost want to cherish it, don’t you?
melt bittersatō moka
A song that delicately portrays the pain of heartbreak and lingering attachment.
Its gentle vocals and warm melody wrap tenderly around those bittersweet feelings.
Released in January 2020, the track was arranged with Satomoka’s first-ever full band, marking a new musical challenge.
It’s a perfect song for anyone who’s been through a breakup or can’t forget someone.
Looking back on a past relationship, feeling the ache of parting, and yet setting out on a journey of self-discovery—this piece will surely stay by your side when you need to sort through your emotions.
lingering loveKitatani Ruki
A song by Ruki Kitaya that delicately portrays lingering attachment and bittersweetness after a love has ended.
The protagonist’s emotions, as they try over and over in dreams to start again, are deeply moving.
Their search for the reason behind the “change of heart,” and the inability to forget the final moment, come across almost painfully.
Released in January 2023, this piece showcases the depth of Kitaya’s musicality.
While holding the pain of heartbreak, it gently encourages those who are trying to move forward.
It’s a song I especially recommend to anyone who has just gone through a breakup or is feeling the loneliness of losing someone important.
the first strong spring windnishina
A song by Nishina that delicately depicts a poignant spring scene.
The warm tones of the acoustic guitar and a melody line that feels somehow nostalgic sink deep into the heart.
The lyrics, woven with everyday scenery and memories, resonate with each listener’s own experiences and evoke empathy.
Released in March 2023, it was featured as a song for a radiko commercial.
Seeing the lyrics that recall a love which ended without ever being confessed may make many people feel as if their hearts are being gently gripped.