A lovely unrequited love song

Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a girlfriend or boyfriend

Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

“The person I fell for already liked someone else.” “After I fell for them, I realized they had a girlfriend.” “I’ve fallen for someone else…”—that’s what my partner told me.

We’ve gathered love songs for those painful moments.

It’s heartbreaking when your feelings are growing, only for the love to become unrequited in an instant.

You can’t confess; even if you did, there’s no hope.

And yet, it’s too late to forget…

Here are some love songs recommended just for you.

“It hurts, but I can’t tell anyone.” When you feel like that, please give these a listen.

Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a boyfriend or girlfriend (41–50)

PairingAragaki Yui

Pair-ring

PairingAragaki Yui

A heartrending track included on Sora, the album Gakky—Yui Aragaki—released before she got married.

The lyrics and music are by Toko Furuuchi, known for hits like “Takaramono” and “Ginza.” It’s a song that feels as if it’s asking, “How would you act if the person you like already had a girlfriend?” The lyrics paint a picture of a man she has feelings for who is incredibly kind—but the ring shining on his finger is a matching pair with his girlfriend’s, making the heartbreak absolute.

Set to a fairly bright, poppy melody, the contrast somehow makes it feel even more melancholy…

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Taki no namida pin ku

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I stillmilet

milet “I still” Music Video (Theme song for the film ‘Unknown Girlfriend’)

I stillmilet

A love story about two people enchanted by a magical, fleeting moment of romance—yet gripped by the fear it might vanish the next instant—unfolds alongside milet’s sultry vocals.

Set to be released in February 2025 as the theme song for the film “Shiranai Kanojo,” the track portrays, with dramatic flair, both the aching tenderness of two souls drawn to each other and the love that keeps deepening between them.

Carried by a dreamlike melody, milet’s uniquely expressive voice seeps into the heart.

While closely echoing the film’s narrative, the song also stands strong on its own, making it a perfect choice for those longing for a loved one or wishing to reaffirm a precious bond.

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loveOku Hanako

love

loveOku Hanako

Even when it’s an impossible love because the other person is already taken, you can’t help thinking “why?” and find it hard to accept—that’s what being in love is like.

In the song “Koi,” Okuhanako’s vocals, set against a piano backdrop, sound in unison with those honest feelings of love.

Listening to a song like this makes you wish that every love could be rewarded.

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waiting in vainrokudenashi

Rokudenashi “Left Waiting” / Rokudenashi – Stood Me Up [Official Music Video]

waiting in vainrokudenashi

This is a work by Rokudenashi, who began activities in 2021, delicately depicting the emotions of unrequited love.

The subtle shifts of a heart that can’t quite face the other person’s kindness, and the loneliness of being able only to watch them talk with someone else, leave a strong impression.

The vocals woven by Ninjin carry a warmth that feels like it gently heats the heart on a quiet winter night.

Written and composed by Hifumi, the song was released as a single in October 2021.

It’s a track that stands beside those troubled by love, offering empathy and comfort.

For anyone who holds a painful feeling they can’t confess to anyone—their love for someone dear—this song is meant for you.

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not enoughwacci

wacci 'Tarina i' Music Video

not enoughwacci

This is a heartbreak song overflowing with poignancy, capturing the emotional turmoil of trying to sever lingering feelings for an ex.

Featured on wacci’s 2019 album Empathy, the track stands out for its lyrics written from a woman’s perspective.

Though she still has feelings, the protagonist’s struggle to choose a clean break in order to move forward is deeply affecting.

Positioned as a side story to “Betsu no Hito no Kanojo ni Natta yo,” a one-take recording was also released in 2020.

It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s gone from mutual love to one-sided, or who wants to move on but can’t quite bring themselves to do it.

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I hate iterica

erica – “I Hate You” PV Full

I hate iterica

It’s a bittersweet love song with a mid-tempo ballad feel.

Even though I’m in love, my feelings don’t reach them—maybe because I don’t like myself.

I’m sure that’s not really the reason, but unreturned feelings are painful, aren’t they? Especially when the other person finds someone they like—there’s no heartbreak like it.

Still, let’s believe that if we keep holding on, our feelings will eventually get through.

I highly recommend this song.

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Feeling in loveNishino Kana

Kana Nishino 'Feelings of Love' MV Full

Feeling in loveNishino Kana

A love song by Kana Nishino that portrays the struggles of two people who are more than friends but not quite lovers.

The secret feelings harbored for a longtime best friend are expressed with heartrending delicacy.

Even when the mind has given up, the heart can’t help but hold onto a faint hope—an emotion anyone who’s experienced unrequited love can relate to.

Featured on the album “with LOVE,” this track was released in November 2014 and captured the hearts of many listeners.

It’s a must-listen for anyone wavering between friendship and romance.

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