[To Those in Love] Relatable Love Songs to Listen to When You’re Crushing Hard

If only I could say I love youKERENMI & atarayo

KERENMI & Atarayo - If Only I Could Say I Love You (Music Video) Theme Song for the Film “Kokan Uso Nikki” (The Liar’s Exchange Diary)

This is a collaborative track by KERENMI and Atarayo that delicately weaves a portrait of hearts that can’t easily be honest.

It captures the subtle emotions of high school students exchanging diary entries with exquisite nuance, and the fusion of classic J-pop melodies with a nostalgic sound vividly depicts a coming-of-age unique to today, where analog and digital coexist.

Released digitally in July 2023, the song drew attention as the theme for the film “Kokan Uso Nikki” (The Exchange Diary of Lies).

It’s a must-listen for anyone who can relate to the flutter of falling in love for the first time, the feelings swelling inside, or those who want to convey their precious emotions to someone special.

A Little Love SongMONGOL800

MONGOL800 / A Small Love Song

One of the signature songs by MONGOL800, an indie band from Okinawa.

It’s a major hit that expresses candid feelings for a loved one through a driving melody and powerful vocals.

The deeply message-driven lyrics gently remind us of the everyday realization that we often take the presence of someone we love for granted.

Included on the album MESSAGE, released in September 2001, it achieved an astonishing sales total of over 2.8 million copies despite being an indie release.

It’s the perfect song to cheer you on when you need a push to voice feelings you can’t quite bring yourself to say.

IenaiSoala

Soala – Ienai [Official Music Video]

A ballad by Soala that delicately captures the feeling of being unable to be honest.

Centered on long-distance love and one-sided affection, it portrays powerful emotions for someone, the frustration of not being able to express them, and the sorrow of unrequited love, all carried by a melody that resonates deeply.

Included on the album “LOVE,” this track blends Soala’s translucent vocals with modern electronic pop elements.

Released in August 2022, it also gained traction on TikTok.

It’s a highly relatable song that offers comfort to those struggling with anxieties and inner conflict, such as “I can’t express how I truly feel” or “Maybe I’ll never be someone special.”

Look!Suiet

Look! – Suiet [ Official Music Video ]

A delicate love song by Suiet that captures intimate nighttime moments with someone special.

Its stylish sound incorporates jazz elements, and the lyrics vividly depict nocturnal scenes.

Released in February 2025, the track garnered over 160,000 plays within two days.

Illustrators su and Akko contributed to the artwork, creating a unique world by fusing music and visuals.

It’s a perfect song for those experiencing unrequited love or women wishing to spend a beautiful night with someone dear.

Not quite loversTENSONG

TENSONG “Koibito Miman” [Official Music Video]

A bittersweet song by TENSONG that captures the fluttering feelings of love swaying in a fragile and unstable relationship.

The longing to become lovers and the desire not to break the current bond collide, striking a chord in the heart.

Takabō’s clear, translucent vocals delicately portray the earnest delivery of feelings to the other person.

Released in May 2023, this track is recommended for anyone moved by the frustration of love—unable to suppress your feelings, yet unable to be honest about them.

wrapTENSONG

TENSONG “Matoi (Wrapped In)” [Official Music Video]

A gem of a love song that portrays a bittersweet form of love between a man and a woman.

It expresses the desire everyone has to love in their own way, rendered through TENSONG’s distinctive sound.

Released in July 2021, the track captured the hearts of many listeners, reaching No.

2 on LINE MUSIC.

It delicately sings of the confusion at parting, love that isn’t swayed by others’ opinions, and experiences that should be etched in the heart as precious memories—all carried by vocalist Takabō’s high, clear voice.

This is a song that stands beside anyone struggling with love and gently conveys that there are many ways to love.

ContrastTOMOO

TOMOO – Contrast [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A gem of a love song that exquisitely interweaves longing for someone with a tender ache.

The feelings TOMOO weaves—wavering between the joy and loneliness of love—gently embrace emotions anyone can relate to.

That bittersweet yearning of having someone right before your eyes yet being unable to close the distance between your hearts.

The pure emotion that slips out despite putting on a brave face.

Carefully giving voice to the heart of someone in unrequited love, this song has been airing since January 2024 as the ending theme for cour 2 of the anime Blue Box.

It’s a track we especially recommend to those who are in the midst of a romance, with their loved one nearby yet unable to be fully honest about their feelings.