[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of poignant love songs that pierce the heart of those with unrequited love
A bittersweet crush that makes your chest tighten.
But have you ever had a moment when you suddenly realized that your feelings would never come true?
Like when the person you like asks you for love advice and your heartbreak is sealed, or when you and a friend fall for the same person and you can’t bring yourself to confess—things like that.
Unrequited love can end for many reasons besides confessing and being rejected.
In this article, we’ve gathered “unrequited love heartbreak songs” for those who can’t forget the one they love and feel pangs of regret whenever they remember.
May you find a song that gently stays by your aching heart.
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[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of heartrending love songs that pierce the hearts of those with unrequited love (41–50)
Callchanmina
Chanmina, a female rapper also known as the Beyoncé of Nerima.
Her song “Call” is a breakup track that puts into words a slightly bitter lament about how a guy she was into suddenly flipped and fell for a girl who’s her complete opposite, leaving her hurt.
The feelings of “I was the one who misunderstood” and “But you liked me at least a little, didn’t you?” intersect, and in the end she puts on a brave face with “I don’t care about you anymore.” As a fellow woman, I understand that feeling well.
[Heartbreak Songs] A selection of bittersweet love songs that pierce the hearts of the lovelorn (51–60)
Unrequited loveHamada Shogo
Shogo Hamada’s “Kataomoi” is a quiet, sorrowful ballad that recalls an unfulfilled love.
No matter how much you wish, the love won’t come true; if carrying the pain means holding on, you’d rather just forget it.
Yet even thinking that, the feelings were so strong that you simply can’t forget.
The song gives voice to that poignant, aching emotion.
I love you. ~100 Regrets~Sonar Pocket
A song by Sonar Pocket—aka Sonapoke—that makes you think, “Love is wonderful.” Sonapoke has many love songs, and tracks like “Love Letter ~Itsu Datte Aitakute~” and “Kataomoi ~Sonaria~” have also gained fervent support.
The episodes in the lyrics—like “No matter how hard I try to forget, I can’t forget someone once I’ve fallen for them”—are all truly endearing! If you’re agonizing over why love never goes the way you want it to, this song might really hit home.
Be sure to check out the music video too, featuring a striking image of a woman sobbing.
RESETCHIHIRO
The title “RESET” expresses the protagonist’s desire to reset everything after falling into a love that simply cannot come true.
There’s absolutely no chance the other person will ever like them back; friends tell them to give up; and they themselves painfully understand it’s a hopeless love.
Even so, there are times when you just can’t give up, aren’t there? It’s incredibly painful—do you keep going as you are, or do you reset like in this song? The answer is up to you.
let gom-flo loves YOSHIKA
Let Go is a ballad that stays by your side and lets you sink as deep as you need when you’re heartbroken over unrequited love.
The song is a collaboration between m-flo and singer-songwriter YOSHIKA.
YOSHIKA’s enveloping, richly resonant voice delivers an overwhelming tearjerker in the chorus.
It’s a painfully bittersweet breakup song that captures both the emptiness when a dreamlike love doesn’t come true and the paralyzing feeling of not wanting to wake from that dream.
Ms. Hanako on a high pedestalback number
Back number has released many love songs.
Among them, Takane no Hanako-san is a song that captures the pure feelings of unrequited love.
Everyone, men and women alike, has had the experience of falling in love at first sight with someone incredibly beautiful and thinking, “They’re out of my league.” In those moments, negative thoughts tend to pop up.
The lyrics reflect those common emotions, making them easy to relate to.
Although it’s a heartbreak song, its upbeat band sound makes it a great choice even for those currently in a one-sided crush who are ready to make a move!
swallowtail butterflyPorunogurafiti
Porno Graffitti have a deep love for their hometown of Hiroshima, and on their live tours Hiroshima is often included as one of their key bases of activity alongside Tokyo and Osaka.
Their massive hit “Agehachō” isn’t a song you probably listen to as a straightforward breakup song, right? But if you unravel the lyrics, it can feel as though the swallowtail butterfly is being used as a metaphor for a goddess of fate or a particular woman.
The way the lyrics never explicitly define it as love or heartbreak actually makes it feel even more suggestive.
The song even allows for interpretations like “the moment I wanted them to fall for me, they drifted away.” That kind of breadth is part of Porno Graffitti’s appeal.