Popular Moving Songs Ranking [2026]

LetterSHE’S78rank/position

SHE’S – Letter【MV】

This is a heartfelt song themed around the conflicts and growth that come with human relationships.

Released as a digital single in October 2019, it was also included on the July 2020 album Tragicomedy.

The track gained significant attention as it was featured in commercials for Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the Nintendo Switch Lite, and it was released as the second installment in SHE’S three-month consecutive digital single campaign.

It’s a ballad characterized by a relaxed tempo and simple arrangement, with Ryoma Inoue’s letter-like, conversational vocals resonating deeply.

It’s a recommended listen for those struggling with important relationships or looking to boost their self-esteem.

lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE79rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Lilac” Official Music Video

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE is a rock band that enjoys immense popularity for their catchy musical style.

Why not brighten your Reels or Stories with a song that captures the essence of youthful spirit in true MGA fashion? This track is a classic pop-rock number, defined by exhilarating, fast-paced guitar sounds that feel incredibly refreshing.

It carries a powerful message: to embrace the fleeting nature of our days—and even the pain and regret born within them—and transform it into strength for the future.

Released in April 2024, it was also selected as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery.” Perfect for posts filled with precious memories with friends or the determination to take on a new challenge.

It’s an inspiring song that also made headlines for winning the 66th Japan Record Awards.

StoryAI80rank/position

AI – Story

Singer-songwriter AI, born in Los Angeles, captivates audiences with a powerful voice honed through gospel.

The lead single from her May 2005 album “Mic-a-holic Ai” is known as an enduring masterpiece of a ballad that brought her name to widespread recognition.

Opening with beautiful piano tones, the song gently stays close to the listener’s heart and delivers a strong message that you are not alone.

Its outstanding lyrics spread into households through radio and other media, and in 2014 it drew renewed attention when it was selected as the Japanese ending theme for the film Big Hero 6.

It’s a defining song of the 2000s that helps us reaffirm our bonds with the people we cherish.

Don’t go.Souta81rank/position

Uta-nee Yuki “Don’t Go” (remaster)

The true feelings you can’t bring yourself to say… hasn’t everyone experienced that? This is a signature song by Vocaloid producer Souta, released in 2013.

Its somewhat retro-sounding arrangement pairs perfectly with Yuki Kaai’s softly murmuring vocals.

It somehow makes you feel nostalgic.

The lyrics portray the protagonist’s inner thoughts at the moment of parting with someone precious.

As the title suggests, they want to say “Don’t go,” but can’t bring themselves to say it… It’s a tear-jerking Vocaloid track that makes you imagine all sorts of stories—what might have happened between these two, and more.

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Islanders’ TreasureBEGIN82rank/position

BEGIN / “Shimanchu nu Takara” 20th Anniversary MV

BEGIN is a band whose warm sound evokes the breeze of Okinawa and has been loved across generations.

This signature track of theirs is a moving number that asks about “what truly matters,” the kind of thing textbooks and TV don’t teach.

The well-known story goes that the lyrics were woven from words written by local junior high school students on Ishigaki Island.

Released as a single in 2002, it was written as the image song for NHK Okinawa’s “30th Anniversary of Okinawa’s Reversion to the Mainland.” It is also known as a core track on the classic album “Begin no Shimauta ~Omoto Takeo 2~.” Give it a listen in those moments when, amid the rush of daily work, you suddenly think of your hometown or old friends.

Its gentle yet powerful vocals are sure to give a quiet push to men in their 40s.

PhotographEd Sheeran83rank/position

Ed Sheeran – Photograph (Official Music Video)

There’s a timeless song that accompanies those sentimental moments when you look back on summer memories alongside your photos.

It’s a track by Ed Sheeran, the globally renowned singer-songwriter from the UK.

Featured on the acclaimed album ‘×,’ which won British Album of the Year at the 2015 BRIT Awards, this folk-pop ballad was released as a single.

Centered on a long-distance relationship, it portrays a couple reaffirming their love through photographs.

The message—that even apart, hearts remain close—gently seeps in, carried by his soft vocals and acoustic sound.

The music video, which uses real home videos from his childhood, deepens the song’s warm yet bittersweet atmosphere and is truly moving.

As summer comes to an end, why not listen to it while thinking of someone special?

One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi84rank/position

One more time, One more chance – 5 Centimeters Per Second

A signature song by Masayoshi Yamazaki that portrays the poignant sense of loss in endlessly searching for someone who is gone.

Released in January 1997, it became known as the theme song for the film he starred in, “The Moon and a Cabbage,” and enjoyed long-running success with over 300,000 copies sold.

In 2007, it was used again as the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s animated film “5 Centimeters per Second,” bringing it widespread recognition among younger audiences.

With a simple arrangement centered on acoustic guitar arpeggios and piano, the song delicately weaves feelings of lingering attachment and regret.

Its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics pair beautifully with the piano’s delicate timbre.

Recommended for those who want to perform it quietly on a calm night while thinking of someone dear.