Lonely Song Rankings [2026]
Here is a ranking of this year’s popular “lonely songs.”
There are times when being alone makes you overthink and feel lonely, right?
This year also saw the release of many slightly wistful tracks that sing about that kind of loneliness.
We’ll introduce the most-listened-to songs of the year in ranking order.
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Sad Song Rankings [2026] (71–80)
lonely girlAYANE78rank/position
This track stands out with its transparent, airy female vocals.
Centered on themes of low self-esteem and loneliness, it voices a heartfelt desire to be loved and understood.
Released as a single in February 2024, the soulful voice of rising singer-songwriter AYANE resonates deeply.
The contrast between the energetic beat and the bittersweet lyrics is captivating.
When you want to take a hard look at yourself, listening to this song will surely give you a gentle push forward.
proof of existenceYuki Satoru79rank/position
An artist who traverses music and art to deliver unfiltered feelings, Kei Yuki.
“Proof of Existence” is included on the mini album “Otoiro Palette to Uta Kotoba,” released in September 2017.
The sound unfolds from a quiet, guitar-only performance into an outpouring of emotion that resonates in the chest.
The lyrics are also compelling, depicting the struggle to remain “myself” amid the anxiety of nearly losing sight of who you are.
When you find yourself questioning your own worth, this song will surely stay by your side.
I want to hug you.Base Ball Bear80rank/position
When you have a one-sided crush or are spending time away from your partner, you sometimes find yourself thinking of them and feeling lonely, don’t you? Base Ball Bear’s “Dakishimetai” speaks for those feelings in the simplest words of all! When you miss someone you love, you keep rummaging through your memories, recalling those heart-fluttering moments with her or him, and even spinning little fantasies from them, right? And the feeling you arrive at is just, above all, “I want to hold you.” Listening to this song makes you look forward to the next time you’ll see them, and it even feels like time passes more quickly!
Sad Song Ranking [2026] (81–90)
I feel like going home.ikimonogakari81rank/position
How about this for when you’re feeling homesick? It’s a song by the three-member music group Ikimono-gakari.
It was released in 2008 as their ninth single, written specifically for the film “Sand Clock.” Kiyoe Yoshioka’s straightforward, soaring vocals really pierce the heart—especially the aching chorus.
It might even make you cry as you think of your hometown.
Lightningsutoreitenaa82rank/position
“Lightning” sings about the void in the heart that remains unfilled even as time passes after losing someone important.
It’s a song released in 2009 by the rock band Straightener.
Among their tracks, this one is relatively subdued and carries a stronger sense of melancholy.
The English lines convey the meaning: “Strike me with lightning so I can return to the world where you are.” The sound, though sad, somehow feels warm—much like quiet tears that flow when loneliness sets in.
AinoneYEN TOWN BAND83rank/position
Ainone, with its somewhat nostalgic atmosphere, is a song released by YEN TOWN BAND—led by Chara—twenty years after their last release.
The band was formed within the world of Shunji Iwai’s Swallowtail, a film that holds a cult status in Japanese cinema and remains timeless today.
This track’s slightly cluttered, noisy, and wistful sound pulls you back into the film’s universe and feels wonderfully comforting.
An animated music video depicting the world twenty years after Swallowtail, directed by Iwai himself, has also been released—be sure to check it out.
Stardust Serenadetatsumi yūto84rank/position
This is a song that portrays the feeling of love set to a gentle melody.
It’s performed by enka singer Yuto Tatsumi and included on his seventh single, released in September 2023.
The lyrics were written by Gengo Shinkai, and the music was composed by Scott Taylor.
The empathetic lyrics paint a scene of gazing up at the night sky while thinking of a loved one.
Tatsumi’s sweet yet powerful voice conveys both the bittersweetness and anticipation of love.
If you’re feeling lonely, why not listen while looking up at the stars? It might soothe your heart a little.