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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- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
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Lonely Songs Ranking [2026] (51–60)
Midnight ExpresswayFurawā Kanpanīzu57rank/position
When you find yourself thinking, “I have no idea what to do with my life from here…,” this song might hit home.
It’s a track by Flower Companyz, a rock band from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, released in 2004 as their 16th single.
With its high-energy sound, lyrics that capture a sense of aimless frustration, and a soul-stirring vocal performance, every element feels intensely emotional.
Ineffable feelings well up from deep within your chest.
For loneliness, a song like this—tinged with a certain shadow—just fits.
A Little Love SongMONGOL80058rank/position
This is a signature song by MONGOL800, a rock band from Okinawa, which impressively ranked second in the “Most Sung Karaoke Songs of the Heisei Era” ranking.
It’s included on their 2001 album MESSAGE.
Its positive lyrics about love will help you forget your loneliness.
By the way, there’s also a movie based on ‘Chiisana Koi no Uta’ (A Small Love Song), so check it out if you’re interested.
Promise of SunflowersHata Motohiro59rank/position
This is a song by Motohiro Hata, a singer-songwriter from Miyazaki Prefecture.
It was released in 2014 as his 17th single.
It drew attention for being chosen as the theme song for the film “STAND BY ME Doraemon.” The song links with the movie’s story, and it’s truly moving.
Thanks in part to that tie-in, it’s a popular track across a wide range of generations, appealing to both children and adults alike.
I’m afraid to believe.Mizuno Atsu60rank/position
Singer-songwriter Atsu Mizuno’s 2021 track “Scared to Believe.” When someone betrays you, many of us probably find ourselves thinking exactly what that title says.
The fear that the same thing will happen again after being betrayed makes it hard to trust people.
And along with that, you can start to feel as if you yourself are gradually falling apart.
You try to take some distance from what’s in front of you and cheer yourself on in your heart, yet you still wrestle with whether this is really okay.
This song conveys that struggle.
It’s a track that stays close to the feelings of someone who wants to look forward but doesn’t know how.
Saddest Songs Ranking [2026] (61–70)
Alkalemiamol-7461rank/position
It’s a song by mol-74 that portrays a powerful sense of regret—by the time you realize it, it’s already too late.
The layering of the piano’s timbre with the mechanically repeated guitar phrases evokes a sadness that settles deeply in the heart.
The vocal melody, which includes high notes, intertwines with the quiet rhythm to clearly convey instability and pain.
Throughout, it expresses the feeling of “if only I could do it over,” and the song’s atmosphere—like a cry from a wounded heart—stirs up a sense of unease.
AmbitiousSuperfly62rank/position
The theme song of the drama “I Will Not Work Overtime, Period!” which shines a spotlight on Japanese work styles.
In the series, the protagonist wavers between ideals and reality when it comes to how to work.
The lyrics of this song feel like they depict the battle within her heart.
I’m sure many working adults carry similar conflicts inside.
If you’re feeling a sense of loneliness or isolation from being different from those around you, I hope you’ll give this song a listen.
It will give you the courage to hold fast to your own beliefs.
The strong and fleeting onesCocco63rank/position
It’s a masterpiece by Cocco, a singular songstress from Okinawa who debuted as a singer in 1996.
Her voice is characterized by a blend of power, beauty, and sorrow.
This song expresses the bittersweet love Cocco carries, and when you listen to it in lonely moments, it feels like it stays close to your heart.