Saddest Songs Ranking [2026]

366 daysHY8rank/position

HY – 366 Days (Official Music Video)

There may be many people suffering from lingering feelings of love that won’t fade even after a breakup.

This is a poignant ballad by HY, a band from Okinawa, known for being written by Izumi Nakasone based on her own experiences.

It vividly portrays the depth of love so strong you remember your ex’s scent and gestures, and the turmoil of an unattainable love—piercing straight to the heart.

The track was included on the album “HeartY,” released in April 2008.

At the time, it was used as the theme song for the film and drama Akai Ito, and became a major talking point.

It continues to be cherished, even serving as the theme song for a drama starting in April 2024.

On nights when your heart aches from an unfulfilled love, or when you just need a good cry, please give it a listen.

Hello/How are you?nanou9rank/position

[Hatsune Miku Soft] Hello/How Are You [Original] with Chinese Subtitles

A pop song featuring charming, memorable piano tones.

According to the creator, it’s a song about a hopeless person who hesitates to say what they want or what they should.

It conveys that no one is going to pay you for enduring hardship.

The melody is so catchy you’ll find yourself humming along.

Karakuri Pierrot40mP10rank/position

[Hatsune Miku (40mP)] Karakuri Pierrot [Original]

This is a Vocaloid song that makes you feel the pain of self-deprecation—calling oneself a clown for simply being strung along by the person they like.

It’s a track by 40mP, a prolific Vocaloid producer known for creating numerous masterpieces like “Torinoko City,” “Love Trial,” and “Eye Examination,” and it was released in 2011.

One of its features is a sound that’s lively and glamorous, yet tinged with sadness.

At first listen, you might think it’s a bright song, but if you unravel the lyrics, the true meaning of the arrangement comes into focus.

You can almost see the protagonist’s smile—and it brings you to tears.

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Araki Jakkan

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I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci11rank/position

wacci “I Became Someone Else’s Girlfriend” Music Video

It’s wacci’s signature song, which spread through word of mouth on social media and resonated with many.

While acknowledging the maturity and kindness of her new partner, it delicately portrays a woman’s wavering heart as she can’t help recalling the unpretentious days spent with her ex.

Beneath the words she tells herself to affirm her current happiness, you can feel a lingering attachment that won’t fade, and it’s heart-wrenching.

Released as a digital-only track in August 2018, its realistic depiction became a hot topic, and it has continued to be loved—surpassing 100 million total streams by June 2021.

On nights when you can’t sort out your feelings because you find yourself comparing your current partner with your ex, try singing it with all your emotions.

The bittersweet melody will wash away the ache in your heart along with your tears.

Dawn and Firefliesn-buna12rank/position

Dawn and Fireflies / n-buna

Ahead of autumn, if you’re unsure how to move forward and feel troubled about the path ahead, I recommend “Yoake to Hotaru” by n-buna.

It’s a track included on his 2015 solo album “Flowers, Candy and the Last Train,” released by the guitarist and composer of Yorushika.

Sung with the same kind of poetic expression found in Yorushika’s music, the song depicts someone hesitantly searching for a way forward yet gradually discovering a light toward the future.

It’s a bittersweet piece that still manages to evoke hope.

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SAKI

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HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number13rank/position

back number – HAPPY BIRTHDAY (full)

The 20th single by back number, the three-piece rock band that now immediately comes to mind when you think of “setsuna-kei” (melancholic) music.

Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love, the track is propelled by vocalist-guitarist Iyori Shimizu’s singing, which weaves in exquisite falsetto to heighten the song’s wistful feel.

Describing the beginning of romantic feelings as “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” is a stroke of genius—an apt expression that many listeners of love songs can relate to.

It’s a standout number that captures emotions everyone experiences with a bittersweet musical tone, showcasing exceptional word choice and superb arrangement.

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Hoshino Takashi

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I want to be your lover.Abe Mao14rank/position

Mao Abe – I Want to Be Your Lover [Official Music Video]

Mao Abe’s second single, “I Want to Be Your Girlfriend,” is a love song that portrays a bittersweet unrequited love.

The lyrics tighten your chest as they tell of a summer romance, a secretly held wish that never comes true, and a fleeting end.

It candidly expresses the feelings anyone in love is bound to have, making it painfully relatable.

The melody also captures that indescribable, sentimental mood as summer draws to a close, overlapping with the end of the romance and deepening the sense of poignancy.

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Kado(guchi) Shichigatsu

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