Saddest Songs Ranking [2026]

beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko43rank/position

aiko - 'Kabutomushi' music video

It’s a song by aiko that portrays a delicate heart: identifying with an insect that protects itself with a hard shell yet is fragile inside, and acting tough precisely because it’s in love.

Like that insect that cannot survive the winter, the song foresees the end of love, yet its deep affection moves you as it tries to accept even the sadness as a cherished memory.

Released in November 1999, it was also used as the ending theme for TBS’s CDTV.

If you’ve ever found yourself putting on a brave front in front of someone you like, you’ll understand this all too well! As you listen, may you embrace that awkwardness as a part of yourself and find the courage to step forward into tomorrow.

EpilogueNaisho no piasu44rank/position

Epilogue / Kafu

This is a heart-wrenching ballad that sings of the pain and regret of heartbreak.

Created by Naisho no Pierce, the piece was released in September 2024.

With Kafu’s earnest vocals and dynamic sound arrangement, it beautifully conveys the poignant world of the lyrics and the magnitude of emotion.

Like the final chapter of a story, it depicts the complex feelings that arise after the end of a romance.

For those who have just gone through a breakup or have experienced losing someone precious, it will be a song that resonates deeply.

youyuzuki45rank/position

you (Higurashi When They Cry)

Introducing it as a masterpiece that sparked a major movement.

It’s a song related to the game “Higurashi When They Cry.” Thanks to the anime’s huge success and other factors, the song’s popularity skyrocketed.

It’s a legendary ballad with countless derivative works.

Many of you might remember it being popular on sites like Niconico Douga.

The song has a simple structure where the same chord progression repeats throughout, but perhaps thanks to the development and melody, it has an appeal that makes you want to keep listening.

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Araki Jakkan

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barelysukoppu46rank/position

Suresure / Scop feat. Hatsune Miku

A poignant song that delicately portrays emotional distance and missed connections between people.

Created by Scop and released in 2024, it was provided for Leo/need, a unit from the game “Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat.

Hatsune Miku.” Its emotional melody and resonant lyrics leave a strong impression.

The more you try to understand the other person, the more distance you end up feeling—this complex emotion is expressed beautifully.

When you’re struggling with relationships, listening to this song might help you sort out your feelings.

wrinklebuzzG47rank/position

[GUMI] Wrinkles [Official Video]

“Siwa,” buzzG’s 28th original Vocaloid song, has surpassed 1,000,000 views and earned a place among the VOCALOID Legends.

Wouldn’t you like to heat up your heart with buzzG’s signature band sound, heartrending lyrics, and driving rhythm? It’s a masterpiece that stirs the emotions.

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zunx2P

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ebb and flowRAY48rank/position

Ray – ebb and flow (Audio)

A ballad that evokes the stillness of the ocean floor and emotions that ebb and flow like the waves.

Ray’s crystal-clear vocals resonate as if delicately tracing inexpressible heartache and confusion.

Released as a single in February 2014, it was used as the latter opening theme for the anime Nagi no Asukara.

The lyrics, which mirror the complex human relationships depicted in the latter half of the story against a winter backdrop, tighten your chest while also carrying a gentle warmth, giving the song a mysterious allure.

Its beauty stands out even more when listened to in the cold winter air.

It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you want to spend a quiet night lost in thought or face the emotions deep within your heart.

The happiest way to die in the worldkoka49rank/position

The Happiest Way to Die in the World / Reminiscence Song feat. IA

This song portrays the thoughts that flash through your mind when you’re at rock bottom—complex ideas that can even seem contradictory.

The way the negative emotions of leaving or disappearing are layered over warm, piano-centered sounds conveys a sense of emotional instability.

Although the lyrics say that the ideal way to disappear would be when no one is left to grieve, the pervasive sense of suffering also feels like someone desperately trying to talk themselves through it.

It’s a song that gently resonates at a deep level with the universal, downcast question of “how to vanish from here.”

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kappamaki

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