SMAP Ballad Songs: Popular Song Ranking [2026]

OrangeSMAP1rank/position

Orange/SMAP

It’s one of those classic ballads you want to hear in autumn, with a poignant yet warm piano melody that brings twilight scenery vividly to mind and gently soaks into the heart.

SMAP has many great songs, but this is one that many people might single out as especially special.

It depicts a breakup scene with a lover, yet its appeal lies in the fact that it’s not merely sad.

Concluding the farewell by deliberately replacing parting words with words of gratitude conveys a deep affection for the days they spent together and makes your heart swell.

There’s also a well-known story that the lyrics were changed at Takuya Kimura’s suggestion during the August 2000 recording.

Although it was a B-side to the single “Lion Heart,” its popularity earned it a place on their best-of album—a true gem of a ballad.

Beyond the Night SkySMAP2rank/position

Beyond the Night Sky – SMAP

Since their disbandment in 2016, calls for a reunion have never ceased, and attention continues to focus on the individual activities of the five-member idol group SMAP.

Their 27th single, “Yozora no Mukō,” which became the group’s first million-selling hit, was used as the theme song for the variety show “SMAP×SMAP.” The arrangement—marked by acoustic guitar tones and a floating, airy melody—leaves a poignant impression.

Its sentimental lyrics also resonate deeply, making it a major hit number.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Lion HeartSMAP3rank/position

Lion Heart – SMAP

Ballads sung by idols can be really nice, too.

SMAP’s “Lion Heart,” from the group that needs no introduction, is also a classic ballad.

It was used as the theme song for the drama Food Fight, starring SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi.

The lyrics are heartwarming, like speaking to one’s child—or to one’s girlfriend.

The lyricist is screenwriter Shinji Nojima, and the words carry a storyteller’s touch.

It’s a wonderful song to listen to, and also great for karaoke.

It even drew attention for the rumor that Kusanagi was the only member without a solo part.

BEST FRIENDSMAP4rank/position

SMAP BEST FRIEND with lyrics Cover

Among their songs, this is one that enjoys high popularity as a track about friendship.

It likely resonated with fans because it synchronized with the friendship nurtured by the five members of SMAP.

There were many rumors about the relationships among the five, but when you want to listen to a song while thinking of a dear friend, it’s probably because the five who sing this song feel as though they’re bound by an invisible bond.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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Let’s go see the sunrise.SMAP5rank/position

[I tried singing] Let's Go See the Sunrise / SMAP — Covered by Nozomi Amemiya | Johnny's

This heartwarming song by SMAP sings of a father’s warm gaze toward his daughter and of hope for the future.

The lyrics, which promise to get through anxious nights together and welcome a new morning, gently support the listener’s heart.

Released in January 1999, it reached No.

3 on the Oricon weekly chart and was certified Platinum.

It perfectly matches the seaside scene of the sun rising over the horizon.

When a new day begins or when you need the courage to take on a challenge, this song will softly light your heart.

MermaidSMAP6rank/position

SMAP – Mermaid

A song by SMAP featuring a dreamy, enchanting melody line.

The poignant lyrics evoke the feeling of listening to a tale of unrequited love with a mermaid as the protagonist, gently wrapping around the listener’s heart.

You can almost see the glittering surface of the water and hear the quiet sound of waves, and some may find that bittersweet summer memories suddenly resurface.

The track reached many ears as the theme song for the 2007 World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, and it was first included on the album “super.modern.artistic.performance,” released in September 2008.

It’s the perfect piece for a night when you want to step away from the summer bustle and quietly lose yourself in thought.