Popular Unrequited Love Song Rankings [2026]

You let me do as I please, and yet…arekunn71rank/position

You’re the one who let me fall for you / Arekun [Official Music Video]

A heart-wrenching love song by Are-kun that delicately portrays the feelings of a woman suffering from complex emotions after being led on and ultimately betrayed.

The protagonist falls in love and rides an emotional roller coaster in response to the other person’s behavior, while gradually sensing the loneliness of a cooling relationship.

Released in September 2020 and included on the album “Breath,” the song gained traction primarily on social media and drew widespread empathy.

It’s a resonant track that offers comfort to anyone who’s been strung along by suggestive behavior or is struggling with their feelings for someone they care about.

From Me to Youflumpool72rank/position

flumpool “Kimi ni Todoke” Music Video

A pop tune by flumpool that was also used as the theme song for a film based on a popular comic of the same name.

The lyrics, told from a male perspective and depicting pure emotions, are irresistibly relatable.

The way the chorus suddenly soars—like feelings of love bursting out—is wonderful, too.

The dramatic development that calls to mind “When You Wish Upon a Star” is absolutely lovely.

Give it a listen when you just can’t hold back your feelings of love.

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KEI

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beetle (specifically, a rhinoceros beetle)aiko73rank/position

Beetle – aiko (Full)

It was their fourth single, released in 1999, and it was tied up as the ending theme for TBS’s “CDTV” in December 1999 and Fuji TV’s “Jobireba!?” It’s a rare song that expresses the feelings of unrequited love through a rhinoceros beetle.

I became someone else’s girlfriend.wacci74rank/position

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

A love song woven with a voice that leaves a bittersweet afterglow, capturing a form of love different from a simple unrequited crush.

The emotions of a woman swaying between reason and feeling are portrayed with delicate nuance.

Though she should be satisfied with her new relationship, the frustration of being unable to sever her feelings for her ex presses on her heart.

Released digitally by wacci in August 2018, the song gradually gained popularity through word of mouth on social media, reaching 100 million total streams in June 2021.

It has sparked a major response, with many artists covering it.

This is a track that deeply resonates with anyone who feels, “I should be happy, yet I’m not fulfilled,” and who carries such complex romantic emotions.

You know what,are-kun &『yuika’}75rank/position

You know. / Are-kun & “Yuika” [MV]

A refreshing melody that evokes the feeling of spring, paired with lyrics that capture the innocence of first love, makes a lasting impression! This is a duet by Are-kun and Yuika.

Created solely through exchanges on social media, the song was born from a fateful encounter where they met face-to-face for the first time at the recording session.

It vividly portrays the frustration of two people who have feelings for each other but can’t quite express them honestly.

Released in April 2022, it also drew attention for its youthfully nostalgic music video, in which a male and a female high school student share their feelings as cherry blossoms flutter around them.

It’s recommended not only for those with unrequited love, but also for anyone who wants to start a new romance with the arrival of spring.

makeupMy Hair is Bad76rank/position

My Hair is Bad – Makeup

The three-piece rock band My Hair is Bad released the poignant ballad “Keshou” in 2019.

Sometimes you fall in love, but the person you like has feelings for someone else, and you can’t even confess—ending in heartbreak.

This song is exactly about unrequited feelings, but… it also suggests there might be a physical relationship.

Being accepted in such a halfway manner, yet never becoming the most important person in the end—that’s really painful, isn’t it? For those who’ve been through the same experience, I think this is a heartbreak song that will make your chest tighten.

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sasashina

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You and the slopesSHISHAMO77rank/position

SHISHAMO “You and the Slopes”

Kimi to Gelende, with its catchy melody that evokes an exciting romance, is actually a song packed tightly with deep sadness—quite the opposite of its tune.

It tells a heartbreaking story: the person she’s long had a crush on actually likes another girl, and when she sees the two of them getting along, she realizes their feelings for each other.

A bittersweet track like that.

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utatane

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