7 types of sad songs: tear-jerker tracks for every scene
In life, it’s inevitable that sad things happen at various times.
We experience heartbreak and partings, and sometimes we even have to face the death of someone dear to us…
Even when we understand this in our heads, there are times when we just can’t shake the sadness.
In those moments, I’d like to introduce some timeless songs that will stay close to your heart.
I’m sure you’ll find lyrics you can relate to.
If you encounter that one special song, it might make your sadness a little easier to bear.
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Vocaloid sad (1–10)
I can’t go anywhere.Usagi 3
A song whose weighted emotion truly strikes the heart.
It’s a work by Vocaloid producer Usagi 3, released in February 2025.
Emotionally charged rock sounds intertwine with lyrics that distill feelings for a cherished presence.
Its dramatic progression shakes the deepest emotions to the core.
You can’t help but ponder the story behind why there’s “nowhere to go.”
I’m sorry for being alive.shizuku
A painful Vocaloid ballad that lays bare the deep darkness of the heart.
Borrowing KAFU’s voice, shizuku depicts crushing guilt about one’s own existence and profound loneliness.
Released in January 2025, this piece sets an earnest struggle with life to an emotional piano melody.
Its intense, soul-baring expressions pierce the hearts of those wrestling with self-denial.
When you’re troubled by living and feel like you might stop in your tracks, this work will stay by your side.
Don’t go.Souta
A delicate, heartrending song about parting with someone dear.
Released by Sota in October 2013, this track moved many listeners from the moment it came out.
Kae Yuki’s gentle vocals, the faintly nostalgic melody line, and the lyrics that capture the inexpressible emotions felt at the moment of farewell all strike straight to the heart.
I think it especially resonates when you listen to it after being separated from a friend or going through a heartbreak.
My godHanyū Maigo
A break-up song that poignantly conveys the ache of unrequited feelings.
Released in November 2024 to coincide with the event “The Power Of Regret” in the rhythm game Project SEKAI COLORFUL STAGE! feat.
Hatsune Miku.
The arrangement, characteristic of Hanyuu Maigo, leaves an impression with hints of traditional Japanese elements.
The lyrics reflect the emotions of being forced to part with someone precious and the resolve to face forward despite carrying loneliness.
When you feel isolated or lost, this song is sure to stay close to your heart.
Bereavement (1–10)
A song that sings of the sorrow of the most painful farewell in life
Even when we know it’s a problem we’ll have to face someday, the death of a loved one is not something we can easily accept. Even if we understand in our heads that we have to move forward, we can’t help but feel very sad. Here are some songs about bereavement that stay close to those sorrowful feelings.
Memories are beautifulNEW!Aimer
It’s a warm song that gently wraps your sorrow.
Sung by Aimer, known for her expressive vocals, this piece vividly paints scenes from the past—childhood landscapes and the warmth of family.
It gently shows how nostalgic memories can become the strength to live powerfully in the present.
Included on her 15th single released in September 2018, it was featured as Canon’s ““This” is my life.” commercial song and became widely beloved.
Listen to it when you’ve lost someone dear and are suddenly overcome with loneliness.
The days you spent together will feel irreplaceable, and you’ll find the courage to face forward.
Beautiful daysNEW!arashi
A track that became a hot topic as the theme song for the drama “Ryusei no Kizuna,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya.
Released in November 2008, it is Arashi’s 24th single.
It delicately portrays the feeling of continuing to think of someone while carrying lost time and unreturned feelings.
The warm, mid-tempo melody further accentuates the poignancy.
Perfectly aligning with the drama’s worldview, the song won the Best Drama Song at the 59th The Television Drama Academy Awards.
It’s a moving ballad that gently stays close to your heart when you want to look back on the beautiful memories you shared, even while bearing sadness.
If I Could Paint LifeNEW!YOASOBI
It’s a grand number that portrays profound love for those left behind.
Created by the musical duo YOASOBI—composer Ayase and vocalist ikura—the piece unfolds from a quiet introduction into waves of expansive sound, while the gentle, conversational vocals stir a poignant longing for lost time.
Produced as the theme song for a stage play directed by Osamu Suzuki and starring Kei Tanaka, it was first included on the acclaimed December 2021 release THE BOOK 2, and later issued as a standalone work in August 2022.
It’s a song that will stay close to you when memories of the past come rushing in and become painful, or when you wish to calmly reflect on days spent with someone who has passed.