7 types of sad songs: tear-jerker tracks for every scene

I remember your warmth.NEW!Teshima Aoi

I remember your warmth.

It feels as if the gentle singing voice seeps all the way into the depths of your heart.

This is a song by Aoi Teshima, who is active across a wide range of genres including film music.

It’s a message song that quietly traces the memory of someone’s presence who is no longer there, and the lingering warmth that remains even after it’s gone.

It’s the kind of song that makes you cry helplessly as it brings back thoughts of a loved one that quietly stay with you in everyday life.

Included on the album “Ren’dez-vous,” released in July 2014, this track drew attention when it was featured in a commercial for FANCL’s additive-free skincare.

It’s a song we hope will be heard by anyone who wants to recover from the grief of losing someone important, or who wishes to quietly look back on the days they spent together.

signpostNEW!Fukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – Michishirube (Fukuyama ☆ Great Summer Enterprise Festival 2015, Inasayama)

This work, which gently asks us to ponder the preciousness of life, is a gemlike ballad filled with gratitude for the baton of life passed down from our ancestors to our parents, and then to ourselves.

Reportedly composed by Masaharu Fukuyama with his own grandmother in mind, the song was included as the B-side to the single “Keshin,” released in May 2009, and later closed out the album Zankyo.

It was also used as the ending theme for the news program NEWS ZERO and as the theme song for the serial drama Platinum Town.

For those who have lost a beloved grandmother or mother, it may rekindle warm memories of the departed and move you deeply.

It is a song that becomes a gentle light, helping you face forward amid sorrow.

I love you.Hirai Ken

Ken Hirai “Aishiteru” Music Video

A fragile, gentle ballad produced by Seiji Kameda that sings of the sorrow and love of losing someone dear, it served as the theme song for the film “Ghost: Mou Ichido Dakishimetai,” released on November 10, 2010.

A dramatic signature song commemorating the 15th anniversary of his debut, its music video features Ken Hirai himself giving a powerful performance as a deceased man, resulting in a deeply moving work.

The song’s overall vocal range is E3–D5, roughly two octaves, and as long as you can produce low notes and falsetto without strain, it shouldn’t pose much difficulty.

Try projecting your voice as if pulling it toward the back of your head—you may find it a bit easier to sing.

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NAOHY

HY – NAO (Official Music Video)

This work, which vividly portrays the pain of unrequited and unattainable love, is a ballad that brings listeners to tears.

The lyrics are based on the real-life experience of vocalist Izumi Nakasone’s close friend, and the aching feeling of not being noticed by the one you love comes through painfully clearly.

Included on the album “Confidence,” released in April 2006, it’s a timeless classic that has long been cherished by many fans.

It is also featured on the best-of album “STORY ~HY BEST~,” and has become established as a signature heartbreak song by HY.

Set to a piano accompaniment that lets you sing your heart out, it’s perfect for those times when you want a good cry to feel refreshed.

If there’s someone you just can’t forget, why not sing this song at karaoke and let all your feelings out?

me me sheRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – me me she [Official Music Video]

A ballad by the rock band RADWIMPS whose aching melody and candid lyrics pierce the heart.

The title is read as “Memeshii,” and it portrays a complex state of mind where lingering attachment to an ex and a self-centered kind of love are intertwined.

Many listeners will likely relate to the contradictory feelings of acknowledging one’s own weakness as “memeshii” while still wishing happiness for the other person.

Included on the classic 2006 album RADWIMPS 4 ~Okazu no Gohan~, it’s not a single, yet it has remained beloved for years.

When you want to let your overflowing emotions out through song, or sink fully into the pain of heartbreak at night, try singing it at karaoke—you might find your heart feels a little lighter.

Song of the Eternal NightKami wa saikoro o furanai

God Does Not Play Dice “Yoru-Naga Uta” [Official Lyric Video]

On sleepless nights, I suddenly remember someone precious who’s no longer by my side.

This is a tear-jerking rock ballad that sings of a heartbreak so intense it feels like your chest might burst.

It’s a work by the Fukuoka-born band God Doesn’t Roll Dice, included on their mini-album “A View on Lambda,” released in May 2019.

Starting with an intro that feels like turning back the hands of a clock, it builds to a dramatic chorus where emotions spill over all at once, sending shivers through your heart.

It also served as the theme song for the film “Little Subculture Wars: The Rebellion of Village Vanguard!” released in October 2020.

It’s a song that gently stays with you on nights when you can’t let go of a love you can’t forget, or when you want to sing your heart out and cry at karaoke.

nape (of the neck)aiko

aiko - “Eriashi” music video

Opening with the sound of a beautiful piano, this is a supreme ballad from aiko.

The lyrics delicately trace lingering feelings for a past lover and memories that don’t fade even as the seasons turn, gently comforting hearts fresh from heartbreak.

While accepting the breakup, the earnest wish to meet again in a few years with a smile is a message that’s sure to tug at anyone’s heart.

Released in November 2003, this song was a lead single from the acclaimed album “Akatsuki no Love Letter” and was also performed at the 54th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It’s a piece that suits the quiet winter air—on nights when you want to cleanse your sadness, try singing it out and letting your overflowing emotions flow with it.