Heart-piercing, bittersweet songs and sad music for Instagram Stories
Doesn’t everyone have moments when they feel a little blue or sentimental? Listening to music can help us connect with those feelings, too! This time, I’d like to introduce some bittersweet songs you can use in your Instagram Stories.
Many of them are about breakups and lost love, but there are also songs that capture different shades of melancholy, like the despair of things you can’t change—so please read to the end! I think sharing those aching feelings with others is a wonderful thing, so I’d be happy if you find a favorite and use it! Now, let’s get started!
Heart-piercing, bittersweet songs and sad music for Instagram Stories (1–10)
HeavenMrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a deeply moving song written as the theme for the film “I Will Tell You the Truth,” starring vocalist Motoki Omori.
It begins in a sacred stillness, unfolds dramatically, and then ends abruptly—an unpredictable structure that defines the track.
The work portrays not only human beauty but equally the ugliness that lies behind it, seeming to reflect complex emotions such as despair and inner conflict in the face of an inescapable reality.
Released in May 2025, this song gently stays by your side and resonates deeply when you’re weighed down by helplessness or a sadness too difficult to put into words.
Blue JeansHANA
HANA is a girl group that was formed through an audition program and topped the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 with their debut song, “ROSE.” If you keep an eye on social media in Japan, you’ve probably come across their activities at least once.
Among their releases, we especially recommend their second single.
This track is the group’s first mid-tempo ballad, overlaying the feeling of love onto a pair of well-worn jeans and singing about wavering emotions like insecurity and the anxiety of nights spent apart.
Its bittersweet yet gentle melody is perfect for reels featuring night views or quiet moments in a café.
The group has also collaborated with the casual brand DIESEL, making it a great fit for fashion-related posts as well.
Pointillism Song (feat. Sonoko Inoue)Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE captivates listeners with their overwhelming expressive power.
This song, included on their single “Ao to Natsu” released in August 2018, was produced with singer-songwriter Sonoko Inoue.
As an insert track for the film “Aonatsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-nichi,” it depicts the story of a man and a woman sensing an impending farewell at summer’s end.
The swelling emotions despite knowing time is limited, and the frustration of being unable to hold hands, are conveyed achingly through their two voices.
You can almost see memories piling up like scattered points before your eyes.
When you’re troubled by a love that can’t be, or on a sentimental night, listening to it will gently stay close to that helpless feeling.
evening primroseNovelbright
It’s a song that gently accompanies the hearts of those carrying feelings of sorrow.
The lyrics, depicting the pain of heartbreak and the process of self-recovery, resonate alongside a melody that sinks deep into the soul.
Novelbright’s delicate vocals express the world of this song even more profoundly.
Released in December 2020, it captured many hearts, including being featured as the Monthly Song for the weather segment on Fuji TV’s “Tokudane!”.
It’s recommended for those who have experienced a breakup or when you want to immerse yourself in past memories.
Use it in your Instagram Stories, and it will surely wrap your bittersweet feelings in warmth.
Because you are hereUru
It’s a perfect song to listen to when you want to empathize with a bittersweet feeling.
Uru’s transparent, pure voice gently sings about the happiness found in everyday life and the bonds with someone special.
Written as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Ship of Theseus,” it was released in February 2020.
Included on the album “Orion Blue,” it captured many hearts and even earned Platinum certification.
It’s recommended for those who want to express bittersweet emotions through music—whether you’re experiencing a breakup, feeling despair, or hoping to recognize the presence of someone important.
Using it in your Instagram Stories might softly convey how you feel.
All of the YouthYorushika
A song whose bittersweet vocals resonate deep in the heart.
It delicately sings of the conflicts felt during youth and the process of growing up, as well as longing for what has been lost.
Everyday moments—like the evening chime and the final fireworks—are vividly depicted, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.
Released digitally in June 2024 and later as an analog single, this work weaves a world of transparent vocals and delicate lyrics that, while tinged with melancholy, will beautifully color your Instagram stories.
Maplesupittsu
It’s one of Spitz’s signature ballads and an absolutely indispensable song when introducing bittersweet tracks.
The song was originally included on the March 1998 album “Fake Fur,” and was later released as a single.
It has been used as an insert song across eras, in dramas like “Over Time” and “silent,” so I think many people have heard it.
The lyrics convey a heartfelt resolve to keep moving forward while holding tight to memories of a beloved person one can no longer meet, and it really squeezes your heart.
Masamune Kusano’s soft, clear vocals and the band’s warm performance seem to gently permeate a sorrowful heart, while at the same time accentuating the loneliness embedded in the lyrics.