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!
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Touching, heartbreaking songs and sad music for Instagram Stories (11–20)
hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake
It’s a moving song that brings to mind someone dear who’s far away.
Released in January 2024, it was also chosen as the opening theme for the TBS Tuesday drama “Eye Love You.” The lyrics, which sing of love that transcends time and distance, are sure to leave a deep impression on listeners.
Omoinotake’s warm vocals and the soothing sounds of piano and drums create a soundscape that’s perfect for moments of longing.
Use it in your Instagram Stories, and you might be able to share your feelings with friends.
cold; curt; blunt; unfriendlyRADWIMPS
This song portrays a bittersweet love.
It’s included on the album “ANTI ANTI GENERATION,” released in December 2018.
The lyrics deftly capture the feelings of a protagonist who, despite being confused by the other person’s curt attitude, still can’t give up.
With RADWIMPS’ characteristic delicate lyrics and warm melody, it resonates deeply.
The music video features Nana Komatsu and Fuju Kamio, unfolding a romantic story.
It’s a track that comforts anyone who has experienced unrequited love or heartbreak.
It’s very popular, so it’s perfect for Instagram, too.
LemonYonezu Kenshi
If you want to express a bittersweet feeling through music, this song is perfect.
The lyrics, which depict deep love and sorrow for someone you’ve lost and honor the beautiful memories you shared, resonate deeply.
Released in 2018, it was written as the theme song for TBS Television’s Friday drama “Unnatural.” It is said that Kenshi Yonezu’s grandfather’s death greatly influenced the creation of this work.
The scent of lemon symbolizes the strength of memories, expressing the bond with a beloved person who is no longer here.
It’s a recommended track for those who have experienced parting or who wish to cherish memories with someone precious.
spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota
This song is a hallmark of Tota’s bedroom-pop style.
The lyrics, weaving delicate emotions with images of nature, are striking—entrusting feelings to everyday scenes like the sky, wind, and clouds.
They balance the ache of lost love with a forward-looking hope, resonating with many listeners.
Included on the February 2023 album “oidaki,” it has become a hit with over 400 million total plays on social media.
It’s a perfect track for Instagram Stories—sure to strike a chord as background music for moving moments like farewells or reunions with someone special.
forget-me-notAwesome City Club
This song expresses a bittersweet feeling through its lyrics.
The longing not to forget a beloved person and precious memories resonates over a gentle melody.
Released in January 2021, it is also included on the album “Grower.” Known as an inspiration song for the film “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,” it has become a track that comforts many hearts.
The warm vocals of Awesome City Club will surely resonate with your emotions.
Using it in your Instagram Stories might help you express your aching feelings.
horizonback number
This song is characterized by a warm melody that deeply resonates with listeners.
Created by back number in August 2020, it was written as a cheer song for high school students following the cancellation of the Inter-High.
The lyrics, which empathize with those who have pursued their dreams since childhood, gently portray the sorrow felt when facing setbacks and hardships, as well as the strength to keep looking forward.
Delicately expressing the feelings of people who must part with their past selves or loved ones, or who find themselves in situations where they have to give up their dreams, this piece has a charm that evokes new emotions with every listen.
It is a song that conveys a sense of strength even amid sadness.
Heart-piercing, melancholic songs and sad music on Instagram Stories (21–30)
JANE DOEYonezu Kenshi, Utada Hikaru
Created as the ending theme for the film “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc,” this song is characterized by a poetic worldview that symbolically depicts yearning and pain.
A first-time collaboration between two of Japan’s leading singer-songwriters, Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada, it intertwines translucent vocals with a melancholic melody, imbued with deep emotion centered on memory and loss.
Released in tandem with the film’s premiere in September 2025, it drew attention as a double A-side single alongside the main theme, “IRIS OUT.” Expressing the resolve to move forward even while carrying fragility and hurt, this piece is perfect for posts made in sentimental moments or when thinking of someone dear.