[Support for the Heart] Songs That Give You Courage When Times Are Tough
In life, tough and painful times are bound to come, and you’ll likely experience major setbacks as well.
In those moments, many people find it hard to carry everything alone, yet don’t quite feel like talking to someone either.
At times like that, letting music gently stay by your side is something I recommend.
In this article, I’ve gathered songs that can give you strength when you’re going through hard times.
From timeless classics to the latest hits, I’ve picked a variety—so please find the support song that’s just for you.
- [For those doing their best] A comforting song to listen to when you're tired of life
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- Timeless songs that stay close to your heart when times are tough. Uplifting tracks with gentle lyrics that really sink in.
- [Songs Portraying Strong Women] Positive Tracks to Listen to When You’re Feeling Discouraged
- Take the first step!! Songs that give you courage, songs that make you persevere when you listen
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- Songs to listen to when you’re feeling down! Tracks that boost your self-confidence
- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
- [Deeply Moving] A Tear-Jerking Cheer Song: Popular Inspirational Anthems That Resonate with the Heart
- Timeless songs that sing of hopes and dreams. Masterpieces that lead those who strive toward the future.
- A famous song about setbacks. A song that stays by your side when times are tough or you feel like giving up.
- [Today's Cheer Song] To everyone giving it your all! A gem of an inspiring anthem that resonates with the heart
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
[For the Heart] Songs That Give You Courage When Times Are Tough (101–110)
lamplightHalf time Old
On mornings when you’re feeling low, you want a song bursting with energy! For you—yes, you—I have just the recommendation: “Tomoshibi” by Half time Old, a rock band formed in 2011 in Nagoya and centered around vocalist Masaharu Kito and guitarist Yuichi Kojika.
With stirring lyrics like “The road isn’t smooth, and we’ll face many setbacks, but what lies beyond is an irreplaceable victory,” this song is sure to blow away any anxiety you have.
The melody is also noteworthy for embracing even those unfamiliar with rock.
If you’re short on time, at least read the lyrics—this is the one track you should check out.
I’ve gotta do the thing that seems impossible.Sambomasutā
When you feel on the verge of giving up, this song by Sambomaster will support your heart.
Characterized by its fiery message and powerful sound, it was released in February 2010.
Written specifically for Nissan’s Serena commercial, it has continued to encourage people in a variety of situations ever since.
In 2018, it was also chosen as the theme song for the TBS drama Cheer☆Dan, resonating with even more listeners.
Takashi Yamaguchi’s straightforward lyrics give you a push, making you feel you can overcome any hardship.
It’s a must-listen for anyone feeling anxious before a new challenge.
I thought about killing myselfNakajima Mika
Mika Nakashima’s track “I Thought About Dying” stands out with its striking, impactful title.
Written and composed by Hiromu Akita, the vocalist and guitarist of amazarashi, the song has also been self-covered by Akita himself.
The protagonist of this song finds themselves contemplating death for many reasons—ranging from trivial matters to events that weigh heavily on the heart.
Yet in the end, meeting someone precious frees them from those feelings.
Life can be painful, and at times we may feel like disappearing, just like the protagonist.
But as long as we have someone important—or something that truly matters to us—we can make it through.
When things feel unbearable, listen to this song and think of the people or things you hold dear.
to clear up (weather)Yorushika
A refreshing song that evokes the arrival of spring, it impresses with n-buna’s masterful word choice and suis’s transparent vocals weaving a richly emotional world.
By depicting the shift in the sky from rain to clear weather, it symbolically expresses the joys and pains of life, as well as hope and despair, making it a track you’ll want to listen to at the change of seasons.
This work was used as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which began airing in January 2024, and it was also featured in a collaborative web commercial with Suntory’s gin SUI.
Released as a digital single, this song will be a reliable companion when you need a mindset reset or are about to take a new step forward.
Unfading TemperatureKotoha
This song by Kotoha, who is active in the HoneyWorks project, features a gentle, translucent voice and delicate piano and string arrangements that tighten the chest.
The grand melody, carefully composed by MIMI, intertwines a bittersweet yearning to reclaim lost time and emotions with a hope that still strives to face forward.
Released in August 2024 and included on the mini-album “Autumn Vox,” it resonates deeply with many people, especially when paired with Kotoha’s emotionally rich vocals.
It’s a warm song that quietly stays by your side when you can’t tell anyone about your pain and feel like you might have to carry it all alone.
[For the Heart] Songs That Give You Courage to Listen to When Times Are Tough (111–120)
To My AdolescenceAka-hoho Shishunki (BOL4)
A healing song by BOL4 (Bolbbalgan4) that wraps the delicate emotions of adolescence in acoustic tones.
It gently traces the emotional journey from days tormented by loneliness and self-denial to gradually finding hope with the passage of time.
Included on the September 2017 album “Red Diary Page.1,” this work made the Melon Music Awards’ Top 10 for three consecutive years, Korea’s largest music awards.
Alongside the crystalline vocals, it brings into sharp relief the complex feelings of sensing parental love yet being unable to accept it straightforwardly, and the image of youths who shrink under the gaze of those around them.
When you feel on the verge of losing yourself, listening to this song will surely let a ray of hope shine into a heart filled with loneliness and anxiety.
As a personSUPER BEAVER
A gem-like ballad that sings of the strength to face forward while confronting human frailty.
As SUPER BEAVER’s first attempt at a ballad, it beautifully blends a grand arrangement featuring strings with Ryota Shibuya’s powerful vocals.
Released in June 2016, it appeared on the album “27.” It was chosen as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo drama “Sono ‘Okodawari,’ Watashi ni mo Kureyo!!” aired the same year, and later used in 2021 as the CM song for Asahi Beer’s “Asahi Super Dry.” This song continues to warm the hearts of many, sincerely supporting those who are struggling and lost, yet striving to move forward in life.