Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably
When things don’t go well—like heartbreak or setbacks in life—and you’re feeling down, don’t you ever feel like having a good cry to get it all out?
On the other hand, some of you might want to play music when celebrating or expressing gratitude to family and friends, or you might be looking for a moving BGM to enrich those unforgettable wedding moments.
In this article, we’ll introduce tear-jerking songs tailored to a variety of situations like these.
From timeless tearjerkers to hidden gems, we’ve selected tracks that will stay close to your heart.
“If feels like it’s singing about me,” “It gently accompanies me when I’m feeling low or overjoyed”—give these tried-and-true songs, filled with such messages, a listen.
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Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs that pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably (141–150)
I forget you, who are so quiet, in October.atarayo
A song by Atarayo, the band whose striking tagline is “a group that grows by eating sadness.” Since its release in November 2020, its heartrending worldview drew attention, spreading via social media and streaming to become a long-running hit.
The lyrics—“If it was only going to end, I wish it had never begun”—really sink in.
The emotionally charged band ensemble amplifies the high realism of its message about a partner who shows it in their behavior but never puts it into words, and the exhaustion of not being able to truly understand each other.
In the final section, the climactic feel that builds from the back-and-forth between the male and female vocals naturally brings you to tears.
Tree of WadatsumiHajime Chitose
Born and raised on Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, she’s popular for a vocal ornamentation style you don’t hear very often.
Her lyrics evoke the sea and waves, and the offbeat rhythms reminiscent of ska pair with jazzy piano to create a distinctive sonic world.
Happy Endingback number
This song, which drew attention after being chosen as the theme for the film “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday” (Boku wa Ashita, Kinou no Kimi to Date Suru), is one of the signature tracks by the three-piece rock band back number, released in 2016 as their 16th single.
It’s a grand ballad built around a band sound, and just following its soundscapes and melody lines alone is enough to hit you in the heart.
The lyrics depict a heartrending farewell with someone you love, but… you might come away with a different impression after watching the movie.
If you’ve recently gone through a breakup and are feeling down, why not listen, have a good cry, and reset your feelings?
Changing seasonsren
Ren is a singer-songwriter who rose to fame on social media, earning overwhelming support from her generation for lyrics that feel real and relatable.
Her song “The Changing Seasons” is a love song so resonant that anyone who’s been heartbroken will be moved to tears.
Not limited to heartbreak, it captures that universal feeling we all know when we’re down—thinking “the world might as well end”—and expresses it in words that are simple yet beautiful.
The pain of feeling left behind comes through vividly: the seasons change, everything around you keeps moving on, and yet you alone remain standing still.
Breath of DawnChekkāzu
It was released in 1990 as The Checkers’ 22nd single.
Chosen as the campaign song for the film “Tasmania Story,” it’s a straightforward love song.
It conveys a depth of love beyond compare, and as you listen, tears well up—an exquisite ballad.
tune the rainbowSakamoto Maaya
A gentle number that straightforwardly sings about the desire to protect the one you love.
Just listening fills you with warmth, and every line of the lyrics resonates in your heart.
The layered sounds and melodies are truly beautiful, and Maaya Sakamoto’s gentle voice matches them perfectly, putting the listener at ease.
I won’t forget you.Matsuyama Chiharu
Released in 1996 as Chiharu Matsuyama’s 39th single.
It was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “The Ugly Duckling.” This classic resonates with Matsuyama’s clear, soaring vocals and lyrics that delve into the meaning of life, conveying the importance of living without giving up.