Recommended unrequited love songs for teens

Summer SkyFaulieu.

Faulieu. “Natsusora” - Lyric Video -

With a thrilling sense of momentum, the song pours unspoken feelings of love into its performance.

It’s a bittersweet rock number, tinged with the air of late summer, featured on the EP “My name is Faulieu.” set for release in August 2025, and performed by Faulieu.

The bassist and backing vocalist Ayano wrote both the lyrics and the music.

Because they care so deeply, they can’t bring themselves to confess—afraid to break what they have now.

The lyrics capture a page of youth so vividly it tightens your chest.

Why not listen as you overlay your own secret feelings onto the passing scenery of the seasons?

Unrequited Love Magnetmekakushe

mekakushe – Unrequited Love Magnet (Official Music Video)

Though they love each other, they can’t be honest—sticking together and pulling apart like magnets.

This song by singer-songwriter mekakushe delicately yet poppily portrays that frustrating feeling of love.

The airy vocals and bright horn sounds amplify the thrill of being in love.

But it’s not all sweetness; the lyrics also hide clashes born from being so alike, and the bittersweetness of love.

If you’re clumsily nursing a one-sided crush, this song is sure to be by your side.

loveback number

back number – Koi (full)

A song that portrays the faint stirrings of youthful love.

It expresses bittersweet feelings and the ache of unrequited affection.

The protagonist keeps thinking about the other person but lacks the courage to confess, a situation many can relate to.

Released in March 2012 as back number’s fourth single, the track was also used as the theme song for TV Asahi’s “Music-Ru TV.” It’s a love song that makes your heart swell, makes you want to see the one you like, and inspires you to share your feelings—a piece that resonates especially with teenagers.

Stand by me, Stand by you.Hirai Dai

Hirai Dai / Stand by me, Stand by you. (Lyric Video)

This song is memorable for Hirai Dai’s sweet vocals and positive lyrics.

I can’t help but swoon over the lyrics depicting a happy romance, and the phrase “Out of 7.5 billion people, two meet and fall in love” especially resonates with me.

Released in September 2020, the track became a massive hit, surpassing 300 million streams.

It’s a heartwarming number that lets even those with unrequited feelings imagine a future filled with love.

I’d recommend it to anyone in love.

If you listen when you want to picture a happy future, it will surely give you courage.

mutual unrequited loveDXTEEN

DXTEEN | 'Mutual Crush' Official MV (Theme Song for the Drama 'I Joined a Group I’m Not Close With on the School Trip')

It’s a heart-tickling youth love song packed with the sweet, bittersweet flutter of the moment when love begins to move.

Released in September 2025 as DXTEEN’s 6th single, the track portrays that delicate distance between two people who like each other but can’t quite take the next step.

It also drew attention as the theme song for the drama “I Joined a Group I’m Not Close With on the School Trip.” The initial rush of romance and the thrill of feeling the gap slowly close with someone you like are vividly expressed through the members’ fresh, breezy vocals.

Give it a listen when you want to move your relationship forward.

Coffee SongHOWL BE QUIET

HOWL BE QUIET – Coffee Song

A love song that overlays the ache of unrequited feelings onto an everyday moment.

Released digitally in 2021 by the piano rock band HOWL BE QUIET and later included on their final album, HOWL BE QUIET, this track is also known for having been created through communication with fans during livestreamed performances.

Told from a female perspective, its portrayal of a love that goes unrewarded is deeply moving.

With lyrics that revive memories along with the aroma of coffee, it’s perfect for nights spent thinking of someone.

A song for everyone who carries feelings that can’t reach their destination.

I can’t get used to itYOAKE

YOAKE “I Can’t Get Used To It” Official Music Video

YOAKE is a band project that’s been turning heads by changing its vocalist and musical genre with each track.

Their digital-only single “Fuwanarenai,” released on March 19, 2021, sticks in your ears with its airy ensemble featuring a sprightly piano sound.

The lyrics, which express feelings that can’t be suppressed even while recognizing a more-than-friends-but-not-quite-lovers relationship, will likely resonate—especially with teens, for whom romance often begins as friendship.

Packed with memorable lines that create a strong hook, it’s a refreshing pop tune.

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Hoshino Takashi

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