Recommended unrequited love songs for teens

Goodbye-byeTomioka Ai

Ai Tomioka – Goodbye Bye (Music Video)

A delicate song by Ai Tomioka that sings of a love so pure it almost hurts.

The transparent vocals capture the frustrating feeling of almost closing the distance with someone, yet never quite getting there.

Even while knowing the other person has someone special, the complicated emotions of being unable to let go resonate deeply.

Released in September 2023, it captured many hearts, reaching the Top 10 on Spotify’s Viral charts in six Asian countries.

The song is memorable for its blend of English and Japanese lyrics and its catchy melodic line.

It’s a track that comforts anyone holding onto unspoken feelings for someone they love, or struggling with a love that may never come true.

Feeling in loveNishino Kana

Kana Nishino 'Feelings of Love' MV Full

A love song by Kana Nishino that portrays the struggles of two people who are more than friends but not quite lovers.

The secret feelings harbored for a longtime best friend are expressed with heartrending delicacy.

Even when the mind has given up, the heart can’t help but hold onto a faint hope—an emotion anyone who’s experienced unrequited love can relate to.

Featured on the album “with LOVE,” this track was released in November 2014 and captured the hearts of many listeners.

It’s a must-listen for anyone wavering between friendship and romance.

Sorry for dreamingAKB48 U-21 senbatsu

[MV Full] Sorry for Dreaming / AKB48 U-21 Selection [Official]

Sung by AKB48’s U-21 selection, this song was included as a B-side on the single “Koi Tsunja tta,” released in July 2024.

The lyrics, which focus on a bittersweet unrequited love, are striking, and the scene of standing up to pedal a bicycle along the route to school at summer’s end feels symbolic of youth.

The repeated apologies—“I’m sorry”—convey the protagonist’s complicated feelings as they struggle to let go of a love that cannot be.

It was also used as the ending theme for the drama Hoshikuzu Telepath, garnering attention.

It’s a perfect track for teens troubled by unrequited love or for anyone who wants to reminisce about the delicate romances of their youth.

It feels like I’m in love.Yuika

It’s like I’m in love / “Yuika” [MV]

A song that beautifully captures the sweet-and-sour feelings of teenage love has been born.

Singer-songwriter Yuika breaks new ground in love songs.

This track, released in February 2024, marks her major-label debut.

It was selected as an insert song for ABEMA’s original romance show “Koisuru Weekend Homestay 2024 Winter.” The lyrics delicately portray the emotions of a single-minded girl—the frustration of wanting to confess her feelings but lacking the courage comes through vividly.

It’s a warm, comforting piece that resonates with young people struggling in love.

Recommended not only for those nursing a crush but also for anyone feeling nostalgic for their youth.

Just so you know, this feeling isn’t love!Tensen Tensei Shoujo.

[MV] “Just so you know, this feeling is not love!” — Tenten (Tensen Tensei Shoujo.)

This song poignantly portrays the bittersweet unrequited love of youth.

Performed by Tensentensei Girl, it’s their new single released in June 2024.

With lyrics expressing the feelings of a tsundere girl and a driving, fast-paced melody, it charmingly depicts how her true feelings overflow even as she insists, “It’s not love.” The track was performed at release events and on a live tour held from May to June, capturing the hearts of fans.

It’s the perfect song for reminiscing about your first love or sorting out your feelings for someone you like.