[Empathetic & Tear-Jerking] A love song about an unrequited romance
Even when you know it’s a hopeless love and your feelings won’t be returned, you still can’t stop your heart—it’s just impossible, isn’t it?
Your head says it might be no good, but your heart won’t follow so easily, and your feelings only grow stronger.
For you who feel this way, here are love songs that sing of the aching emotions of unrequited love—songs I want you to hear.
Some are from a woman’s perspective, some from a man’s, but whichever you listen to, your chest will surely tighten, and you may find yourself relating as if the song were about you.
Soothe the feelings you can’t tell anyone by listening to tracks from those in the same situation.
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- Unattainable Love: A Heartbreaking Love Song About Falling for a Married Person
- "A Love Song I Can't Tell Anyone" — a love song you can relate to when times are tough
- [Songs of Infidelity] A collection of forbidden love songs about unattainable romance
- An empathy song to listen to when you’re hurting and feel like a 'convenient woman'
- Bittersweet love songs to listen to when the person you like already has a girlfriend or boyfriend
- “I Want to See You”: A love song that makes you cry when you listen to it while you can’t meet
- Unrequited love songs that strike a man's heart. Love songs from a male perspective that really hit home.
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- [For when you want to cry] A ballad love song. A heartbreaking love song.
- Songs About Age-Gap Love: A Curated Selection of Exquisite Love Songs
[Empathy & Tearjerker] Love Songs About Unrequited Love (21–30)
Supporting Actress Syndromeback number
It’s a song that vividly portrays a hopeless love—one where the narrator, fully aware they’ll never be “the one,” continues a relationship in which they’re called on only when convenient.
Released as the B-side to back number’s 2012 single Aoi Haru and later included on the album blues, it depicts a protagonist who sarcastically acknowledges settling for an ambiguous relationship yet can’t stop the feelings that grow with every time they sleep together.
The fear that putting it into words would break everything keeps them swallowing the decisive confession, a detail that feels painfully real.
The groovy sound—highlighted by what Iyori Shimizu has called the standout bass line before the second chorus—is another draw, and the song became so beloved by fans that it even spawned a sequel, Supporting Actress Syndrome 2.
maybeYOASOBI
Released in 2020, this song portrays the raw emotions of a couple facing a breakup.
It captures the cool composure of saying goodbye without tears, alongside the lingering attachment buried deep inside.
The protagonist’s attempt to tell themselves “it can’t be helped” without finding anyone to blame resonates with aching poignancy.
Set to a mid-tempo melody, the lyrics trace the complex feelings of trying to accept the separation while still wishing they could go back to the past.
Included on the album THE BOOK, it reached No.
15 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
It’s a song that gently accompanies those struggling in a relationship or those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
the absolute worstMarushii
What words would you cry out when you realize that the heart of the lover you were laughing with until yesterday is no longer turned toward you? Released digitally in March 2022, this song by Marcy captures the complicated mix of anger and lingering attachment toward a fickle partner, set against a fast-paced rock sound.
It was also included on their first album, “Memory,” released in June 2022, and the music video featuring Naenano drew attention.
While venting the frustration of betrayal, the protagonist suffers from being unable to completely hate the other person—perfectly voicing the feelings of someone fresh off a heartbreak.
It’s a song that can support your heart when you’ve gone through a breakup so painful that just remembering it makes your chest tighten.
AyaMy Hair is Bad
As the title suggests, this song stands out for its poignant lyrics depicting the tangled emotions of men and women and a forbidden relationship.
Over a band sound that quietly builds in heat, the words sung by Shiiki—blending resignation and affection—resonate deeply.
It’s a track included on the album “angels,” released in April 2022, and an important number that captivates audiences live.
Rather than flashy developments, it features an arrangement that lets the vocals and lyrics take center stage, portraying an adult romance with striking realism.
This work is perfect for those nursing the pain of an unrequited love or for late nights spent alone, quietly immersing yourself in music.
With its relaxed tempo that invites you to savor each word, it’s especially recommended if you want to fully immerse yourself in the song’s lyrical world.
I LOVE YOUkurisu haato
This is an achingly bittersweet love song from California-born artist Chris Hart.
It portrays the piercing longing of someone wishing to be loved again like before as the relationship cools, and it tightens your chest as you listen.
Released in February 2014 as his first original single, the song also became widely known as the commercial theme for Ace JTB featuring Emi Takei.
His vocals draw out the full power of the words and melody, elevating the piece into a consummate ballad that borders on art.
On lonely nights when you just want to be loved, being wrapped in this warm yet powerful voice is sure to lighten your heart, even if only a little.
premonitionMy Hair is Bad
This song, which depicts an unbreakable love for a woman who already has a partner, is one of the tracks on the digital single “love,” released in December 2020.
Precisely because it was born during a time when the world was shrouded in anxiety, the personal and intensely written lyrics by Shiiki sink deep into the heart.
Progressing like a story, the piece leaves a profound afterglow, as if you’ve just watched a short film.
The emotionally charged band performance unfolding at a mid-tempo is also superb—the quiet intro building to a chorus where feelings overflow is a must-hear.
It’s perfect not only for those nursing the pain of an impossible love, but also for nights when you want to quietly immerse yourself in a world of storytelling on your own.
the depths of the heartrokudenashi
A bittersweet love ballad by Rokudenashi that resonates deeply.
It weaves delicate words about the loneliness that comes at dusk and the urgent feelings hidden behind a smile.
While yearning to be loved, the wavering heart that hesitates to face its true feelings seeps in along with gentle piano melodies.
Released in February 2025 as the lead track from the album “Sigh,” this song reaches out to those who, even while carrying wounded, unsettled hearts, try to look ahead with cherished memories held close.