[2026] Tearjerker love songs by Western bands: A roundup of recommended popular tracks

In My HeadNewDad

NewDad – In My Head (Visualiser)

NewDad are an Irish band garnering attention for a sound that blends the airy float of shoegaze with the punch of alternative rock.

Released in May 2023, this track offers a poignant depiction of inner turmoil in love.

Overwhelmed by thoughts of the one they adore, the protagonist gradually becomes consumed by fevered emotion—a feeling Julie Dawson’s dreamy yet earnest vocals convey with a heart-wrenching intensity.

The mix of gauzy textures and fiercely distorted guitars evokes the narrator’s unstable inner landscape.

The song was later included on their debut album, “Madra.” It’s a track that will keep you company on nights weighed down by inescapable romantic woes, or when you want to be honest with your feelings.

Calling After MeWallows

Wallows – Calling After Me (Official Video)

This is a track by Wallows, a Los Angeles–based band whose breezy, light sound lingers in your ears.

They’re also known for featuring Dylan Minnette, star of the film series “13 Reasons Why.” Released in March 2024, the song appears on the album “Model.” In contrast to its pleasant indie-pop melody, the lyrics poignantly depict the frustration of unrequited love—chasing someone who won’t turn around.

The protagonist’s earnest wish to be called by the person they love evokes sweet yet bittersweet scenes.

Reaching No.

8 on the UK rock chart, this song is perfect for those moments when you feel a distance between you and someone you care about.

Anything But MeMUNA

MUNA – Anything But Me (Official Video)

Armed with synth-pop, the indie trio MUNA captivates listeners around the world.

When you’re in a relationship, there are moments when it becomes hard to stay true to yourself.

This work portrays a bittersweet yet powerful decision to break free from such a situation.

Even with love for the other person still lingering, the protagonist walks away, saying, “I can be anything for you, but I can’t be anything other than myself.” The pain behind that resolve and self-affirmation resonates deeply, enhanced by the bright sound.

Released in March 2022, the piece is included on the acclaimed album Muna.

Their performance on a TV show at the time also drew attention.

For anyone struggling with their current relationship, this song will surely give you the courage to move forward.

Blame BrettThe Beaches

The Beaches – Blame Brett

The Beaches are an alternative rock band from Canada and a powerhouse act that won Group of the Year at the 2024 Juno Awards.

Among their works, the lead single from their 2023 album “Blame My Ex” is somehow tear-jerking despite its sly, off-kilter tone.

Born from the vocalist’s real-life experience, the song is a breakup anthem that depicts a protagonist who has closed off her heart due to the pain of separation.

The lyrics, in which she declares to whoever she meets next that “my attitude is my ex’s fault,” might sound like mere bravado at first.

Yet beneath that lies a heartrending cry to never be hurt again, and it tightens your chest to witness it.

Many listeners will likely find themselves resonating with this almost painfully self-protective stance.

It’s a classic that gives voice to the helpless anguish of heartbreak from a slightly different angle.

Don’t Delete The KissesWolf Alice

Wolf Alice – Don’t Delete the Kisses (Official Video)

A song that brilliantly captures the tight-chested rush and anxiety of falling in love.

It’s by London-based alternative rock band Wolf Alice.

Over a dreamy, synth-tinged sound, a painfully pure confession unfolds like an inner monologue—wanting to say “I like you,” yet hesitating from lack of confidence.

The image of typing and deleting the words over and over makes your own heart clench as you listen.

The track appears on the album “Visions of a Life,” which won the Mercury Prize in 2018.

It also drew attention for being featured in the hit Netflix series “Heartstopper.” A masterpiece I hope you’ll hear if your heart is burning with feelings for someone you love.

IrisGoo Goo Dolls

Goo Goo Dolls – Iris [Official Music Video] [4K Remaster]

A deeply moving rock ballad born from the story of the film City of Angels.

Released by America’s Goo Goo Dolls in April 1998, the song richly conveys the poignant emotions of an angel who falls in love with a human.

Its beautiful melody weaves together a gentle gaze toward people striving to live and the protagonist’s resolve to seek love, even at the cost of eternal life.

Included on the band’s album Dizzy Up the Girl, the track became a massive hit, spending 18 consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.

In the mid-2020s, the song was rediscovered—especially on TikTok—and went viral among younger listeners, a testament to its enduring appeal.

Out Of SightThe Beths

The Beths – “Out Of Sight” (official music video)

The Beths are an indie rock band from New Zealand, known for their catchy melodies backed by solid musicianship honed through studying jazz.

Here’s a moving gem from their second album, Jump Rope Gazers, released in July 2020.

The fuzz-laden guitars weave a shoegaze-like sound that creates a floating sensation, as if drifting through a pale dream.

The song conveys helpless, aching feelings for someone precious who’s slipping out of sight, carried by crystalline vocals and a beautifully melodic bassline that tightens your chest with its fragility.

It’s the kind of track that will surely comfort you when you’re feeling the loneliness of a long-distance relationship or the frustration of a love that’s coming to an end.