[2026] A Collection of Tear-Jerking Coming-of-Age Songs in Western Music

this is what losing someone feels likeJVKE

this is what losing someone feels like (official video)

Jake, a young singer-songwriter who shot to global fame on TikTok, became a familiar name among Japanese music fans after his 2022 hit “golden hour” took the world by storm.

Released in March 2023, this work is a ballad that quietly portrays the regret and pain of losing someone dear.

The protagonist’s feelings—agonizing over small everyday choices like “If only we’d had that coffee together” or “If only I’d picked up the phone”—are poured out over a gentle piano melody.

The delicate emotions of trying to accept the irreversibility of loss may well bring you to tears.

It’s a song that gently stays by your side when you’ve experienced heartbreak or parting.

FadedAlan Walker

Alan Walker – Faded

It’s a song that feels happy in a way, yet leaves you with a bittersweet ache.

It’s about continuing to search for something that’s been lost.

One of its hallmarks is that people interpret the lyrics differently.

It’s a mysterious track you’ll want to listen to when you’ve lost sight of yourself.

How Do I Say GoodbyeDean Lewis

Dean Lewis – How Do I Say Goodbye (Official Video)

Dean Lewis is a singer-songwriter from Australia who has earned international acclaim for his emotionally rich lyrics and deeply resonant melodies.

This track, released in September 2022, was created based on his experience when his father was diagnosed with a serious illness.

The lyrics, which express the fear and love surrounding the inevitability of having to say goodbye to someone precious, offer a deeply relatable reflection on family.

The structure is also superb, unfolding from a quiet piano- and strings-led intro into a gradually intensifying climax.

Check it out when you want to reflect on your relationships with family or revisit your feelings for someone important to you.

It’ll Be OkayShawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes – It’ll Be Okay

A piano ballad released in December 2021.

Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes delivers a quiet portrayal of the pain and acceptance of facing a breakup.

It begins by questioning the end of a relationship, then offers a vow to keep loving the other person—a message that resonates, wrapped in organ-like synths and strings.

When you’ve parted ways with someone important, whether in friendship or romance, there are moments when you want to tell yourself, “It’s going to be okay.” This song gently stays by your side in those moments.

The music video, set against nighttime views of his hometown Toronto and snowy scenes, leaves a strong impression with its world that balances loneliness and warmth.

Recommended for those going through heartbreak, as well as middle schoolers struggling with a relationship.

We Hug NowSydney Rose

Sydney Rose – We Hug Now (Official Video)

Singer-songwriter Sydney Rose, originally from Georgia and now based in Nashville, is an artist known for her whispery vocals and delicate piano and guitar tones.

Released in February 2025, this work portrays not the end of a romance but the breakdown of a friendship.

It quietly narrates the pain of two people who once held each other close but have now become strangers merely passing by.

Vivid scenes linger, like mistaking city lights for stars while remembering the other person, and dreaming of still being seventeen—moving back and forth between past and present.

If you’re a middle schooler struggling with a friendship, be sure to give it a listen.