Emotional Western Music Special | Handpicked from All Generations
“Emoi” has now become a mainstream expression in Japan.
We use it as if it’s obvious, but even when you just say “emoi,” it can cover a wide range of feelings.
For example, it can be nostalgic, or delicate and wistful…
This time, we selected Western songs with a focus on various shades of “emoi.”
From the latest hit songs to, in the latter part of the ranking, timeless classics known to those in the know, we’ve picked a broad range.
If you’d like to discover unexpectedly high-quality Western music, please take your time and read to the end.
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Emotional Western Music Special | Picks from All Generations (21–30)
Let’s Stay TogetherAl Green
Al Green, a soul singer who was hugely active in the 1970s with his unique brand of soul music.
His musical style was highly advanced for its time, resembling the neo-soul genre that would emerge about 20 years later.
With such foresight, Al Green also created songs that perfectly match today’s “emo” culture.
One such work is Let’s Stay Together.
It’s a gentle love song that portrays happiness, wrapped in a subtly languid, wistful mood throughout.
Dog Days Are OverFlorence & The Machine
Florence and the Machine, the British band known for blending diverse genres like art pop and gospel.
This song from their 2009 debut album Lungs delivers a powerful message that resonates as a declaration of the end of hard days.
Starting with gentle harp tones and then bursting into emotion with handclaps, Florence Welch’s vocals feel as if they blow away the melancholy of summer’s end.
It’s also memorable that the track closed out the film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.
3, leading to a 618% week-over-week surge in streams.
Rather than lamenting the passing of summer, it’s an emotional song to hear when you want to hold on to hope for the new season ahead.
Emotional Western Music Special | Picks from All Generations (31–40)
Green LightLorde
Singer-songwriter Lorde, who debuted in her teens and shook the music scene with her poetic worldview.
Released in March 2017, this song overlaps with the bittersweet air of late summer.
Beginning with a piano melody, it blends the pain of heartbreak with the exhilaration of trying to break free, portraying a protagonist who still longs for a finished love yet waits for the “green light” to move forward.
It’s as if hiding tears while dancing at a party—an achingly tender yet powerful mood that strikes the heart.
The masterpiece Melodrama, which includes this track, was nominated for Album of the Year at the 60th Grammy Awards.
On a twilight evening when you’re reluctant to let summer go, take the time to listen to it alone.
Chasing CarsSnow Patrol
This is an exquisitely pure love song by Snow Patrol, a rock band from Scotland.
It expresses a heartfelt wish to simply lie side by side with the one you love and forget the clamor of the world.
The deep affection—so profound it’s hard to put into words—rises alongside the sweeping melody and truly hits you in the chest.
Included on the 2006 masterpiece Eyes Open, the song gained worldwide popularity thanks to the hit drama Grey’s Anatomy.
The fact that it remained on the UK charts for an astounding 111 weeks speaks to how deeply it resonated with so many people.
It’s the kind of song that gently stays with you on a late-summer evening, when the fading light makes you a touch sentimental.
Fast CarTracy Chapman
The acoustic guitar arpeggios, blending into the wistful air of dusk, are striking.
This is a gem of a ballad by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, who has continued to sing powerful messages rooted in folk and blues.
The song portrays the story of a protagonist who pins their hopes on a fast car in an effort to escape a stifling reality.
Even as they dream that they “might be someone,” the aching emotions of confronting an unyielding reality are deeply moving.
Released in April 1988, the track appears on the classic album “Tracy Chapman” and reached No.
6 on the U.S.
charts.
Its melancholy melody, which somehow overlaps with scenes of a fading summer, is perfect for moments of solitary reflection.
GreyWhy Don’t We
The vivid summer scenery suddenly fades, turning monochrome.
It’s a song by the pop group Why Don’t We that gently stays close to that wistful feeling at summer’s end.
The message—that even when the world looks gray with sadness, only a loved one can bring back color—quietly resonates.
The track is included on their album “The Good Times and the Bad Ones,” released in January 2021, which peaked at No.
3 on the U.S.
charts.
Its gentle harmonies layered over a soft piano sound feel like listening to ripples on the shore at dusk.
It’s a beautiful ballad, perfect for a sentimental night spent cherishing the season that has passed.
Glimpse of UsJoji
Joji is a Japanese artist who’s active on the global stage.
“Glimpse of Us” is one of his signature songs.
On TikTok, videos using this track have gone viral, so many of you may have heard it there.
The song portrays the feelings of a man who has a new girlfriend but can’t forget his ex.
Its sound leans toward R&B, with a mellow, intimate vibe.
The biggest draw of this track is its lyrics, so be sure to listen while reading a Japanese-to-English translation.
