A Collection of Heart-Touching Western Ballads — From Classics to the Newest Hits
Although I don’t usually listen to much Western music, I suspect there are quite a few people who have a favorite famous ballad.
Ballads don’t really demand a specific type of listener, and many people probably discover them through movie or TV drama theme songs or commercials and end up liking them.
There are many ways to define a ballad, but in this article we highlight classic Western ballads that fit the general image—from piano ballads to rock ballads, across eras—introducing wonderful songs that truly “resonate with the heart.”
We also touch on the meanings of the lyrics, so you might deepen your understanding of songs you love.
Be sure to check it out!
- I Want to Be Healed from the Heart: Recommended Western Ballads Sung by Female Vocalists
- Beautiful, lovely Western music. A roundup of recommended classic songs.
- [2026] A curated list of recommended popular ballads sung by male Western artists
- [Western Music] The World of Power Ballads: A Collection of Must-Listen Gems to Start With
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- [2026] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended classics
- [Latest Hits & Hall of Fame Classics] Recommended Popular Western Ballads
- Classic Western songs that soothe the soul
- Recommendation of calm Western music: music that envelops you in a peaceful time
- A catchy tune that sounds familiar
- [2026 Edition] Tear-Jerking! A Roundup of the Best New Western Pop Ballads
- Top 2026 Rankings of Melancholic Western Songs
- Songs That Make You Cry: Heart-Wrenching Western Music—from Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits
A collection of moving Western ballads—from classics to the latest hits (41–50)
FallingHarry Styles
Harry Styles, one of the popular members of One Direction.
His “Falling” is a standout ballad whose piercingly emotional vocals tug at the heart.
The chorus—“What kind of person am I now? Have I become someone you wouldn’t want to be around…?”—evokes the image of a protagonist wrestling with self-reflection, and it’s so moving it can bring you to the verge of tears before you know it.
If you need a good cry to reset your mood, give this song a listen!
Thank God I DoLauren Daigle
The heartwarming ballad released in March 2023 by American artist Lauren Daigle is a song that stays close to those struggling with loneliness and anxiety.
Marked by gentle piano tones and evocative strings, the piece centers on gratitude and trust in God, singing of the strength to overcome hardship.
It has resonated with many listeners, earning Gold certification and reaching No.
1 on Billboard’s Christian Songs chart.
When your heart feels weary, why not listen quietly? You’ll surely find something that speaks to your soul.
ChancesBackstreet Boys
An emotionally moving love song by the Backstreet Boys that sings of a grand love between two people who met by a miracle—one in millions.
Leaders of the global music scene since the ’90s, they now weave a story with a mature allure that warmly embraces listeners.
This track was written by the likes of Shawn Mendes, and there’s even an anecdote that the members decided on it instantly after hearing the demo.
Released in November 2018 from their classic album DNA, it drew major attention, including a performance on the popular show The Voice US.
The beautiful visuals filmed at Los Angeles’ Union Station are also a must-see.
If you believe in fateful encounters, this song will gently give you a push forward.
Fine On The OutsidePriscilla Ahn
The American singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn’s song, created in 2005, drew attention when it was chosen as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s film “When Marnie Was There.” The lyrics, which strikingly contrast inner loneliness with an outward show of strength, delicately portray the feelings of her girlhood, when she had few friends and carried a sense of solitude.
Released as a single in July 2014, the song resonated with many viewers as it played over the film’s ending.
The track is characterized by Ahn’s clear, transparent vocals and simple acoustic guitar accompaniment, making it a recommended listen for anyone who has experienced loneliness or wants to spend some quiet time.
HelloAdele
The phrase in the chorus, “Hello, from the other side, I must’ve called a thousand times,” conveys the pain of a woman trying somehow to apologize for her shortcomings, making “Hello” a moving ballad.
Released by Adele in 2015, the song achieved major commercial success, hitting number one in most of the countries where it charted, including her home country of the UK.
It has high name recognition in Japan as well, having been featured on TV programs, so even people who don’t usually listen to Western music might know it!
Open ArmsJourney
Journey, the American band that pioneered stadium rock.
Their appeal lies in irresistibly catchy vocal melodies and Steve Perry’s powerhouse vocals that soar into the high register.
Their 1982 release “Open Arms” is no exception—its chorus features Perry’s ringing, sustained high notes, and the beautiful melody is addictive.
The chorus lyric, “So now I come to you with open arms,” brims with a tender willingness to embrace everything about the other person—it gives me chills!
Talking to the MoonBruno Mars
This song, which sings of bittersweet feelings echoing on a summer night, is a beautiful ballad that entrusts love for a precious person far away to the moon and speaks to them.
Carried by a simple piano melody, Bruno Mars’s deeply expressive vocals reach straight to the heart.
Featured on his 2010 debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, it became a classic, spending nine consecutive weeks at number one in Brazil.
It was also beloved as the theme song for the Brazilian TV drama Insensato Coração.
When you listen on nights you’re thinking of a lover or when you’re apart from someone important, its blend of longing and hope resonates in your chest.