Unrequited Love in Western Music: A Collection of Heart-wrenching Classics [2026]

Love You Like A Love SongSelena Gomez

Selena Gomez & The Scene – Love You Like A Love Song

You’ll find yourself hooked on its catchy chorus, “I love you like a love song,” and Selena’s deep vocals as you listen.

The song’s slow, easy-to-sing tempo is also popular.

Japanese appears in the music video, so be sure to take a close look.

IrresponsibleKiana Ledé

Kiana Ledé – Irresponsible (Official Music Video)

This song by American R&B singer Kiana Ledé conveys her aching emotions.

Carried by a melancholic melody, it tells the story of a heart shattered by the irresponsibility of someone she trusted.

The despair of realizing that the flirtatious signals that made her believe the feelings were mutual were nothing but her own misunderstanding is truly painful.

The way she wavers between blaming the other person and being unable to let go of her feelings is something anyone who has experienced unrequited love can painfully relate to.

Kiana Ledé’s soulful voice seems to envelop and soothe this unbearable suffering.

Just a Friend to YouMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor – Just a Friend To You (Vevo Presents)

“Just a Friend to You,” sung by American artist Meghan Trainor.

Though its cheerful ukulele tones feel comforting, the song actually tells a bittersweet story of unrequited love—wishing to be more than “just friends.” You want to be lovers, but the other person only sees you as a friend… By pairing those frustrating feelings with an unapologetically bright melody, the poignancy hits even deeper.

Many of us know that sweet-yet-bitter experience of laughing beside the person we love as their “best friend,” while crying on the inside.

Let this song help you breezily get through the helpless ache of a one-sided crush!

Call Out My NameThe Weeknd

The Weeknd – Call Out My Name (Official Video)

This is a song by The Weeknd, a singer from Canada.

It expresses an unbreakable attachment and poignant lingering feelings toward a former partner.

Even while knowing she’s no longer his, he vows to drop everything if she ever calls for help—a one-sided devotion.

Such feelings, with nowhere to go, tighten the heart.

His vocals, like a cry from the soul, and the ethereal, beautiful melody pierce deeply into the chest.

Anyone who has suffered the pain of still thinking about someone even after the relationship has ended will likely empathize acutely with this feeling.

It might be a song that stays by your side until the very moment this love truly ends.

GorgeousTaylor Swift

Taylor Swift – Gorgeous (Lyric Video)

Feeling so mad at someone for being just too “gorgeous”!? This is a humor-filled unrequited love song sung by American artist Taylor Swift.

Set to a lively synth-pop sound, the lyrics strikingly portray being tongue-tied in front of a love-at-first-sight crush and the complicated feeling of liking someone so much it actually makes you angry.

Many people have probably experienced going blank the moment they see their crush or being swept away by their own emotions.

You could say it’s a song packed with that uncontrollable rush and flutter of the very moment love begins.

FallingforyouThe 1975

The 1975 – fallingforyou

Featuring a floating, atmospheric sound and breathy, sweet vocals that leave a strong impression! This is a melancholic unrequited-love song by the popular British band The 1975.

Asking, “Is it okay for me to fall in love with you?” while already being completely captivated—aren’t there many people struggling with that kind of inner conflict in a one-sided crush? The push and pull between the fear that your feelings might be exposed and the emotions you still can’t stop is heart-wrenching.

Even if you don’t know how this love will turn out, the experience of loving someone deeply will surely help you grow.

Listen to “Fallingforyou” and gently lean into the bittersweet yet beautiful feelings of love.

Ocean EyesBillie Eilish

Billie Eilish – ocean eyes (Official Music Video)

Released independently in 2015, “Ocean Eyes” is the song that put Billie Eilish’s name on the map.

It’s about unrequited love for a partner with eyes like the ocean.

The romance with someone whose eyes evoke the deep sea’s mysterious illusions blends with Billie Eilish’s transparent, airy vocals to create a unique world of its own.

It’s astonishing to think she was just 14 when the track came out.

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