Ranking of Melancholic Western Songs [2025]

You Da OneRihanna50rank/position

Rihanna – You Da One

It’s a love song that will appeal to people who like hip-hop and uptempo music.

It vividly captures the world of a girl who’s just fallen in love and can’t think about anything but him.

The music video is also made to be enjoyable both to watch and listen to.

Cruel SummerTaylor Swift51rank/position

Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer (Official Audio)

Cruel Summer, included on the album Lover released in the summer of 2019, took an unusual path to success, reaching No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts in 2023—four years later.

Although Taylor Swift herself and co-writer Jack Antonoff both consider it a favorite, it was never released as a single, and as mentioned, it became a massive hit only years after its debut.

Blending the kind of complicated romantic themes characteristic of Taylor with the mental turmoil she faced at the time—including backlash stemming from her dispute with Kanye West—the somewhat self-deprecating lyrics convey a sense of poignancy that may resonate even more deeply than the sound itself.

I encourage you to look into the song’s creation background and then give it another careful listen.

Please Please PleaseSabrina Carpenter52rank/position

Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please

This song by American artist Sabrina Carpenter, packed with the complexities of love, brings a gentle, aching melancholy that resonates in the summer twilight.

Sung with a touch of humor, it portrays the inner turmoil of loving a partner with a bad reputation while worrying about others’ opinions, deftly capturing the contradictions of modern romance.

Released in June 2024 as the second single from the album “Short n’ Sweet,” it became a massive hit, reaching number one on the UK charts.

It’s a track that will deeply strike anyone who has struggled between reason and emotion, or who finds themselves in a complicated relationship.

DriveThe Cars53rank/position

The Cars – Drive (Official Music Video)

The Cars are a rock band from the United States.

As a new wave band, they enjoyed popularity in the 1980s.

Among their works—many of which have a strong rhythmic drive—“Drive” stands out as one of their finest slow ballads.

It was released in 1984, and its wistful melody, evocative of the fading summer, is especially captivating.

No Promises ft. Demi LovatoCheat Codes54rank/position

Cheat Codes – No Promises ft. Demi Lovato [Official Video]

A song celebrated as a quintessential work of tropical house was born from a collaboration between the Los Angeles–based EDM trio Cheat Codes and pop star Demi Lovato.

Released in March 2017, the track portrays uncertainty in love and complex emotions, candidly expressing the struggle of feelings that can’t be promised.

Its catchy tropical beat pairs perfectly with Demi Lovato’s powerful vocals, and it became a major hit, earning gold and platinum certifications around the world.

It’s a track that suits summer drives and beachside relaxation, and one that offers comfort when you’re feeling unsure about love.

Dog Days Are OverFlorence & The Machine55rank/position

Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over (2010 Version) (Official Music Video)

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.

First Dateblink-18256rank/position

blink-182 – First Date (Official Video)

It’s a fun rock band’s love song that captures the fresh feelings after a first date.

Even people who don’t like rock might get hooked on its fresh, pure lyrics, upbeat rhythm, and the music video’s amusing story.