![[Empathetic & Tear-Jerking] A love song about an unrequited romance](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/IsFs06cw-gY/maxresdefault.webp)
[Empathetic & Tear-Jerking] A love song about an unrequited romance
Even when you know it’s a hopeless love and your feelings won’t be returned, you still can’t stop your heart—it’s just impossible, isn’t it?
Your head says it might be no good, but your heart won’t follow so easily, and your feelings only grow stronger.
For you who feel this way, here are love songs that sing of the aching emotions of unrequited love—songs I want you to hear.
Some are from a woman’s perspective, some from a man’s, but whichever you listen to, your chest will surely tighten, and you may find yourself relating as if the song were about you.
Soothe the feelings you can’t tell anyone by listening to tracks from those in the same situation.
[Empathy & Tearjerker] Love Songs About Unrequited Love (1–10)
premonitionNEW!My Hair is Bad
This song, which depicts an unbreakable love for a woman who already has a partner, is one of the tracks on the digital single “love,” released in December 2020.
Precisely because it was born during a time when the world was shrouded in anxiety, the personal and intensely written lyrics by Shiiki sink deep into the heart.
Progressing like a story, the piece leaves a profound afterglow, as if you’ve just watched a short film.
The emotionally charged band performance unfolding at a mid-tempo is also superb—the quiet intro building to a chorus where feelings overflow is a must-hear.
It’s perfect not only for those nursing the pain of an impossible love, but also for nights when you want to quietly immerse yourself in a world of storytelling on your own.
AyaNEW!My Hair is Bad
As the title suggests, this song stands out for its poignant lyrics depicting the tangled emotions of men and women and a forbidden relationship.
Over a band sound that quietly builds in heat, the words sung by Shiiki—blending resignation and affection—resonate deeply.
It’s a track included on the album “angels,” released in April 2022, and an important number that captivates audiences live.
Rather than flashy developments, it features an arrangement that lets the vocals and lyrics take center stage, portraying an adult romance with striking realism.
This work is perfect for those nursing the pain of an unrequited love or for late nights spent alone, quietly immersing yourself in music.
With its relaxed tempo that invites you to savor each word, it’s especially recommended if you want to fully immerse yourself in the song’s lyrical world.
Supporting Actress SyndromeNEW!back number
It’s a song that vividly portrays a hopeless love—one where the narrator, fully aware they’ll never be “the one,” continues a relationship in which they’re called on only when convenient.
Released as the B-side to back number’s 2012 single Aoi Haru and later included on the album blues, it depicts a protagonist who sarcastically acknowledges settling for an ambiguous relationship yet can’t stop the feelings that grow with every time they sleep together.
The fear that putting it into words would break everything keeps them swallowing the decisive confession, a detail that feels painfully real.
The groovy sound—highlighted by what Iyori Shimizu has called the standout bass line before the second chorus—is another draw, and the song became so beloved by fans that it even spawned a sequel, Supporting Actress Syndrome 2.
A Song Dedicated to the Worst YouNEW!Yuri
This is a digital release from November 2025 by Yuuri that sings of frustration and self-loathing toward oneself for being unable to escape a sneaky, unfair relationship—even while knowing the other person isn’t serious.
The lyrics pierce the heart as they call the other person “the worst,” yet also reckon with the singer’s own slyness in accepting a convenient role.
Kisses that feel like a gag to hide true feelings, and words that sound like a curse uttered with a sense that the end is near, vividly depict the psychological mind games of a complicated romance.
It’s a song that will resonate with anyone who knows they should walk away but can’t, or who is facing the end while still holding on to lingering attachments.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number
Back number is a three-piece rock band beloved by younger generations for their sentimental, vividly evocative lyrics and a trademark falsetto that heightens the sense of longing.
Their 20th single, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY,” used as the theme song for the TV drama A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love, features a delicate ensemble highlighted by resonant acoustic guitar tones that feels wonderfully soothing.
The unadorned, down-to-earth words carry a persuasive power that many listeners can’t help but take personally.
It’s a love song anyone can relate to, with a superb title that likens the day you realize you’re in unrequited love to a birthday.
PretenderOfficial HIGE DANDism
Official HIGE DANDism is a four-piece piano pop band that draws listeners in with the depth and evolution of their sound every time they release a new song.
Their second single, “Pretender,” written as the theme song for the film The Confidence Man JP: The Romance, is known as the smash hit that cemented the band’s popularity.
Its story portrays the feeling of loving someone yet sensing that something is off even when you’re together—an experience that many who’ve felt the same will relate to.
With its wistful, lyrical melody that feels so pleasant, it’s a new-generation love ballad.
the absolute worstNEW!Marcy
What words would you cry out when you realize that the heart of the lover you were laughing with until yesterday is no longer turned toward you? Released digitally in March 2022, this song by Marcy captures the complicated mix of anger and lingering attachment toward a fickle partner, set against a fast-paced rock sound.
It was also included on their first album, “Memory,” released in June 2022, and the music video featuring Naenano drew attention.
While venting the frustration of betrayal, the protagonist suffers from being unable to completely hate the other person—perfectly voicing the feelings of someone fresh off a heartbreak.
It’s a song that can support your heart when you’ve gone through a breakup so painful that just remembering it makes your chest tighten.