[2025 Edition] Tearjerkers! A Compilation of Recommended Latest Western Music Ballads

Glimpse of UsJoji

Joji – Glimpse of Us

George, a singer from Japan, has been making waves around the world and has even been featured on TV.

The song that stirred up buzz when he released it in 2022 was “Glimpse of Us.” It reflects on memories with a woman who left him and delves into deep sorrow.

Since the lyrics don’t depict specific situations, you can relate them to all kinds of scenarios.

The simple piano melody further enhances the wistfulness of the words.

oh to be lovedJVKE

JVKE – oh to be loved (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Jake, who scored a global mega-hit with “golden hour.” If you use TikTok, you’ve probably heard his music at least once.

The piece he released in August 2025 is this ballad.

It’s a non-album single co-produced with his older brother, where a beautiful piano arpeggio blends movingly with Jake’s delicate vocals.

Taking the universal theme of “being loved,” he sings with a calm yet emotional touch, and the sound is both grand and intimate.

Released alongside his Asia tour, the track drew plenty of buzz, and it’s perfect for those quiet nights when you want to sink into your thoughts.

Snow On The BeachTaylor Swift ft. Lana del Rey

Taylor Swift – Snow On The Beach (Lyric Video) ft. Lana Del Rey

“Snow On The Beach” is an evocative ballad by singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.

The song features fellow singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, and the way their voices blend is absolutely irresistible.

The title “Snow On The Beach” serves as a metaphor for a contradiction, poignantly expressing how the misfortune that befell her felt unbearably absurd and hard to believe.

…It’s the kind of song that might make you cry when you listen to it during really tough times.

Waiting on You (feat. Sabrina Claudio)Pink Sweat$

Pink Sweat$ – Waiting on You (feat. Sabrina Claudio) [Official Audio]

Pink Sweat$ debuted in 2021 with the album Pink Planet.

His track “Waiting on You (feat.

Sabrina Claudio),” performed in his signature head-to-toe pink sweats, is fascinating because the lyrics are so suggestive! Depending on how you interpret the first verse in particular, you might even think something happened to his lover.

The chorus, where he laments “then give your lover to me…,” is so aching it tightens your chest.

SuperwomanMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor – Superwoman (Official Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, who debuted in 2014 with “All About That Bass.” Her 2022 release “Superwoman” is a ballad with the poignant line, “You call me a superwoman, but I’m not really that strong….” The song’s lyrics are heartbreakingly tender: a woman who’s been dumped was thought to be strong enough to be fine after the breakup, but she loses heart and breaks into tears.

It’s a track you’ll almost certainly need tissues for.

To Be FreeSam Smith

Sam Smith – To Be Free (Official Video)

This is a song by Sam Smith that was born during the production of the 2023 album Gloria and lovingly held back for a full five years.

The raw, one-take vocal and guitar performance builds into a breathtaking moment in the latter half as it intertwines with a 22-member choir.

Its powerful message of liberation from oppression and the fierce wish to live authentically resonates like a cry from the soul.

You can feel Sam’s own feelings, as they describe the song as being “like family.” Listen to it when you’re at a crossroads in life or longing to be your true self, and it will leave you with a sense of deep cleansing.

Someone Like YouAdele

Adele – Someone Like You (Official Music Video)

This is a gem of a ballad sung by Adele, a singer-songwriter from the UK, that brought tears to listeners around the world.

It’s based on her own real-life experience of learning that her ex had found someone new.

The lyrics, which bravely claim “I’ll find someone like you” while her heart cries out “It isn’t over for me yet,” are so honest they make your chest tighten.

That complicated state of mind—holding painful lingering feelings yet trying to wish the other person happiness—is something anyone who’s been through a hard breakup can’t help but relate to.

Listening to this song may bring back memories of a love you can’t forget.

Her soulful voice etches that sorrow even more deeply into the heart.