Tear-jerking friendship songs in Western music: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks

I’ll be there for youThe Rembrandts

The Rembrandts- I’ll be there for you (official video)

A masterpiece packed with classic power pop and plenty of ’60s-flavored elements, polished into a breezy slice of American power pop! I bet many listeners can’t help but squint with nostalgia when they hear this one.

The Rembrandts, a Los Angeles duo from California, released “I’ll Be There for You” in 1995.

It’s their signature track and a worldwide hit, best known as the theme song for the popular NBC TV series Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004.

If you looked forward to that show back then, just hearing the intro is probably enough to send a pang through your heart.

It’s a straightforward love song—life may not be going well, but if you’re by my side, I’ll be okay, so I’ll be there for you too—and because it’s about wanting that special person to stay close, it can also be read as a friendship anthem.

Always be togetherLittle Mix

[Foreign Music Translation] To a dear friend: Always be together – Little Mix

Little Mix is a British girl group with overwhelming vocal prowess.

The song they released in 2012 is “Always Be Together.” In life, it’s rare to meet a friend who’s close enough to call a best friend.

This song expresses heartfelt gratitude to such an irreplaceable friend.

It’s also a great choice as background music for a surprise for your best friend—a song that lets you convey your appreciation in a subtle way.

FriendsMeghan Trainor

~Even far apart, you’re still someone precious~ Friends – Meghan Trainor [Western song Japanese-to-English Translation]

Meghan Trainor, the singer-songwriter known for her global hit “All About That Bass,” has a song about friendship called “Friends.” The track is filled with her gratitude toward her friends.

She sings about the friends who reached out when she was going through tough times, and how there’s no one else who understands and loves her the way they do.

It’s a perfect song to share when you want to express appreciation to your cherished friends.

Gift Of A FriendDemi Lovato

Demi Lovato – Gift Of A Friend – Official Music Video

Demi Lovato became hugely popular as a teen idol, and while her singing career seemed to be going smoothly, various personal issues arose.

She overcame them, continued her work as an artist, and proved she was still going strong when her seventh album, “Dancing with the Devil.

.

.

the Art of Starting Over,” released in 2021, reached No.

2 on both the U.

S.

and U.

K.

charts.

The song featured in this article, “Gift of a Friend,” is the theme song for the 2009 film Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, and it’s a beautiful ballad also included on her second album, Here We Go Again.

You can’t help but be moved to tears by Demi’s vocal performance, which brilliantly sings of universal themes like the importance of friendship and the fact that you’re never alone.

Good As Hell ft. Ariana GrandeLizzo

Lizzo – Good As Hell (feat. Ariana Grande) [Official Audio]

If you’ve got a friend struggling with a rocky romance, this is the song you’ll definitely want them to hear! It’s Good as Hell, released in 2016 by Lizzo, a singer who also works as a rapper.

The track features guest vocals from Ariana Grande, making it a star-studded collaboration.

The protagonist powerfully cheers on her female friend who’s dealing with love troubles, and the strength of her message will lift your spirits.

Plus, the retro R&B groove is fantastic—just listening to it will brighten your mood!

The Great EscapeBoys Like Girls

Boys Like Girls – The Great Escape (from Read Between The Lines)

Boys Like Girls emerged during the emo boom of the 2000s, embodying the quintessential 00s band: they uploaded their tracks to PureVolume—where many indie bands of the time were sharing music—and that directly led to a record deal.

Their debut album, Boys Like Girls, released in 2006, became an extraordinary hit for a newcomer, even bringing them to Japan.

Especially in their early days, they were highly regarded among fans of emo-influenced melodic rock.

Their signature track, The Great Escape—defined by boyish, sweet high-tone vocals, shimmering arpeggios, and dynamic yet breezy guitar sounds—is a friendship anthem everyone should know.

True to its title, the lyrics capture pure youth: breaking free from the constraints of adults and leaping toward freedom.

It’s the kind of song that will ignite the hearts of teenagers in any era.

You’ve Got a Friend In MeRandy Newman

Randy Newman – You’ve Got a Friend in Me (From “Toy Story 4″/Audio Only)

Pixar Animation Studios’ flagship series Toy Story is also popular as one of the best tear-jerking friendship films, with friendship as a key theme.

When it comes to the signature theme song that colors the series, it has to be the classic You’ve Got a Friend in Me, known in Japanese as Kimi wa Tomodachi.

Written by the great American singer-songwriter Randy Newman for the first film in the series, released in 1995, You’ve Got a Friend in Me has continued to be used throughout the series, performed by various artists.

Some may also remember that in the Japanese dubbed version it was sung by Diamond Yukai and even released as a single.

With its country flavor, laid-back tempo, and ensemble, the lyrics are a straightforward ode to friendship that needs no clumsy explanation.

And having a friend who delivers a message as simple as “You can relax—I’ve got your back” is truly a wonderful thing.