Tear-jerking unrequited love songs in Western music: recommended classics and popular tracks

Losing My ReligionR.E.M.

Losing My Religion

Many hit songs can be interpreted in various ways, and this track is likely one of them.

While the title literally translates to “losing faith,” it is often said to be about the emotional distance between lovers and the disconnect caused by moving through life at different speeds.

Featured on R.

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’s 1991 album Out of Time—the record that propelled the band to major success—the song became a massive hit.

Leave Your LoverSam Smith

Sam Smith – Leave Your Lover (Official Video)

When it comes to songs about heartbreaking unrequited love, this is the one! The person I like already has a girlfriend, but I want them to break up and come to me.

It’s a sad yet beautiful song that captures those overflowing feelings that probably won’t come true, and it’s one you’ll want to listen to over and over again.

P.S. I Hope You’re Happy ft. blink-182The Chainsmokers

The Chainsmokers – P.S. I Hope You’re Happy (Lyric Video) ft. blink-182

This is a song by The Chainsmokers, a New York–based DJ and singer-songwriter duo.

It’s an unrequited love song about a man who regrets breaking up with his ex and still loves her.

The mix of cheering on his ex, who has found a new love, and the lingering feelings he can’t let go of is heartbreaking, isn’t it? Perhaps it makes you feel that the next love will surely be a good one.

just my imaginationThe Temptations

The Temptations-just my imagination

A song that describes the feelings of a man who is deeply in love with a girl.

In reality, she doesn’t know him, and it’s an unrequited love.

The Rolling Stones covered this song in 1978 on the album Some Girls.

I Wish You Loved MeTynisha Keli

Tynisha Keli – I Wish You Loved Me (Official Music Video) | Warner Records

It’s a song that captures a common crush-time dilemma: wanting to be more than friends but being afraid that making a move might end the relationship.

It’s an unrequited-love track that makes you want to sink into your feelings while empathizing with Tynisha Keli’s poignant lyrics.

Make You Feel My LoveAdele

Adele – Make You Feel My Love (Official Video)

This is an unrequited love song by Adele, the new diva of the world who has cemented her presence with her distinctive vocals and overflowing originality.

The bittersweet yet passionate lyrics pair perfectly with the texture of her voice, resulting in a powerful work.

AngelAerosmith

Aerosmith – Angel (Official Music Video)

This is a one-sided love song by Aerosmith, where energetic vocals and a high-powered track lift your spirits in an upbeat way.

Beloved for its blend of moody atmosphere and flashiness, it’s a work that clearly embodies why it’s considered a pop classic.