[2025] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended masterpieces

I Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith

Aerosmith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Official HD Video)

A heart-stirring ballad from the American rock band Aerosmith.

Steven Tyler’s soulful vocals gently weave a desire to cherish every moment with a loved one.

Released in August 1998, the song was used as the theme for the film Armageddon and spent four consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard charts.

It became one of Aerosmith’s signature tracks, showcasing the band’s musical versatility.

When you want to feel the preciousness of time spent with someone special, this is a song worth listening to.

good 4 uOlivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo – good 4 u (Official Video)

The song released in May 2021 by Olivia Rodrigo, an artist from the United States, sharply captures the complex emotions that follow a breakup.

It expresses sarcasm and frustration toward an ex’s happiness through an upbeat, pop-punk–influenced sound that powerfully resonates with listeners.

Issued as a single from the album Sour, it became a massive hit, topping charts around the world.

It’s a track that resonates with people who are trying to move forward while carrying the pain of heartbreak.

Stay With MeSam Smith

Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Official Music Video)

If you listen through Sam Smith’s albums, you’ll notice that every song is a moving masterpiece—he’s practically a hit-making pro.

Among them, I’ve selected this track.

When someone with a voice like his sings “stay by my side,” there’s no way not to be moved.

PhotographEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran – Photograph (Official Music Video)

There’s a timeless song that accompanies those sentimental moments when you look back on summer memories alongside your photos.

It’s a track by Ed Sheeran, the globally renowned singer-songwriter from the UK.

Featured on the acclaimed album ‘×,’ which won British Album of the Year at the 2015 BRIT Awards, this folk-pop ballad was released as a single.

Centered on a long-distance relationship, it portrays a couple reaffirming their love through photographs.

The message—that even apart, hearts remain close—gently seeps in, carried by his soft vocals and acoustic sound.

The music video, which uses real home videos from his childhood, deepens the song’s warm yet bittersweet atmosphere and is truly moving.

As summer comes to an end, why not listen to it while thinking of someone special?

No One KnowsSamantha Ebert

Samantha Ebert – No One Knows (Official Lyric Visualizer)

This is a work released in August 2025 by Samantha Evert, a Canadian singer-songwriter drawing attention for music that weaves together faith and lived experience.

Born from her own battle after being diagnosed with Lyme disease in August 2023, the piece tenderly reaches the hearts of those carrying invisible pain and loneliness, set against delicate sound production.

The everyday realities she likely faced—such as the conflict of having to turn down plans with friends—are told in her gentle voice and strike a deep chord with listeners.

Her previous work, “Flowers,” was highly acclaimed, reaching No.

26 on Billboard’s Christian Airplay, and the world she creates has only deepened further here.

It’s a healing song you’ll want to quietly listen to on nights when you feel no one understands you.

Time After TimeCyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time (Official HD Video)

A signature ballad by Cyndi Lauper, a leading American female artist and a great Japanophile.

Released as a single in 1984, it reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts.

At the time, it was given the Japanese title “Sugisarishi Omoi” (“Feelings Gone By”).

With a beautifully restrained melody and a calm, perfectly polished sound, it also features lyrics that could be called Cyndi’s own memoir—simply wonderful.

A timeless masterpiece that continues to move countless listeners.

Scared of MyselfAlexander Stewart

Alexander Stewart – Scared of Myself (Official)

Alexander Stewart is a Canadian singer-songwriter who built his career on YouTube and has earned overwhelming support from young listeners with lyrics that candidly portray emotional pain.

Released in August 2025 on his birthday, this track is set to appear on his forthcoming second album, “What If?”.

It’s an emotional pop number that delves into an intensely introspective struggle: the fear of confronting one’s own thoughts and past.

He has said that making the song itself was healing, and his bare-all vocal delivery is sure to resonate with—and bring comfort to—many who harbor similar darkness in their hearts.

A melancholy melody that pierces the chest, this is a gem of a mid-tempo tune.