Classic and popular Western songs to listen to in October 2025

What Do You Mean?Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber – What Do You Mean? (Lyric Video)

This piece, with its piano and strings that don’t convey a strong sense of rhythm, evokes a certain wistfulness.

Doesn’t the steady, unvarying tempo throughout make the sound even more sentimental? The lyrics—“I want to know you, but I can’t”—are a perfect match for October, when autumn’s loneliness sets in.

The lyric-version music video is in black and white, adding a touch of nostalgia.

Forest of OctoberOpeth

Forest Of October

When you think of “songs you want to listen to in October,” you might tend to imagine something rather melancholic.

That’s why I’d love for you to listen to “Forest of October.” It’s a track by the Swedish metal band Opeth, featuring hard, quintessentially metal melodies and the allure of death growls.

The song portrays a person feeling lonely in an October forest and depicts their eventual exhaustion.

It’s open to various interpretations, so I recommend listening while reflecting on its meaning.

Never MeantAmerican Football

American Football – Never Meant [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

American Football is a three-piece rock band from the United States.

Their song “Never Meant” is a poignant ballad, featuring the line, “Goodbye—on that autumn night I realized our love had ended.” The guitar technique of arpeggios—playing the notes of a chord separately—is exceptionally beautiful and further enhances the song’s lyrical worldview.

Also, the closing lyric, “Let me tell myself that everything between you and me was always leading to this outcome,” conveys a lovely autumnal atmosphere.

****, i’m lonely (with Anne-Marie)Lauv

Lauv – ****, i’m lonely (with Anne-Marie) [Official Video]

Some of you might still be hung up on a broken heart.

If that’s you, I recommend listening to “****, i’m lonely (with Anne-Marie).” This track by Lauv features the British singer-songwriter Anne-Marie.

Set to a light, breezy melody, it tells the story of a man who can’t get over a summer romance and is still carrying the feelings into October.

Another highlight is how their two high, airy voices soothe the listener.

October SunMatt Berry

October Sun

This is a memorable track with a dreamy melody that evokes the deepening of autumn.

Matt Berry’s distinctive vocals and the psychedelic tones create a world that truly calls to mind an October twilight.

Featured on the album Kill The Wolf, released in June 2013, the song strongly reflects influences from music of the ’60s and ’70s.

Inspired by the British countryside and nature, it’s a piece you’ll want to hear as autumn arrives.

It also contains cinematic elements and is reportedly sometimes used in film and television soundtracks.

It’s a perfect song for those moments at autumn dusk when you want to sit by the window and drift into thought.

HardwiredMetallica

Metallica: Hardwired (Official Music Video)

A track included on Metallica’s 2016 album Hardwired.

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to Self-Destruct by the American heavy metal band.

It’s a provocative song characterized by distorted riffs that evoke the band’s early thrash metal sound.

October 25thSadie Jean

Sadie Jean – October 25th (Official Music Video)

A song by Sadie Jean, known for her soft, delicate vocals and melodies that seep into the heart.

Included on her first EP, “Simple Like 17,” released in December 2023, this track is an autumn story that recounts memories of a heartbreak at age sixteen.

Centered on the specific date of October 25, it portrays the process of healing old wounds.

Skillfully capturing the fragile emotions of adolescence and evoking influences of Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift, this piece is perfect for an autumn dusk drive.

It’s also a recommended listen for anyone looking to find closure from a past relationship.