[2025] Western music songs that cheer on unrequited love: A roundup of classic tracks that speak to your feelings

Paper RingsNEW!Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift – Paper Rings (Official Audio)

As a singer-songwriter who epitomizes the modern era, Taylor Swift continues to lead the music scene.

Her 2019 album Lover includes a joyful number that captures the miraculous moment when friendship turns into love and expresses that happiness with every fiber of its being.

Featuring a bursting band sound reminiscent of retro pop-punk, the song’s pure declaration of love—wishing to be bound not by something expensive, but by a paper ring—strikes a chord with listeners.

The way a friend becomes a lover and every part of that person becomes dear is exactly the ideal future imagined by anyone nursing a crush.

Performed as a surprise at a June 2023 show, this track is an exceptional anthem that inspires visions of a bright future with the one you love.

You belong with meTaylor Swift

Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me

It’s a true-to-life unrequited love song from a girl who’s in love with her childhood friend.

He has a girlfriend who’s totally different from her, but in this song she honestly sings, “I’m the one who understands you best.

You should be with me.” Instead of the typical bittersweet tone of unrequited love, it’s a charming, cute track.

As you listen, you can’t help but root for this girl, and at the same time, it inspires women to feel like, “I’m going to do my best, too.”

You Da OneRihanna

Rihanna – You Da One

An upbeat track that perfectly captures that common feeling at the very start of falling in love—when your head is completely filled with thoughts of him.

As you listen, you’ll want to do nothing but think about him and revel in the intoxicating feeling of being in love.

Fix YouColdplay

Coldplay – Fix You (Official Video)

Even if the feeling isn’t mutual, there’s nothing wasted about being in love—the soothing, effortlessly soaring high vocals that are so quintessentially Coldplay make that clear.

It’s mellow, yet the chorus radiates the band’s strength and lifts your spirits, making you want to bask in your feelings for that person as you listen.

SatisfiedJewel

Jewel – Satisfied

It’s a very gentle song that says it’s enough if you face your feelings honestly and tell the other person how you feel without regrets, whether your love works out or not.

Listening to it before a confession will give you courage, and if you listen to it alone after confessing and getting your heart broken, I think it will be very healing.

Call Me MaybeCarly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

It’s the quintessential anthem of a super-cute unrequited crush.

With lyrics like, “We just met so this might be weird, but I’ll give you my number—call me if you want,” this upbeat track is guaranteed to lift any girl’s lovestruck feelings.

SugarMaroon 5

Maroon 5 – Sugar (Official Music Video)

Unlike classic unrequited-love songs, this is a pop track where the singer practically seems ready to drop to their knees and beg, “Please, I just want you to stay with me.” Both the music video and the song itself are bright and comedic, making you laugh at how desperate they get, while also making unrequited love feel fun.