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Unrequited Love Songs in Western Music: A Collection of Heartbreaking Classics [2025]

Unrequited Love Songs in Western Music: A Collection of Heartbreaking Classics [2025]
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Unrequited Love Songs in Western Music: A Collection of Heartbreaking Classics [2025]

Why not transform your bittersweet feelings through the power of great music? The emotions of a secret crush have become countless timeless classics in Western music, passed down through the years.

Hearts leap at a casual gesture, or ache from missed connections.

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Artists around the world have captured the universal joys and sorrows of unrequited love in beautiful melodies.

In this article, we introduce a selection of exquisite Western songs whose touching lyrics and melodies resonate deeply.

Whether your heart is fluttering with a new romance, or you still find yourself holding on after a breakup, you’re sure to find a song that gently embraces your unrequited feelings.

Unrequited Love Songs in Western Music: A Collection of Heartbreaking Classics [2025] (1–10)

You Belong With MeTaylor Swift

A song written by Taylor Swift and Liz Rose.

The music video was filmed at a high school in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

The track reached the top five on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Country Songs charts.

I Don’t Think That I Like HerCharlie Puth

Charlie Puth – I Don’t Think That I Like Her (Official Audio)
I Don't Think That I Like HerCharlie Puth

“I Don’t Think That I Like Her,” sung by Charlie Puth from the United States, portrays the complex emotions of becoming hesitant about new love due to being hurt in past relationships.

Despite its up-tempo melody, the lyrics express a bittersweet feeling of sealing off one’s emotions with the thought, “Maybe I don’t like her anymore.” Out of fear of being hurt the same way again, he holds back and keeps some distance.

However, if you suppress your current feelings because of past pain, you’ll likely regret it.

Like this song suggests, perhaps the best thing is to accept your wavering heart just as it is.

Call Me MaybeCarly Rae Jepsen

It’s a love song that captures the fluttering feeling of falling in love at first sight with the boy of destiny.

The lyrics are cute, portraying a girl who gives him her phone number and waits, saying, “Call me.” In Japan, it became a craze after Rola collaborated on the track.

You Da OneRihanna

It’s a love song that will appeal to people who like hip-hop and uptempo music.

It vividly captures the world of a girl who’s just fallen in love and can’t think about anything but him.

The music video is also made to be enjoyable both to watch and listen to.

GrenadeBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – Grenade (Official Music Video)
GrenadeBruno Mars

“I’d catch a grenade for you.” The song that belts out this almost painfully devoted love is by the American artist Bruno Mars.

Even knowing “no matter how much I give, it won’t reach that person,” the feeling is so strong you end up offering everything.

Aren’t there many people who are in such unrequited love? The deeper your feelings, the immeasurable the pain when they aren’t returned.

Fans have responded to this painfully pure love with comments like “It’s so urgent it makes my chest ache,” and “It’s amazing to be so single-minded.” Why not use this song to rediscover the deep love hidden in your heart?

Do I Wanna Know?Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know? (Official Video)
Do I Wanna Know?Arctic Monkeys

You want to know how the other person feels, but you’re afraid of the truth.

Everyone’s felt that kind of dilemma.

This song by the UK rock band Arctic Monkeys captures exactly that late-night struggle.

The heavy, resonant guitar riff feels like the turmoil swirling in your chest.

If you’ve ever spent a night wide awake, desperate to reach out but unable to, you’ll feel this all too well.

The repeated line, “I’d crawl back to you,” conveys a raw urgency—wanting them so much you’d cast aside your pride.

Even if the answer scares you, you can’t hold it in anymore.

Maybe this song is the very embodiment of that knife-edge state of unrequited love.

Just a Friend to YouMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor – Just a Friend To You (Vevo Presents)
Just a Friend to YouMeghan Trainor

“Just a Friend to You,” sung by American artist Meghan Trainor.

Though its cheerful ukulele tones feel comforting, the song actually tells a bittersweet story of unrequited love—wishing to be more than “just friends.” You want to be lovers, but the other person only sees you as a friend… By pairing those frustrating feelings with an unapologetically bright melody, the poignancy hits even deeper.

Many of us know that sweet-yet-bitter experience of laughing beside the person we love as their “best friend,” while crying on the inside.

Let this song help you breezily get through the helpless ache of a one-sided crush!

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