Recommended Western music for junior high school students — from popular classics to the latest hits
What kind of image comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Western music” if you’re a current junior high school student?
Some of you might feel like, “I can’t understand the English lyrics,” or “I’m not sure what they mean.”
This time, we’ve put together a selection of recommended songs for students who are just starting to listen to Western music or are thinking of giving it a try.
Focusing on tracks with easy-to-listen-to melodies and lyrics that use simple English words, we’ve selected a wide range across genres—from classic pop masterpieces to loud, intense rock bands, and the latest hit songs!
Recommended Western Music for Junior High School Students — From Popular Classics to the Latest Hits — (1–10)
All About That BassMeghan Trainor
This classic, which brilliantly turns an oldies-style chord progression into a thoroughly modern pop song, is the debut single released in 2014 by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor.
She began writing songs in her early teens and built her career behind the scenes as a songwriter, and this track feels like a distillation of her songwriting prowess.
It not only became a worldwide hit, but was also nominated in two categories at the 57th Grammy Awards.
As the Japanese title “My Pochative Declaration!” suggests, it’s an empowering anthem about staying positive and looking forward without worrying about body shape.
The clever play on the word “bass,” meaning low tones, is spot-on.
Also note how the track itself is airtight, with the bassline pushed right to the forefront.
Just The Way You AreBruno Mars
As one of the best-selling singer-songwriters and a global superstar, Bruno Mars released this memorable debut single in 2010.
It became popular across generations, partly because EXILE’s ATSUSHI covered it in Japanese in 2018.
Its simple yet moving arrangement, outstanding melody, and vocals strike a perfectly balanced pop masterpiece.
The straightforward lyrics that lavish praise on a woman are very easy to understand—clear enough for middle schoolers.
Listen to this track and you just might learn the secrets of being a charming guy!
Shape of YouEd Sheeran
Since the 2010s, Ed Sheeran, a UK-born artist who has achieved worldwide success, has enjoyed high name recognition in Japan as well.
A multitalented troubadour with an innate melodic sense and a wonderful singing voice, he remains unpretentious and natural—an appealing contrast.
Here, we introduce Ed’s 2017 smash hit single “Shape of You,” which topped charts around the world.
Centered on a world-music-style rhythm pattern, it’s a superb pop song that showcases Ed’s signature vocal delivery—somewhere between rap and melody.
Many listeners may relate to the lyrics, which seem to depict the feelings of a boy who has fallen for a mature woman.
Live While We’re YoungOne Direction
One Direction, the boy band that achieved top-tier success in the 2010s.
The feats they pulled off in the few years before going on hiatus in 2016 can’t be summed up in a short sentence.
Of course, they’re hugely well-known in Japan as well, and the song we’re featuring this time, “Live While We’re Young,” was a massive hit released in 2012.
It was even used as the theme song for the TV show Mezamashi Doyoubi, so many of you have probably heard it.
It’s a pop song bursting with youthful energy—quintessentially them at their peak—and its lyrics about enjoying your youth will likely resonate directly with junior high students in the midst of adolescence.
Don’t Start NowDua Lipa
Born in 1995 in the United Kingdom to Albanian parents from Kosovo, Dua Lipa is a multi-talented artist who shines not only as a singer-songwriter but also as a fashion model thanks to her beauty and style.
She is especially popular among younger generations and is receiving major attention as a pop star of the millennial era.
Her 2019 single “Don’t Start Now” is a track inspired by classic disco, carrying a nostalgic vibe, and it became a worldwide hit.
It’s a song that not only lifts your mood just by listening, but also fits perfectly as a track for practicing dance isolations.
Welcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is a rock band from New Jersey that represents the 2000s.
Although they disbanded in 2013, their sudden reunion in 2019 is still fresh in our memories for delighting longtime fans.
Unfortunately, their Japan tour was canceled, but the news of their reunion made waves online, so some younger music fans may have first learned their name then.
This time, I’d like to introduce one of their signature songs, “Welcome to the Black Parade,” released in 2006.
Its dramatic song structure is truly superb, and its overwhelmingly melodic quality makes it easy to listen to even for those not used to Western music.
If you’re interested, be sure to check out the album The Black Parade as well!
everything i wantedBillie Eilish
Billie Eilish burst onto the scene in the late 2010s at the young age of 15.
Her languid, whisper-like melodies and lyrics that capture the complex emotions of teens living in the social media era from a unique perspective heralded the arrival of a new-generation talent.
Her debut album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, released in 2019, became a worldwide hit, and at the 62nd Grammy Awards she made history as the youngest artist—and the first female artist—to win in five categories, including the four major awards.
Her 2019 track everything i wanted lays bare the raw, painful emotions she experienced amid her rapid success as an artist.
The lyrics, which also convey the bond with her brother and musical partner, Finneas, are well worth reading closely—with a dictionary in hand.