Recommended Western music for junior high school students — from popular classics to the latest hits

She Looks So Perfect5 Seconds of Summer

5 Seconds of Summer – She Looks So Perfect

They are a four-piece pop-rock band from Australia that enjoys worldwide popularity, including in Japan.

Because of their connection to their senior peers One Direction and their good looks, they’re sometimes called a boy band, but they’re a bona fide band who play instruments and write their own songs.

Their landmark global debut single, She Looks So Perfect, is a bright, catchy track with an emo-to-pop-punk vibe inspired by the 2000s, a major influence on all the members.

Its straightforward melody and upbeat feel make it easy to enjoy even for junior high schoolers who are just starting to listen to Western music.

I was born to love youQueen

Queen – I Was Born To Love You (Official Video)

In recent years, thanks in part to the massive success of the film Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen—Britain’s beloved national band—has once again become widely recognized among younger generations.

They’ve produced countless classics everyone has heard, but this time I’d like to introduce I Was Born to Love You, a masterpiece originally recorded as a solo track by the unparalleled vocalist Freddie Mercury and later arranged and re-released by the remaining members after his passing.

In Japan, it’s been used repeatedly in commercials and as a TV drama theme, making it a very familiar song.

Its overwhelming sense of exhilaration is something you won’t find anywhere else.

It’s also fun to compare it with the solo version and hear the differences.

American IdiotGreen Day

Green Day – American Idiot [Official Music Video] [4K Upgrade]

Since their formation in 1987, Green Day—the ultimate trio that has constantly stirred up the music scene without ever riding fleeting trends—has continued to achieve major commercial success over a career spanning more than 30 years.

Their sound is popular across generations, but it has a particular allure that captivates younger listeners in any era.

Among the many signature and classic tracks they’ve produced, the 2004 album American Idiot and its title track marked the beginning of a new golden era for Green Day.

The album sold an astonishing 15 million copies worldwide and was highly acclaimed as a conceptual punk opera.

Be sure to enjoy it with an eye to the meaning embedded in the lyrics.

Call Me MaybeCarly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer-songwriter.

In Japan, she’s a popular figure with name recognition on par with fellow Canadian artist Avril Lavigne.

Her signature song—and the one that sparked her breakthrough—was Call Me Maybe, released in 2012.

It’s a tightly crafted, danceable pop tune with a simple yet irresistibly catchy melody that became a worldwide hit.

The lyrics depict the sweet, bittersweet feelings of teenage love, and anyone of that generation who’s felt the same way will surely relate.

thank u, nextAriana Grande

Ariana Grande – thank u, next (Official Video)

The 2019 song “thank u, next” by American singer Ariana Grande.

It already has quite a mature vibe, but I think it really resonates with middle schoolers too.

The catchy chorus makes the English easy to catch and the meaning easy to grasp.

It expresses a strong determination to move forward even after heartbreak.

Even if you don’t understand the lyrics, just having this track in your player makes you look a bit cooler—it’s that kind of cool song.

NumbLinkin Park

Numb (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE] – Linkin Park

Formed in 1996, the American alternative rock band Linkin Park is a perfect choice for a Western rock band to start listening to from middle school.

Their songs feature choruses that genuinely soar, verses brimming with a sense that something’s about to happen, heavily distorted guitars, and emotional vocals—every element is just incredibly cool.

Their track “Numb” exemplifies this, and I believe it’s a song that can open a musical door you’ve never opened before.

Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

This is a historic masterpiece by Nirvana that rewrote the music scene of the 1990s with nothing more than a power-chord riff blasted through heavily distorted guitars.

Kurt Cobain, who at the time was elevated as a spokesperson for the so-called Generation X, delivered screams that resonated powerfully with young people grappling with loneliness and frustration.

Because the band’s history—and the tragic events surrounding Kurt Cobain afterward—is so well known, people tend to approach the song with all kinds of preconceptions.

But I hope today’s middle schoolers will simply experience how straight-up cool the song itself is.