Recommended Western music for elementary school boys: world classics and popular songs

STAYThe Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber

The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY (Official Video)

Another figure who made headlines through a collaboration with the manga Tokyo Revengers, which is gaining popularity even among elementary school students, is the Australian rapper The Kid LAROI.

In 2021, he collaborated with Justin Bieber on Stay, which reached number one on the U.

S.

charts and ranked tenth on Japan’s Billboard Japan Hot 100.

The lyrics include slang and other colloquial expressions, making it a song where you can learn more than just polished grammar.

Hello KittyAvril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne – Hello Kitty (Official Video)

Avril Lavigne, who sparked a massive boom in Japan in the 2000s as a rock singer, has performed live here many times and is a musician with deep ties to Japan.

Are you familiar with her surprising 2014 release, aptly titled “Hello Kitty”? It blends a rock-EDM vibe with Japanese lyrics and takes as its theme Hello Kitty, the beloved character from the Japanese company Sanrio.

For girls who probably owned at least one Hello Kitty item, it might be a great gateway into listening to Western music.

Stand By MeBen E. King

Ben E. King – Stand By Me (Official Audio)

You can tell the song has started the moment you hear that striking melodic bassline and the swish of the guiro.

Ben E.

King’s “Stand By Me” inevitably brings to mind the 1986 film of the same name.

That movie centers on four boys, and it instantly recalls the scene of them walking along the railroad tracks.

The lyrics are quite literary, and I think the song is perfectly suited to the start of a grand adventure that gives you courage.

It’s a track I’d love for the boys to hear and draw strength from.

Just The Way You AreBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are (Official Music Video)

This is an original song by Bruno Mars.

He elevated niche-oriented soul and funk into a higher level of pop music.

That’s what led to his overwhelming sales and popularity.

Of course, he’s popular among middle schoolers too, so if you don’t know him, you should check him out.

Bad DayDaniel Powter

Daniel Powter – Bad Day (Official Music Video) [HD]

Daniel Powter’s song “Bad Day.” The title might sound a bit negative at first, but if you translate the English lyrics into Japanese, your impression will completely change.

It was a huge hit in 2005 and is a warm track that can lift you up when you’re feeling down.

Even years after its release, it remains a timeless classic, and the melody is wonderful.

Listening to it and making it the first English song you can sing as part of your repertoire would be pretty cool!

shape of youEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You (Official Music Video)

If you asked an elementary school child what Western pop song they like and they named this one, I’d think that’s really cool.

It’s “Shape of You,” a signature hit by the globally popular singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Precisely because the arrangement is simple with few instruments, the coolness of the vocals really stands out.

True to the EDM-influenced Western pop of the 2010s, the mature lyrics are part of its appeal.

The melody is excellent, and it’s a song you can lightly sway to and enjoy.

I think it’s a great choice to play as a quintessential example of cool music.

Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRockLMFAO

LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock

There are lots of rap and club music tracks that just make you feel happy simply by listening to them.

Especially with songs like this one that you hear in commercials and various other settings, they can be something everyone around you can get excited about together.