Ranking of Western Music Artists Popular Among People in Their 40s [2025]

This is a ranking of Western songs popular among people in their forties.

Those in their 40s are the generation that witnessed Western music becoming global hits alongside the rise of MTV.

Featuring artists who have performed in Japan and are hugely popular there, it’s packed with nostalgic hits.

Playlist

Ranking of Western Music Artists Popular Among People in Their 40s [2025]
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	Last ChristmasWham!		A classic Christmas song: Wham’s masterpiece “Last Christmas”
2	I Want It That WayBackstreet Boys		The vocal group that epitomized the ’90s, Ba...
3	Virtual InsanityJamiroquai		The British funk band, Jamiroquai…
4	It’s My LifeBon Jovi		Live your own life firmly—it’s no one else’s life.
5	Let’s DanceDavid Bowie		The musicality and depth of spirit of David Bowie
6	DeepBlackstreet		A distinctive downer track with talkbox...
7	if we hold on togetherDiana Ross		Diana Ross, who represents the 1990s...
8	DOESN’T REALLY MATTERJanet Jackson		Released in 2000, and as the theme song for the film...
9	FootlooseKenny Loggins		Explosive hit songs from the ’80s, dance numbers
10	creepRediohead		The most charismatic among bands active today…
11	Soak Up The SunSheryl Crow		Sheryl Crow's surfing song
12	WaterfallsTLC		“Waterfalls” by TLC from the ’90s
13	I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston		Sang the famous song from the movie “The Bodyguard” passionately
14	Dancing QueenABBA		ABBA, known for their captivating vocals and hit songs
15	Back In BlackAC/DC		AC/DC's sixth album "Back i…"
16	HelloAdele		Deep vocal approach and smooth...
17	I Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith		A song about cherishing time with a loved one.
18	No oneAlicia Keys		Singing about the happiness of having met someone I can love forever…
19	Back To BlackAmy Winehouse		British soul music, jazz, R...
20	FocusAriana Grande		A stylish rhythm-and-blues vocal...
21	FoolishAshanti		An uplifting Ashanti cheer song
22	Sk8er BoiAvril Lavigne		Stylish characters and skatebo…
23	Love is like a sighBerlin		A smash-hit insert song from the Top Gun movie
24	HaloBeyoncé		Luxurious artistry and a sense of exhilaration...
25	Uptown GirlBilly Joel		A love story between a young worker and an upper-class woman
26	Don’t Worry Be HappyBobby McFerrin		The album “Simple Pl…” released in ’88
27	SometimesBritney Spears		Britney, whose lyrics often use bold, assertive expressions…
28	HurtChristina Aguilera		A track with a danceable texture and catchy...
29	Lady MarmaladeChristina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, Pink		The captivating theme song of Moulin Rouge
30	Don’t Dream It’s OverCrowded House		An iconic 80s MTV track, a timeless anthem of hope and solidarity
31	Girls Just Want To Have FunCyndi Lauper		A tight “Girls just wanna have fun”…
32	That’s The Way It IsCéline Dion		A smooth melody line and a pleasant po...
33	Bad DayDaniel Powter		Sung by a singer-songwriter from Canada...
34	ManeaterDaryl Hall & John Oates		A hugely popular Black duo from the 80s
35	Walk Of LifeDire Straits		Dire Straits’ classic songs and distinctive musical style
36	SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire		An iconic song representing the 1970s is sung at karaoke…
37	LightsEllie Goulding		Gorgeous style with a grand, expansive musicality…
38	Only TimeEnya		Absolutely as a charismatic figure in the easy listening world…
39	The Final CountdownEurope		The Swedish rock band, Europe…
40	Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)Eurythmics		The electric pop classic “Sweet Dreams”
41	My ImmortalEvanescence		A band sound brimming with a sense of speed that feels punkish...
42	More than wordsExtreme		Speaking of Extreme, more than…
43	Big girl Don’t cryFergie		Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas goes solo...
44	One More TryGeorge Michael		George Michael’s year of major solo hits
45	basket caseGreen Day		The American punk band Green Day...
46	Sweet Child O’ MineGuns N’ Roses		Originally, it was on the 1st album, “Appetite Fo…”
47	BeautifulJames Blunt		James Blunt is a former soldier from the United Kingdom…
48	I’m YoursJason Mraz		The song is a bit rap-like, with words coming thick and fast, so it’s hard to follow...
49	On The Floor ft. PitbullJennifer Lopez		Jennifer Lopez's captivating song
50	Don’t Stop Believin’Journey		Don't stop believing; classic hit gains attention again.
51	Love YourselfJustin Bieber		I want to show off a cool song at karaoke. So...
52	I Was Made For Lovin’ YouKISS		It became a million-seller and was a big hi…
53	RoarKaty Perry		There exists a catchy and melodious track...
54	Bad RomanceLady Gaga		Vocalists with unique fashion and an unwavering, my-own-way attitude…
55	Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey		A fresh, up-and-coming artistic flair and outstanding transparency/clarity...
56	U Can’t Touch ThisMC Hammer		MC Hammer’s smash hit song and choreography
57	Like A PrayerMadonna		Skilled pop sensibilities and exquisitely dance-like...
58	All I Want for Christmas Is YouMariah Carey		Mariah Carey's classic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
59	Family AffairMary J Blige		A quintessential example of 90s R&B…
60	All About That BassMeghan Trainor		A deep track that, despite its high pitch, s...
61	Down UnderMen At Work		Popular Australian band tops the U.S. charts
62	When A Man Loves A WomanMichael Bolton		Percy Sledge’s classic song is popular.
63	Billie JeanMichael Jackson		A song released in 1983. Moonwalk...
64	Black or WhiteMichael Jackson		An iconic work of Michael Jackson from the early 1990s…
65	TornNatalie Imbruglia		Made famous by Natalie’s smash hit “Tone”
66	Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana		If you’re a guy in your 40s who knows Western music, you’d defini…
67	Don’t Look Back in AngerOasis		Released in 1996, now a staple of Western music karaoke…
68	Counting StarsOneRepublic		Lately I haven’t been getting much sleep. It’s just…
69	TryP!nk		A birthday in my 40s—another year added...
70	West End GirlsPet Shop Boys		The appeal of Pet Shop Boys
71	HappyPharrell Williams		I want to feel a little brighter. At times like that...
72	Another Day In ParadisePhil Collins		Phil Collins’s classic hit; a major smash
73	We Will Rock YouQueen		Queen’s signature song “We Will Rock You”
74	Fight SongRachel Platten		It's an anthem for life. In her song, I felt...
75	Never Gonna Give You UpRick Astley		Powerful beats, a catchy melody, and...
76	Livin’ La Vida LocaRicky Martin		Ricky from Menudo, widely covered
77	DiamondsRihanna		That dope style solidly becomes musicality and...
78	AngelRobin Williams		The British boy band, Take That…
79	Somebody’s Watching MeRockwell		Rockwell’s signature song, a classic featuring Michael
80	Good For YouSerena Gomez		A refined, translucent vocal that’s smooth...
81	You’re Still The OneShania Twain		Country singer Shania Twa…
82	Holding Back The YearsSimply Red		Simply Red, a US number-one hit song
83	TrueSpandau Ballet		Legendary hit song of the ’80s, a worldwide smash hit
84	wannabeSpice Girls		Introduce the Spice Girls’ hit songs
85	Englishman In New YorkSting		A portrayal of the heart of a British person living in New York…
86	Eye Of The TigerSurvivor		Survivor’s rock classic “I Am a Champion”
87	AfricaTOTO		For TOTO, it's Billboard's Hot 10...
88	Blank SpaceTaylor Swift		A girlish acoustic sound is...
89	ShoutTears for Fears		The album released in ’85, “Songs fro…
90	Where Is The Love?The Black Eyed Peas		The Black Eyed Peas’ hit song
91	DreamsThe Cranberries		The Cranberries’ worldwide hit song
92	Killing Me Softly With His SongThe Fugees		A cover song by the Fugees became a huge hit.
93	Under the SeaThe Little Mermaid		The song from under the sea, “Under the Sea,” is hugely popular.
94	Your LoveThe Outfield		The album released in ’85, Play Deep…
95	Every Breath You TakeThe Police		4 consecutive weeks at number one in the UK, and 8 consecutive weeks on the US Billboard charts…
96	What’s Love Got To Do With ItTina Turner		A catchy melodic sensibility and an eccentric ar...
97	With Or Without YouU2		There seem to be various takes on how to interpret this song…
98	JumpVan Halen		Included on the 1984 album released in ’84. 7…
99	A Thousand MilesVanessa Carlton		The hit song “A Thousand Miles” by the American singer
100	Take On Mea-ha		The Norwegian band a-ha 198...