[High School Students] Popular Western Music Rankings [By Generation]

Despacito ft. Daddy YankeeLuis Fonsi29rank/position

Luis Fonsi – Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee

Luis Fonsi’s classic “Despacito ft.

Daddy Yankee,” with an unforgettable intro that begins with a rich, soulful flamenco guitar tone.

The song was released in 2017.

Around the same time, the music video was uploaded to YouTube, and in just eight months it surpassed approximately 3.

8 billion views.

It became explosively popular.

The addition of hip-hop elements to a reggae foundation gives it an especially catchy, danceable groove!

Counting StarsOneRepublic30rank/position

OneRepublic – Counting Stars

This is a work released in June 2013 by OneRepublic, a pop-rock band from the United States.

It expresses the emotions of modern people swayed by materialism and anxiety about the future through an impressive folk-pop sound.

Included on the 2013 album “Native,” it became a major hit, reaching No.

2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No.

1 in the UK.

Used in the end credits of the film “Earth to Echo” and in the TV drama “Rookie Blue,” this song offers courage and hope in the face of adversity.

It also makes a great background track for school sports days, encouraging a spirit of challenge.

SorryJustin Bieber31rank/position

Justin Bieber – Sorry (PURPOSE : The Movement)

This is a memorable track with a catchy rhythm that blends pop and electronic elements.

In this song, Justin Bieber acknowledges his past mistakes and asks for forgiveness; it was released in October 2015.

Included on the album Purpose, it became a massive hit, topping the charts in many countries.

Its fresh sound, incorporating dancehall pop and tropical house influences, is perfect for high school students.

It’s a quintessential new-school hip-hop track that’s great for large-group dance performances.

New RulesDua Lipa32rank/position

Dua Lipa – New Rules (Official Music Video)

Until about five to ten years ago, the so-called “trendy” songs were all high-energy, up-tempo tracks.

However, that value system started to fade in the 2020s, and now the mainstream is stylish yet groovy, downbeat melodies.

One song that captures this shift is “New Rules,” sung by Dua Lipa, the British artist admired by teenagers around the world.

The track is simple, but it’s a downbeat, high-sense tune that still gets you moving—why not let yourself get swept up in it?

All About That BassMeghan Trainor33rank/position

Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass (Official Video)

“All About That Bass” is a number by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, featuring a cheerful, Hawaiian-tinged rhythm that feels pleasant.

The lyrics are positive, encouraging women who worry about their body shape to embrace themselves just as they are.

The prominent bass tone throughout the track seems to add a sense of gravitas and gives the song a feeling of reassurance.

For a school sports day, it’s recommended for an individual event called “Ketsu-atsu Measurement,” a race where participants pop a balloon placed on a chair at a checkpoint by sitting on it, and those who pop it first sprint to the finish.

On The Floor ft. PitbullJennifer Lopez34rank/position

Jennifer Lopez – On The Floor ft. Pitbull

An electro-house dance tune that paints a feverish night on the dance floor.

Born from a star-studded collaboration between American artist Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull, this track brilliantly fuses Latin pop with club music.

Since its release in February 2011, it has topped the charts in more than 18 countries worldwide and achieved an astonishing 8.

4 million downloads.

Also featured on the album LOVE?, the song captures the exhilaration of a party celebrating youth and freedom, infused with a universal message of connecting people around the world through dance.

Its refreshing energy makes it perfect as background music for cheer dance routines and school sports festivals, and it’s an ideal number to amp up glamorous events.

Wake Me UpAvicii35rank/position

Avicii – Wake Me Up (Official Video)

Avicii, who came from Sweden, was one of the key figures who elevated EDM from a European genre to a globally popular style of music.

“Wake Me Up” is a song that expresses the feelings of a protagonist who didn’t realize they were lost in life and in how they were living, and who, wanting to avert their eyes from that sense of emptiness, wishes to be awakened once everything is over.

While following the EDM style of ramping up the tempo before the chorus and exploding at the chorus, the track also carries a sense of folk-like roots.

Considering the climactic lift in the chorus, I think it matches well with events like cavalry battles, where team strength determines victory or defeat!