[Middle School Students] Popular Western Music Ranking [By Generation]

Shake It OffTaylor Swift64rank/position

Taylor Swift – Shake It Off

Taylor Swift’s hit song “Shake It Off.” Around this track, Taylor Swift began moving away from her country style and shifting toward pop, which has a larger market.

Every part of the song is wrapped in a bright, upbeat vibe.

Because the melody is simple, it might be a great match for Japanese listeners who tend to find complex melodies challenging.

In any case, it’s an exceptionally cheerful song, so it works well as entrance music or in any scene where you want to raise the energy level.

HelloAdele65rank/position

Adele – Hello (Official Music Video)

Adele, who burst onto the scene like a comet and continues to captivate the world with her unparalleled voice, has created timeless masterpieces.

Though she is a singer admired by other famous artists as the best of the best, she surprisingly has relatively few albums, making each song all the more precious.

Waking up to her voice on a quiet morning is the very height of luxury.

Someone Like YouAdele66rank/position

Adele – Someone Like You (Official Music Video)

Adele’s famous song about heartbreak.

Youth isn’t all fun—there will surely be breakups and bitter experiences too.

In times like that, don’t be crushed; I hope you’ll listen to this song.

Adele’s powerful vocals are also captivating.

Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana67rank/position

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.

StitchesShawn Mendes68rank/position

Shawn Mendes – Stitches (Official Music Video)

A pop track released in 2015 by Shawn Mendes.

It reached the Top 10 on charts around the world and was nominated for the Teen Choice Awards.

In October 2016, it won Best Single at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards.

PILLOWTALKZAYN69rank/position

ZAYN – PILLOWTALK (Official Video)

This is ZAYN’s first single after leaving One Direction.

As the title suggests, it has a sensual finish, and the lyrics and arrangement, which pull you deep into its world, are addictive.

Since then, Zayn seems to have been busy, even collaborating with his former bandmate Harry’s ex-girlfriend, but imagining that relationship dynamic is enough to make you feel depressed.

Stay With MeSam Smith70rank/position

Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Official Music Video)

A supreme singing voice born in the UK.

A signature song by Sam Smith, who has won the world’s top honor, the Grammy Award.

The music video also opens with early-morning scenes, and the relaxed tempo makes it perfect for a gentle wake-up.

Of course his vocals are outstanding, but it’s also a track where the backing vocals deserve attention.