Lovely Western music

[2025] The Appeal of Syncopation: A Collection of Songs with Striking Syncopation

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!

This is a bit sudden, but are you familiar with the word “syncopation”? It’s a musical term for creating a distinctive effect by deliberately shifting meter or rhythm—such as changing the accents of strong and weak beats within a bar.

If you don’t play an instrument or study music theory, you might not have heard of it.

But in fact, syncopation is widely used in the music you enjoy every day.

This time, focusing on pop and rock, we’ve put together a variety of “classic syncopation tracks” from both Western and Japanese music, across different eras.

Your favorite song might actually be using syncopation too!

[2025] The Appeal of Syncopation: A Collection of Memorable Songs with Syncopation (11–20)

She’s Not ThereThe Zombies

The Zombies – She’s Not There

She's Not ThereThe Zombies

The 1964 debut single by the British band The Zombies.

It’s a track marked by striking syncopation and a pleasantly taut sense of tension.

A unique piece that hints at a strong jazz influence, it captivates with its beautiful melody and distinctive rhythmic feel.

Riding a fresh, lively beat where crisp piano touches intertwine with guitar riffs, it poignantly voices the disappointment and pain of heartbreak and betrayal.

Spurred by this song, the band embarked on international activities, including a U.

S.

tour in 1964.

Covered by artists across generations, it remains a treasured classic beloved by music fans to this day.

Raise the rankinglower

In conclusion

If you listen to the song again with a focus on syncopation, it’s fascinating to notice not only the groove that only syncopation can create, but also the various cases—like melodies that syncopate depending on the lyrics.

If you play an instrument, it could be fun to actually try out how the song would sound without any syncopation!