Beautiful, lovely Western music. A roundup of recommended classic songs.

Fix YouColdplay

Coldplay – Fix You (Official Video)

Coldplay, known worldwide as a pop band and for their collaboration with BTS, often draws attention for their catchy, stylish tracks—but their appeal doesn’t end there.

The clear, pure vocals of lead singer Chris Martin are also indispensable when talking about Coldplay.

In particular, the first half of Fix You features an arrangement that puts the vocals front and center, beautifully showcasing his voice.

It’s a song that makes you sigh with the transparency of Chris’s tone and the beauty of his upper range.

Helpless When She SmilesBackstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys – Helpless When She Smiles (Official Video)

The Backstreet Boys are often associated with the dance-pop sound of the ’90s, but this song is a mature pop-rock ballad with a beautifully crafted piano melody.

It sings of an irresistible love where a simple smile from the one you love leaves you defenseless and utterly captivated.

Many listeners will likely relate to the lyrics that portray being at the mercy of the other person’s subtle gestures.

Featured on the acclaimed 2007 album Unbreakable, this track is remembered by fans as a song that showcased a new musical direction for the group as a four-piece.

It’s perfect for indulging in the rush of a new romance or for reflecting on a loved one’s smile—reminding you just how much they mean to you.

Viva La VidaColdplay

Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Official Video)

This is a song by the British rock band Coldplay, whose grand strings portray the sorrow of a king who has lost his power, striking straight at the heart.

Released in May 2008 from the album “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” many will remember it for winning Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards.

You may also have heard it in Apple’s iPod commercials.

Among fans, it enjoys overwhelming popularity as “majestic yet bittersweet,” and “like an anthem for life.” The protagonist’s emptiness—“I once ruled the world, and now I sleep alone”—echoes the hollow feeling that can follow great success.

Reflecting on the fragility of life revealed only after reaching the top makes you want to cherish the happiness you have now.

SunflowerREX ORANGE COUNTY

Rex Orange County – Sunflower

This is a work by Rex Orange County, a singer-songwriter from the UK, whose softly hazy sound and sweet, smooth vocals resonate pleasantly in the ears.

The track was released in March 2017 ahead of his second album, Apricot Princess.

It portrays the delicate emotions of a protagonist who longs to be like the sun for the person they love, yet wavers with insecurity due to a lack of confidence.

Anyone who has ever been in love will deeply relate to that pure, single-minded devotion.

The music video by Illegal Civ Cinema further enriches the song’s world.

On those restless nights when you’re thinking of someone special, why not let the warm melody of this piece gently embrace you?

Lovin’ YouMinnie Riperton

Lovin’ You

The classic song “Lovin’ You,” still loved around the world today, was released in 1974 by Minnie Riperton, a singer-songwriter from Chicago.

Minnie possessed an extraordinarily wide vocal range of five and a half octaves, and that range is fully showcased in this song.

In the phrase at the end of the chorus, the highest note reaches F#6—remarkably high.

It’s achieved using the whistle register, a well-known and highly challenging vocal technique.

This is a track that leaves you in awe of Minnie’s ability to sing impossibly high notes with such beautiful resonance.

On Bended KneeBoyz II Men

Boyz II Men – On Bended Knee

“On Bended Knee” is a song released in 1994 by the American R&B group Boyz II Men.

The song expresses the feelings of a man who longs to reconcile with his lover.

After their breakup, he reflects on his actions and, as the title suggests, pleads on bended knee for her to come back—an earnest and heartfelt portrayal.

What beautifully elevates this straightforward emotion is the vocal harmony.

Boyz II Men were especially renowned for their exquisite choral work.

Pay special attention to the chorus, where the harmonies are at their most beautiful.

Foolish GamesJewel

Jewel – Foolish Games (Official HD Music Video)

“Foolish Games” is a song released in 1995 by American singer-songwriter Jewel.

The piano in the intro creates a serious atmosphere.

Her use of a wide vocal range—from a whisper that seems like it might vanish at any moment to a belt that feels like a cry—resonates deeply.

The lyrics portray her feelings after being manipulated and hurt by a particular person.

Paradoxically, they also convey the fact that the experience helped her grow, and this intricately interwoven sensitivity makes the song all the more compelling.