Recommended Western music for college students: world classics and popular songs

FadeAdventure Club

Adventure Club – Fade (Ft. Zak Waters)

An artist with quite a long career.

They’ve been popular since the early days, and even now their popularity shows no signs of fading.

As you’d expect from such a popular artist, every song is a consistently great classic—so much so that you could almost say you can’t call yourself a fan of Western music if you don’t know them.

Ten Feet TallAfrojack

AFROJACK – Ten Feet Tall (Lyric Video) ft. Wrabel

Afrojack is quite famous, but I imagine there are still people who don’t know him.

However, he’s an incredible artist who has provided songs for Sandaime J Soul Brothers—an artist every Japanese person likely knows.

So if you like LDH, he’s an artist you should know, and these are songs you should know.

HeroesAlesso

Alesso – Heroes (we could be) ft. Tove Lo

Since this song is also available in Japanese karaoke, there are probably quite a few people who can speak English and sing it at karaoke.

The balance between the vocals and the sound in the chorus is just right, making it a song that’s completely free of any discomfort when listening.

Blended Family (What You Do For Love) (Audio) ft. A$AP RockyAlicia Keys

Alicia Keys – Blended Family (What You Do For Love) (Official Audio) ft. A$AP Rocky

A ballad that celebrates family love, characterized by lyrics that resonate with the heart and a warm melody.

It is included on Alicia Keys’s sixth album, “Here,” released in 2016.

The lyrics, which convey the importance of love and acceptance amid complex family relationships, are especially striking, and the collaboration with A$AP Rocky is another highlight.

Singing about bonds that transcend blood ties, this song delivers an important message for today’s society, where diverse family forms exist.

It’s a track I especially recommend to college students stepping into a new environment—it might inspire you to cherish your connections with family and friends and help you lead a fulfilling college life.

ApolloAstronaut

Astronaut – Apollo (Barely Alive Remix)

The worldview you can imagine from the artist’s name is realized as music with an unmistakably cosmic feel.

If I had to describe it, it gives me the image of an astronaut.

It’s a beautiful track, like a gorgeous galaxy, so I’d recommend it to students as well.

24K MagicBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – 24K Magic (Official Music Video)

A track overflowing with party vibes, woven from dazzling sounds and groovy rhythms! Delivered by Bruno Mars, it fuses ’80s funk with modern pop.

It’s the title track of the album “24K Magic,” released in November 2016, and its lyrics evoke the glamour of a night on the town.

The song paints a picture of living the high life and invites listeners into a fun-filled world.

Perfect for lighting up the dance floor—play it at a get-together or party with friends, and everyone will be itching to start dancing!

Talking To The MoonBruno Mars

Bruno Mars Talking To The Moon (Official Video)

Its bittersweet melody and soothing piano tones reach deep into the heart on a quiet night.

It’s a song that captures a moment where loneliness and warmth coexist, as if speaking to the night sky while thinking of someone dear.

Bruno Mars’s powerful yet gentle vocals amplify the sense of solitude while also offering comfort, as though staying close to the listener’s heart.

The track is included on the album Doo-Wops & Hooligans, released in October 2010.

After being featured on the soundtrack of the Brazilian telenovela Insensato Coração, it was officially released as a single in Brazil on April 12, 2011.

On nights when you feel lonely or carry a quiet ache in your heart, this song will be the perfect companion.