[2025] Classic and Popular Western Songs to Listen to in January: Recommended Hits
When asked what music you want to listen to in January, many people probably imagine the songs that play around New Year’s at supermarkets, department stores, and on TV shows.
It’s nice to relax with familiar background music, but since January marks a fresh start to the year, why not kick things off by listening to some popular Western hits?
In this article, we’re highlighting not only songs that celebrate the New Year or have a January theme, but also classic Western tracks that will give you a boost as you greet the year with a renewed mindset.
We’ve gathered a wide range of songs, old and new, across different eras to introduce to you!
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[2025] Classic and Popular Western Songs to Listen to in January (91–100)
New Year’s ResolutionLil Tjay
Rapper Lil Tjay made a miraculous comeback from a shootout in September 2022.
Since then, he’s boosted his props even further and gained popularity among many heads.
Among his tracks, the one I especially recommend for January is New Year’s Resolution.
The Japanese title means “New Year’s Resolution,” and it captures the determination he had as a rapper while he was breaking out in 2018.
Be sure to check it out.
Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem, Fireworks Version)Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is a globally renowned R&B singer who rose to fame in the 1990s and again in the mid-2000s.
With songs like “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “Hero,” most people have surely heard her music at least once.
Her “Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem, Fireworks Version)” is a cover of the Scottish folk song “Auld Lang Syne” (known in Japan as “Hotaru no Hikari”), featuring an arrangement that differs greatly in mood from the original.
New Year’s ResolutionOtis Redding & Carla Thomas
Carla Thomas, the soul singer known as the Queen of Memphis Soul, energized 1960s soul music with her soulful voice.
This track, “New Year’s Resolution,” a collaboration with the legendary soul singer Otis Redding, who passed away young, is perfect for January as it paints the beginning of a new year.
With its classic, quintessentially soul melody, it’s well worth a listen.
AliveSia
Sia, an Australian singer-songwriter with global recognition and commercial success, is also known for not revealing her face in public.
Her 2015 release “Alive” was used as the theme song for the film “The Top Secret: Murder in Mind,” starring Toma Ikuta, so many of you may already be familiar with it.
Among her songs, which often explore introspective themes, this one stands out as a magnificent classic: just as the title suggests, its soul-baring cry of “I’m alive!” pierces the hearts of all who listen.
Sia has by no means had an always smooth-sailing life, and that is precisely why her music carries a universally convincing power.
For those who have endured a harsh and difficult year, listening to this track at the start of the new year will make you feel, “I can still do this.
I can still keep on living.”
Funky New YearThe Eagles
The Eagles are a band that has continued to be active mainly on the U.
S.
West Coast.
They’re a legendary group with worldwide popularity, boasting total sales of over 200 million records.
While they’ve released a variety of songs such as “Hotel California” and “Desperado,” the track we recommend for January is “Funky New Year.” It features a rock-driven melody that Eagles fans will love.
Since it’s a song that sings about the New Year in a funky way, be sure to check it out when you want to get pumped up!
You In JanuaryThe Wonder Years
With its cool distorted guitar sound, “You In January” is a track by the American rock band The Wonder Years, known for its emotional sound.
The more you listen, the more dramatic it becomes; even if you don’t understand the words, the earnest vocals are moving—an emo rock song perfect for January!
I Wanna Dance With SomebodyWhitney Houston
Whitney Houston is one of the greatest singers in music history and also one of the most commercially successful divas.
While many people may think of her historic ballad “I Will Always Love You,” the song we’re introducing here, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me),” is an absolute staple of 80s pop—pure positivity at 120%! Known in Japan by the title “Suteki na Somebody,” it was released in 1987 and became a massive hit.
It received high acclaim, including winning Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards.
Although the lyrics—about wanting to dance with someone who loves you—aren’t specifically about celebrating the New Year, spending the first month of the year listening to such a upbeat, poppy track might be just the boost you need for a strong start.