[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 Western songs to listen to in January: Recommended popular tracks (41–50)
Nothin’ New for New YearHarry Connick Jr. and George Jones
Standing out as a melancholic jazz number with a New Year’s theme, this piece is a gem born from the collaboration of two artists representing different genres: Harry Connick Jr.
and George Jones.
The lyrics, which portray the feelings of a lonely man welcoming the New Year, convey both sorrow and warmth, with Connick’s jazz touch and Jones’s country elements blending exquisitely.
Included on Connick’s 2003 album “Harry for the Holidays,” the song has maintained a loyal following among fans as a hidden classic often played around the year’s end and New Year.
It explores themes of anticipation and anxiety for the coming year, as well as confronting past failures and disappointments, making it a perfect recommendation for those who wish to usher in the New Year quietly.
Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967John Mayer
If you’re looking for a song that embodies a “fresh start” for the New Year, John Mayer’s piece delivers exactly that.
It tells the story of a fictional man, Walt Grace, who embarks on an adventure in a homemade submarine despite opposition from those around him, symbolizing the courage to take risks and the power of individuality.
Featured on the 2012 album Born and Raised, this track stands out as one of Mayer’s most distinctive works.
Within its nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere lies a message about the importance of continuing to chase your dreams, making it a song that gives you a gentle push as you head into the new year.
It’s perfect for anyone feeling stuck in life or ready to embark on a new challenge.
New Year’s EveMal Blum
For anyone who wants to start the year on a positive note, this classic by Mal Blum comes highly recommended.
Set to a melodious indie rock sound, it captures the thrill of the New Year’s moment, reflections on the past, and hope for the future.
Originally included on the June 2010 album “Every Time You Go Somewhere,” the song was re-recorded and released as a single in 2016.
It’s a perfect track for those looking to take a fresh look at themselves as the new year approaches.
After the excitement of a New Year’s Eve countdown party, it’s best listened to during a quiet moment of self-reflection.
Wrapped in Blum’s warm vocals, why not take the time to think about your New Year’s resolutions?
January RainPVRIS
A song whose title evokes the chill of January and whose heartbreaking theme of lost love leaves a strong impression.
Featured on PVRIS’s 2020 album “Use Me,” this track captivates with its unique blend of synth-pop and alternative rock.
Frontwoman Lynn Gunn’s emotional vocals vividly convey lingering feelings for an ex and inner turmoil.
The lyrics, which call to mind harsh cold and icy rain, symbolically portray an unhealed sorrow.
It’s a perfect song for early January—just after the new year—for those looking to put past relationships behind them or seeking the courage to take a new step forward.
Listening to this piece may give you the strength to move toward fresh hope.
In the New YearThe Walkmen
As the perfect track for the New Year’s celebratory mood, let me introduce a classic by The Walkmen, a band with a cult following in the United States.
Included on their 2008 album “You & Me,” this song has an unshakeable grip on indie rock fans’ hearts.
It features a passionate sound woven from Hamilton Leithauser’s powerful vocals and a striking organ tone.
The lyric “Next year’s going to be a great year” speaks directly to our hopes for the new year.
Even while carrying past troubles and present anxieties, its refusal to lose faith in the future is sure to give listeners a push forward.
It’s a perfect pick for anyone looking to launch into the new year or make a fresh start.
New Year’s SongTim McMorris
A heartwarming song that heralds the start of the New Year.
Featured on Canadian singer-songwriter Tim McMorris’s 2014 album “Alive,” this track carries a positive message celebrating the arrival of a hopeful new year.
With its upbeat pop sound and forward-looking lyrics, it gently encourages those embarking on their New Year’s resolutions.
It has also been used in TV commercials and corporate promotional videos, so many people may have heard it before.
It’s the perfect song for anyone wanting to kick off the year with a fresh mindset.
Why not welcome a hopeful New Year’s morning wrapped in McMorris’s warm vocals?
My Heart Will Go OnCéline Dion
It all comes down to one phrase: an overwhelming, breathtaking voice.
When winter rolls around, Titanic is often broadcast on terrestrial TV, and this is the song that plays during that truly enchanting, famous scene.
Even though it wasn’t written for the film, it’s so well-known that the visuals and the song inevitably come to mind together.