Famous Western music musicians
In Japan, partly because there are so many outstanding musicians, domestic music holds a large share.
But how about exploring Western music—the origin of rock and pop? We’ve put together a collection of works by prominent Western musicians all in one place.
Thanks to the influence of Hollywood films and overseas TV dramas, Western music is becoming more widely recognized, and by listening to music from around the world, your own horizons are sure to expand!
- [Western Music Edition] Famous Copyright-Free Music
- [Western Music Edition] Songs Frequently Used on YouTube Shorts [2025]
- Summary of Western pop music: A comprehensive introduction to famous pop songs from overseas.
- Famous Western songs everyone knows: a roundup of classic tunes you’ve heard somewhere before
- Stylish Western music: Chic hidden gems that only the in-the-know recognize make an appearance!
- For Beginners to Western Music: Recommended Western Music Groups – A Roundup of Popular Bands
- The world's greatest male vocalist! Exploring the appeal of American male singers
- [Western Music] Nostalgic Western songs that everyone has probably heard at least once!
- Ranking of Popular Western Music Artists [2025]
- Male Western music artists who are good at singing
- Recommended cool Western music artists
- Great as an introduction to Western music! A best-of album loved around the world.
- Top Western Music Artists Popular Among People in Their 30s [2025]
Famous Western music musicians (21–30)
AfricaTOTO
Formed by a group of highly skilled session musicians, the band had a strong reputation from the start for its meticulously crafted, high-fidelity sound.
Their accessible, straightforward style can be described as rock that epitomizes the 1980s.
Never ForgetTake That
Take That was the biggest and most powerful boy band in the UK in the 1990s.
This song was released as a single right after vocalist Robbie Williams left, and it was sung to Robbie Williams.
The group eventually disbanded afterward, but they have since reunited and are still active.
CannonballThe Breeders
A track released in 1993 by the American alternative rock band The Breeders.
It reached No.
2 on the U.
S.
charts and was used in a Nissan commercial.
It was sampled in Shad’s 2012 track “Out Here (Cannonball).”
Joy to the WorldThree dog night
A song by the American rock band Three Dog Night, released in 1971.
It was a single from their 1970 album Naturally.
It reached number one on the U.
S.
Billboard chart.
In Japan, it was used as the theme song for the 2002 TV drama Lunch no Joou (Lunch Queen).
VertigoU2
A song released by U2 in 2004, it was used in Apple’s iPod commercial that year, in which U2 themselves also appeared as silhouettes.
With its driving feel and simple structure, this track has become one of the defining songs of U2 in recent years.
JumpVan Halen
A hard rock superband led by guitar hero Edward Van Halen, who revolutionized the rock world with his virtuosic playing.
This song, noted for its catchy keyboard work, became a global hit and stands as one of their signature tracks from the ’80s.
Take On Mea-ha
This Norwegian trio is known for this work, which became a worldwide hit in 1985.
Their idol-like promotion strategy also paid off, making them popular in Japan.
They can be considered the most successful pop group from Scandinavia since ABBA.