[Western Music] Recommended Songs and Popular Classics to Listen to When You're Tired

PerfectFairground Attraction

Fairground Attraction – Perfect

The light, bouncy beat feels great! Eddi Reader’s straightforward vocals make you want to hum along before you know it.

The guitar solo in the interlude is cool, the bassline is interesting, and it’s a track you can listen to over and over without getting bored.

Get It While You CanJanis Joplin

Janis Joplin – Get It While You Can (Audio)

Included on “Pearl,” released in 1971.

The year before this release, Janis passed away.

A dynamic track perfectly suited to close the album.

Strictly speaking, it’s a cover of Howard Tate’s song, but Janis, with her innate vocal power, completely makes it her own.

The Japanese title, “Love While You’re Alive,” grows more heartbreaking the more you know the circumstances, yet it succinctly captures the life of a woman who lived fast and burned bright.

ImagineJohn Lennon

Imagine – John Lennon (Lyrics)

It’s a single released in 1971 by John Lennon, a member of the Beatles and a world-renowned musician.

It’s so well known and familiar to Japanese people that it’s even used in school English assignments.

As a song that sings of world peace, it’s practically synonymous with the genre and strongly associated with anti-war themes.

However, the song also plays a role in people’s personal lives.

The piano that surely emits alpha waves and John Lennon’s voice—everything works to dissolve the knots in the listener’s heart.

One Way TicketLeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes – One Way Ticket (Official Music Video)

Included on her second album “Blue,” released in 1996 by the prodigious country singer who debuted at 13 and quickly captured attention across America.

A quality country song that maintains an up-tempo pace throughout, delivered with a powerful vocal performance that’s hard to believe came from a 14-year-old at the time.

A Design For LifeManic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers – A Design for Life (Official Video)

Included on their fourth album, Everything Must Go, which was released in the wake of the tragedy of member Richey’s disappearance.

Issued as the lead single, it reached number one on the UK charts.

Deliberately shedding the darker image of the previous work, the song brims with the energy of their decision to move forward positively.

Take It BackPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Take It Back (Clipe Oficial) HQ

Included on the 1994 album The Division Bell.

On this second release since Roger Waters’ departure, newly appointed bandleader David Gilmour fully showcases his songwriting sensibilities.

The track possesses an exhilarating quality that transcends the bounds of progressive rock and was later released as a single.

NightswimmingR.E.M.

R.E.M. – Nightswimming (Official Music Video) [British Version]

Included on the 1992 release Automatic for the People.

With its simple piano accompaniment, a touch of orchestration, and above all Michael Stipe’s poignant vocals, this song evokes the end of summer and the beginning of autumn for the listener.