A cappella masterpieces: Recommended songs where beautiful harmonies shine (Western and Japanese music)
A cappella that highlights beautiful harmonies.
Do you have any favorite a cappella groups or songs?
Overseas, there are various groups like Pentatonix at the forefront, as well as Home Free and VoicePlay.
In Japan, there are The Gospellers and Little Glee Monster, who have collaborated with Pentatonix.
One of the charms of a cappella is enjoying that perfectly synchronized, almost telepathic breathing and timing!
A cappella that can move you or lift your spirits.
I’ll be introducing some outstanding a cappella masterpieces from both Japan and abroad!
- Gospel singers of the world. Masterpieces of gospel music, recommended popular songs.
- [Hymns] Famous hymns and sacred songs. Recommended hymns and sacred songs.
- Japanese gospel: recommended Japanese songs with a gospel-like style
- A popular song sung by a male Western music group
- Il Divo’s famous and popular songs
- [Arpeggio] Beautiful masterpieces of Western music. Exquisite guitar sounds.
- Pentatonix Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- [2026] Iconic musical numbers: from the latest releases to timeless classics!
- Masterpieces of Celtic music. Recommended Irish music.
- Ranking of popular songs by Libera, a British soprano unit
- [2026] Let's Sing at the Chorus Competition! A Roundup of Recommended Western Songs
- [2026] A Guide to Country Music: From the Latest Hits to Classic Favorites
- [Irish Folk Songs] Surprisingly Familiar Masterpieces and Standards of Ethnic Music
A cappella masterpieces: recommended songs that highlight beautiful harmony [Western and Japanese] (21–30)
Hymn No. 312: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”Charles Crozat Converse
This is a beloved hymn by Charles Crozat Converse, who also worked as a lawyer.
The original lyrics are said to have been written by someone who suffered the profound sorrow of losing a fiancée twice.
The warm, enveloping melody—overflowing like a prayer to a friend who shares every burden—soothes the heart.
Composed around 1868, the piece’s composer, Converse, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1895.
It’s a recommended song to listen to when you want to quietly reflect or drift off to sleep with a sense of peace.
aca-DISNEYVoicePlay
This is the American a cappella group VoicePlay.
Since they are based in Orlando, Florida, where Disney World is located, they covered a medley of Disney songs to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney on Broadway.
The arrangement has their signature style, and I think it really showcases the strengths of the five members.
Each person’s vocal tone is excellent, reflecting the skill of contemporary, mainstream a cappella.
I imagine this helped win over Disney fans and boosted their visibility.
ForeverGosuperāzu
This is a song by The Gospellers, a Japanese a cappella group known to everyone.
Formed out of an a cappella club at Waseda University, The Gospellers really stand out within J-Pop.
Above all, their vocal prowess is incredible.
The harmonies in their beautiful ballads resonate in your chest.
Their smooth, soaring vocals are wonderful.
They seem to be beloved by a wide range of generations.
The Promised LandUematsu Nobuo
This piece is notable for its sacred, hymn-like chorus.
The composer is Nobuo Uematsu, world-renowned as a master of video game music, and he has crafted it into a solemn, chorale-style work.
The Latin lyrics seem to convey fundamental questions—why humans bear sin and suffer, and where life returns—as well as sorrow toward an inescapable fate.
The track is included on the soundtrack FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN, released in September 2005.
In the film, it is used as an insert song during a moving scene in which the characters ascend to the heavens.
It’s recommended for nights when you want to quietly immerse yourself in a grand, epic world.
There’s always tomorrowBaby Boo
They are a five-member male vocal group from Japan who continue their activities under the motto “creating the real thing.” This song was originally a single released by Kyu Sakamoto in 1963, and was later covered by Ulfuls; both versions became major hits.
It has also been sung by members of Yoshimoto.
Happy GateLittle Glee Monster
This is a song by Little Glee Monster (aka “Littleguri”), a Japanese female a cappella group well-known from Sony Sonpo’s commercials.
I love this song too, but the lyrics from the Sony Sonpo ads are what stick in my head.
It has a bright, fun, pop vibe that makes you feel like you want to jump right in.
The beauty of the female harmonies really shines through even in a pop context.
While their path is a bit different from typical idol groups, it’s hard to deny there are idol-like elements in Japan.
Daft PunkPentatonix
This is a song by the American a cappella group Pentatonix.
They’ve even toured Japan, so they’re probably well-known here too.
As the title suggests, it has a punk-ish vibe.
It’s a 2013 track by a young group formed in 2011, and it feels very modern and distinctly American.
I imagine they’re hugely popular with young people around the world.
What’s amazing about Pentatonix is their beats—you can’t help but wonder, “Are they really producing all of this with just human voices?” Their mixed-gender vocals are another hallmark.
The vocal range within a single song is wide, making it hard to imitate, and the level of quality that only Pentatonix can achieve is truly impressive.