A cappella masterpieces: Recommended songs where beautiful harmonies shine (Western and Japanese music)

ElviraHome Free

Home Free – Elvira (feat. The Oak Ridge Boys)

Home Free is a five-member country a cappella group that won the American a cappella audition show The Sing-Off.

In this song, they deliver a special collaboration with the original performers, The Oak Ridge Boys, resulting in a lively, irresistibly toe-tapping vibe.

The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Nylons

The Nylons – The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Official Music Video)

This is a signature song by The Nylons, a Canadian a cappella group formed in 1978.

It’s a cover of the classic “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which is also used in The Lion King, but their arrangement is incredible.

The performance feels almost like a Shiki Theatre Company musical.

It’s hard to believe it’s just four people singing.

Absolutely breathtaking.

YesterdayBoyz II Men

Yesterday

They are an American vocal group originally consisting of four members known for their beautiful harmonies.

After one member left in 2002 due to health issues, it seems they continued as a trio without bringing in a new member.

This song is one of the most popular tracks by the British rock band the Beatles and has been covered by numerous musicians around the world.

Commonly UniqueThe Real Group

The Real Group Commonly Unique Sample

This is a song by the renowned Swedish a cappella group The Real Group.

In fact, some of you may have heard it as background music.

After all, this track won a Swedish Grammy.

With mixed male and female voices, a jazzy vibe, and a very cool sound, they’re outstanding—excellent singing, harmonies, and rhythm.

Their repertoire ranges from ballad-like pieces to fun, upbeat tunes.

Once you listen to them, you’ll quickly get hooked.

Let’s go a cappellaTRY-TONE

Let's go a cappella

This is a song by the Japanese a cappella group TRY-TONE.

It has a jazzy vibe, but it also gives off a Showa-era folk atmosphere, making it a bright yet somehow comforting song.

The group is now down to three members, but they’re still active.

They hold workshops, so they might be more approachable than you’d expect.

Since the group originated from a Waseda University club, I think it could be a great starting point for students who want to practice a cappella.

DannyBoyVOX ONE

DannyBoy acappella

They are an American a cappella group.

All five members are graduates of Berklee College of Music, and they are said to be actively involved in mentoring the next generation, including teaching at their alma mater.

This song is an Irish folk ballad that poignantly expresses a parent’s feelings for a son going off to war, and it has been covered by artists across many genres.

Mein Fahrraddie Prinzen

Die Prinzen – Mein Fahrrad (Offizielles Musikvideo)

This is a song by my personal favorite German group, die Prinzen.

The title means “My Bicycle.” All five members are from Leipzig in former East Germany, and they all come from a choir background.

As you’d expect from choir singers, their vocal production and harmonies are very beautiful.

In Japan, some people—soccer fans, for example—might know them from songs like “Oli Kahn,” and German learners may know them from the NHK Radio 2 German course.

Their pronunciation is very clear and easy to understand, so I recommend them to learners of German.

If you follow the lyrics, you’ll notice that, while they use solid, grammatically correct German, they sing funny or cynical lyrics with beautiful voices and a straight face—another source of their appeal.

Their music has good variety and dynamic range, and they have a wide repertoire.

They’re also good at church music, such as Christmas songs.

Sebastian and Tobias are mainly on vocals, but there are songs where the high-voiced Wolfgang is the lead, as well as songs where the low-voiced Jens takes the lead, so I’d be delighted if you could listen to a range of their tracks.