Perfect for sports or driving! High-energy, fast-paced tracks that will get you pumped
When you’re driving, out for a run, or just want to get pumped up, you crave songs with a sense of speed, right?
They’re also essential for extreme sports like snowboarding and skateboarding.
But even if you say “up-tempo, energetic tracks,” a lot of people probably feel like, “It’s so hard to find them!”
So in this article, I’ll introduce songs with a exhilarating sense of speed that are perfect for a variety of situations.
Try listening while imagining which scenes they’d fit best.
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- A song by a rock band bursting with exhilarating energy and a sense of speed that you want to listen to in the summer.
- A high-energy band number! A hype, crowd-pleasing track with male vocals.
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Recommended for sports and driving! High-energy, fast-paced songs (11–20)
Fashion Leader feat. Soy SauceORANGE RANGE
If you’re looking for a song packed with a sense of speed, how about this one? It’s a track by ORANGE RANGE, released in November 2008 as their 14th single.
It was also used as the CM song for Ezaki Glico’s “Pocky Chocolate.” Its pop, catchy melody and lyrics that shine with distinctive wordplay are truly appealing.
The song carries a message about enjoying fashion and valuing your individuality.
Perfect for running or driving, its refreshing rhythm is sure to boost your motivation.
Give it a listen, and you’re guaranteed to have an energetic day.
life-formHoshino Gen
Singer-songwriter Gen Hoshino, who also showcases his talents as an actor, essayist, and columnist.
His eighth digital-only single “Seimeitai,” written as the theme song for TBS’s World Athletics and Asian Games broadcasts, features powerful, encouraging lyrics that give you courage.
Its pop melody and dynamic beat feel perfect for invigorating moments like sports or driving.
With its striking choral work that makes you want to sing along, it’s a refreshing, fast-paced track that feels great.
RunPanorama Panama Town
Known by the abbreviation Panopana and having won the Grand Prix at RO69JACK, a competition hosted by rockin’on, before their major-label debut, the three-piece rock band Panorama Panama Town released the digital-only single Run on May 10, 2023.
Its ensemble, which adds dance elements to 1980s UK post-punk, makes a strong impact.
The contrast between the floating guitar riffs and the catchy synth sounds evokes an old-school vibe while creating a modern atmosphere.
It’s an addictive rock tune that will lift your spirits for sports or driving.
CLIMAXT-SQUARE
This is a quintessential T-SQUARE piece that stokes the exhilaration of a racing scene.
Featured on their 50th album, VENTO DE FELICIDADE ~Shiawase no Kaze~, released in May 2023 to mark the 45th anniversary of their debut, this track was written specifically as the theme song for the Japanese-dubbed version of the film Gran Turismo and became a hot topic.
Performed by a star-studded lineup including both current and former members, with special guest Kazumi Watanabe, the layered tones of multiple EWIs are nothing short of breathtaking.
We can confidently recommend it as the perfect companion for a refreshing weekend drive.
Vanilla Skyw.o.d.
w.o.d is a three-piece rock band whose name is an abbreviation of “webbing off duckling,” meaning “a duckling that can’t swim.” Their digital single Vanilla Sky, released on April 13, 2022, features sentimental lyrics that evoke feelings for a former lover.
The ensemble, highlighting lyrical guitar sounds and a driving beat, makes for perfect background music to liven up a car ride.
It’s a rock tune with a nostalgic atmosphere—airy yet sharply edged.
HONEYL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
The 10th single by L’Arc~en~Ciel, a four-piece rock band active in Japan and abroad that wields meticulously crafted arrangements and a distinctive vocal style.
Released simultaneously with two other singles, it became as popular as the big hits “Kasou” and “Shinsoku ~lose control~,” and is regarded as one of L’Arc~en~Ciel’s signature songs.
With brisk guitar strums, tight obbligato lines that sharpen the track, a bassline that surges and twists with boundless energy, and a punchy drum beat, it delivers a robust ensemble despite its straightforward band sound.
It’s a perfect pick when you want something with a sense of speed—great for sports or driving.
Recommended for sports and driving! High-energy, fast-paced tracks that will pump you up (21–30)
We Just Go Hard feat. AK-69KAT-TUN
This work features AK-69, a leading figure in Japan’s hip-hop scene.
The lyrics, which portray an athlete-like fighting spirit and the strength to push forward with self-belief, perfectly match KAT-TUN’s cool and gritty vibe.
Included on the single “We Just Go Hard feat.
AK-69 / EUPHORIA,” released in September 2021, it was used as the image song for Nippon TV’s professional baseball broadcasts “DRAMATIC BASEBALL 2021” and as the theme song for “Going! Sports & News.” It’s a fiery track that fills you with power when you need to fire yourself up in clutch moments or boost your motivation.