Recommended Songs for Beginner Bands at School Culture Festivals

UkifuneGO!GO!7188

Ukifune

amzn.asia

GO!GO!7188’s “Ukifune” was released as a single in 2002 and was also included on the 2003 album “Tategami.” The nuanced vocals and overlapping timbres create a distinctly Japanese atmosphere, conveying a unique sense of power and floatiness.

Because each instrument resounds so boldly, the vocals play a key role in shaping the overall mood, making it important to focus on momentum during performance.

The clear structure—driving the rhythm strongly and strumming simple yet powerful chords—also makes it perfect for practice.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Psychic Lockyangusukinii

Young Skinny – Mental Rock [Official Music Video]

“Youngski” aka Young Skinny’s track Mental Rock is definitely a punk rock tune that will hype up any crowd if you cover it live.

There are surely plenty of bands who want to take the stage with this song.

For performance tips: first, the vocalist needs to deliver the high register and rapid-fire lyrics straight and passionately.

The guitar should be raw yet crisp; even with mainly power chords, you can capture the original’s drive.

That said, try to recreate the countermelody-like phrase that keeps ringing beneath the chorus as much as possible.

For the rhythm section, it’s perfect if you can even reproduce the distinctive snare sound, but at the very least, aim for a dynamic contrast: go wild in the pre-chorus part where the bass and drums rampage, then lock in tight for the chorus.

Sora-buneTOKIO

Sora-fune (Sky Ship) – TOKIO (Full)

TOKIO elevates a song written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima—imbued with a powerful message—into their own distinctive rock sound.

This gem of a track portrays a strong will and courage to chart one’s own course in life without handing the helm to others.

Released in August 2006 as their 35th single, it was used as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “My Boss My Hero.” It topped the Oricon singles chart and won the Lyrics Award at the 48th Japan Record Awards.

Widely embraced across generations, the song’s structure also makes it easy to perform on school festival stages.

With its dramatic progression and catchy melody line, it’s a piece that lets you fully savor the thrill of live performance.

winding roadNovelbright

Novelbright – Winding Road [Official Music Video]

There are always trials along the path of life, and the staircase to adulthood is lined with thorns.

Novelbright expresses the heart that wavers between pure hopes and reality with warm vocals that gently embrace those feelings.

This work is the theme song for the TV Tokyo drama “Courtroom Dragon,” airing in January 2025.

Its refreshing, grand melody is sure to encourage young people as they move step by step toward their dreams.

It’s a song I wholeheartedly recommend as a companion to memories of youth—growing together while lifting each other up, and the friendships that deepen while preparing for school culture festivals.

CHAINSAW BLOODVaundy

CHAINSAW BLOOD / Vaundy：MUSIC VIDEO

Singer-songwriter Vaundy not only produces music but also handles artwork and video production.

His 17th digital-only single, “CHAINSAW BLOOD,” used as the ending theme for episode 1 of the TV anime Chainsaw Man, opens with a dark guitar riff that dovetails with the story of the anime.

The performance is simple, but since many sections—like the A melody—hold the same pitch for extended stretches, be mindful of dynamics so the song doesn’t feel flat overall.

As a song from a popular anime, it’s a modern rock tune that’s sure to fire up live audiences.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

To tell you the truth,yangusukinii

Young Skinny – Actually, You Know, [Official Music Video]

amzn.asia

Young Skinny’s “Hontou wa ne,” released in 2022, is a track also included on the album “I Thought Anything Would Be Forgiven If I Turned It Into a Song.” The gentle atmosphere—like letting out hidden feelings and one’s own vulnerabilities—comes through in the sound as well.

With a calm tempo and a structure that layers each phrase, the piece is perfect for practicing the finer techniques that articulate those phrases.

It may be important to play each note with certainty, yet with a sense of lightness, aligning your breathing with one another as you perform.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Live house!Conton Candy

Conton Candy – Live House! / LIVEHOUSE! [Official Video]

Conton Candy’s “Live House!” is an energetic guitar rock track that captures the raw heat of a live venue, and plenty of people will surely want to cover it.

Written, composed, and arranged by the band themselves, the song is filled with a straightforward love for live houses and their audiences—a bona fide anthem guaranteed to unite the room when played on stage.

Let the guitar drive the track with powerful power chords, while aiming to articulate the distinctive stabs and signature phrases clearly.

Because the guitar parts are relatively simple, the bass often moves more and carries a heavier load, but it’s a crucial role for creating a supple groove, so handle it with precision.

For drums, start with a solid 8-beat foundation, and incorporate detailed touches like rim shots that shift the song’s feel—there’s a lot to learn from that kind of nuanced playing.