[2026] Fire it up! A roundup of recommended Western songs to hype up your school culture festivals

The Fate of OpheliaNEW!Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia (Official Music Video)

Taylor Swift, who has been recognized with numerous music awards including the Grammy Awards.

The single she released in October 2025 serves as the opening piece for her album “The Life of a Showgirl.” The song carries a positive theme about overcoming a tragic fate.

It features a rhythmic dance-pop melody and has been crafted into a highly danceable sound.

This work was also tied in with the event screenings of the film “Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl.” If you want to energize dance performances at school festivals or cultural festivals, this track—one everyone can groove to—comes highly recommended!

Pump ItNEW!The Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas – Pump It (Official Music Video)

The Black Eyed Peas are a group supported around the world for their musical style that fuses a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, pop, and dance music.

“Pump It,” which opens their 2005 album Monkey Business, is a track with overwhelming energy even among their many hits.

The song has been featured in numerous film and TV works, such as Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, leaving a strong impression.

Characterized by its striking guitar riff and powerful beat, it has the kind of energy that instantly fires up a crowd the moment the intro drops.

Like “Rock That Body,” it’s also popular on social media, so it’s a song well-known to younger generations.

With an addictive quality that makes you want to move your body as soon as you hear it, it’s guaranteed to shine as BGM or a dance number to amp up the stage at school festivals and cultural events.

back to friendsNEW!sombr

sombr – back to friends (official video)

Singer-songwriter Somber from New York began attracting attention online in her teens and has gained popularity for music that vividly reflects her emotions.

Her global hit is “back to friends,” a single released in December 2024 that spread explosively via social media like TikTok.

The song features an exhilarating melody blending indie pop and alternative rock, and its lyrics capture the delicate, youthful turmoil of the awkwardness between friends who once became romantically involved.

It’s such an anthem for the younger generation that there’s hardly a day it doesn’t play on TikTok and other platforms, so many of you have likely heard it.

With a powerful sound that makes you want to jump together, it’s sure to ignite any school festival or campus stage!

BIRDS OF A FEATHERNEW!Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish – BIRDS OF A FEATHER (Official Music Video)

Billie Eilish, a singer-songwriter who captivates many with her unique worldview.

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” included on her third album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, released in May 2024, is a masterpiece themed around eternal love and a powerful bond.

It expresses deep devotion—“loving until the day I die”—through her signature whispery vocals and buoyant pop sound.

It also drew attention for being used in the teaser for season 3 of the Netflix series Heartstopper and gained popularity on platforms like TikTok.

Performed at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the song’s familiar, gently floating feel makes it perfect as background music for a school culture festival, adding an emotional touch to the venue.

HOT TO GO!NEW!Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan – HOT TO GO! (Official Music Video)

Chappell Roan is a singer-songwriter from Missouri, USA.

Emerging in the 2020s, she has garnered passionate support worldwide with a distinctive style heavily influenced by ’80s and 2000s pop and the aesthetics of drag queens.

In August 2023, she released this track that epitomizes her landmark album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.

It’s a pop tune that boldly portrays desire and temptation between women, powered by a cheerleader-like, exuberant energy.

The chorus features choreography that spells out the title with body movements, which went viral at live shows and across social media.

It’s the perfect song for getting everyone involved and dancing together on a school festival stage.

Die With A SmileNEW!Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile (Official Music Video)

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are artists whose outstanding musicianship—blending a retro sound reminiscent of 1970s soft rock with contemporary sensibilities—leaves a strong impression.

Both enjoy immense name recognition and popularity in Japan as well.

This work, released in August 2024, sings of a deep and pure love: the desire to spend one’s final moments beside the person they love, even in the hopeless situation of the world’s end.

It’s a global smash hit and frequently used on social media, so many people are likely familiar with it.

With the powerful harmonies of the two weaving a grand ballad, playing it on a school festival or cultural festival stage would surely unite the entire venue and bring the excitement to a peak!

Cruel SummerNEW!Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer (Official Audio)

Starting out as a country star and ascending to a generation-defining pop queen who traverses diverse genres, Taylor Swift is a global icon.

Her song “Cruel Summer,” included on the 2019 album Lover, gained renewed attention during her 2023 tour and was released as a single.

Characterized by a shimmering synth-pop beat, the track blends the fun vibes of summer with the hidden ache and passion of a secret romance, and it became a massive hit, reaching No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Its catchy melody and emotionally rich vocals make it perfect as background music or for dance performances at school festivals and cultural events!