Recommended Western music for men in their 50s: world classics and popular songs

Like a VirginMadonna

Madonna – Like A Virgin (Official Video)

Madonna, hailed as the second coming of Marilyn Monroe and bursting onto the music scene with provocative titles and album covers, wielded an influence that extended beyond music into fashion and culture, becoming a major social movement.

Band on the RunWings

Band On The Run (2010 Remaster)

For generations who didn’t know the Beatles in real time, the band that let them hear the genuine Beatles sound was Paul McCartney & Wings.

There were also young fans who first listened to Wings and then traced their way back to the Beatles’ music.

Call MeBlondie

Call me Blondie

When it comes to new wave, the UK is the home turf, but Blondie, an American new wave band formed in New York, found success in the U.S.

with a sound that had a distinctly different flavor from British new wave.

Call Me was the theme song for the film American Gigolo and became a hit, spending six consecutive weeks at No.

1 in the U.S.

Time is on my sideThe Rolling Stones

Time is on my side – The Rolling Stones

As a Rolling Stones song that’s easy for men in their 50s to sing, I’d recommend “Time Is on My Side,” which isn’t all that famous.

It’s a somewhat bright ballad with a touch of melancholy and a mature vibe, and it downplays the typical Stones style.

A few years ago, Kenji Sawada sang it in a commercial, and I remember thinking it was really cool.

HonestyBilly Joel

Billy Joel – Honesty (Audio)

In the 1980s, the American singer Billy Joel was hugely popular in Japan as well.

This song is one of his signature ballads.

Beginning with a beautiful piano intro, it sings about the difficulty of staying honest in a dishonest world, and its message resonates deeply, amplified by his vocal delivery.

Wonderful tonightEric Clapton

Wonderful tonight – Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton, a guitarist and singer who represents the world of rock.

On the track included in his 1977 album Slowhand, he sings in a deep voice that blends tenderness and wistfulness about the exchanges between a couple on a party night.

The guitar tone, which seems to express gentle affection, is also a highlight.

(Just like) starting OverJohn Lennon

Just like starting Over, John Lennon. (Lyrics)

Released in 1980, this song by John Lennon topped the charts in many countries, including the UK, the United States, and Canada, becoming the biggest hit of his solo career.

In Japan as well, it has been widely used as a theme or insert song for TV dramas, commercials, and variety shows.

John’s vocals, as if speaking to a long-time partner, make it a classic that evokes a sense of new hope.