Packed with everything from friendship to romance! Youth anthems recommended for Gen Z
When you hear the phrase “youth anthem,” what kind of songs come to mind?
Some people immersed themselves in clubs or hobbies, others treasured time with friends, and some were swept up in romance.
Because each person focused on different things during their youth, there are as many youth anthems as there are listeners.
This time, we’ve curated songs we especially recommend for members of Generation Z.
We selected tracks released roughly between 2011 and 2024—the years when many in Gen Z likely spent their formative youth—so put them on and let the memories come flooding back!
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- A roundup of youth-themed songs recommended for high school students
- A love song that feels like youth. Love songs you want to listen to—and remember—during your adolescent years.
Packed with everything from friendship to romance! Youth anthems for Gen Z (21–30)
Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN
This is a famous song by BUMP OF CHICKEN that also served as the theme song for the film Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels.
It’s a heartwarming ballad in which vocalist Motoo Fujiwara expresses his feelings for a particular character from the perspective of someone appearing in the movie.
The lyrics, which sing of the preciousness of friendship nurtured even while taking the long way around, are striking and likely to resonate with many listeners.
Released in February 2011, the song debuted at No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and is characterized by its noble, heroic sound enhanced with trumpet and strings.
If you have companions who strive together with you, it’s sure to hit you right in the heart.
We againSG
Singer-songwriter SG, a Japanese-Korean artist who gained popularity through TikTok and YouTube, released this song in April 2021.
Embraced as a “Reiwa-era graduation song,” it captured the hearts of younger listeners and surpassed 150 million streams.
The lyrics, which blend the loneliness of parting with the hope of reunion, resonate with people at life’s turning points, such as graduation or changing jobs.
In November 2024, a concert band arrangement was featured in Calorie Mate’s exam-season support commercial, and a collaborative production with the Blossoming Tokuei High School Wind Ensemble also drew attention.
Its simple “don-don-pa” rhythm makes it easy to sing and popular at school events.
It’s a perfect song for those facing farewells with someone important, as well as middle and high school students about to graduate.
Cinderella BoySaucy Dog
Written from a female perspective, this song is a heartfelt love ballad that portrays unrequited feelings and the turmoil of betrayal.
Paralleling the story of Cinderella, it poignantly captures the moment when, like magic fading after midnight, she notices her lover’s true self beneath the idealized image.
Self-deception in turning a blind eye to betrayal, and the complex emotions of anger and dependence, are conveyed over a wistful melody.
Included on the mini-album “Lazy Sunday,” the track was released digitally in August 2021.
It debuted on Music Station in 2022 and ranked second in the annual karaoke charts.
It’s a must-listen for anyone struggling with one-sided love or feeling hurt by a complicated relationship.
Starting Oversumika
A youth-anthem packed with the courage to take a step toward the future and the passion to chase dreams with your friends.
Released in June 2023, this track was written as the opening theme for the TV anime MIX MEISEI STORY: The Second Summer, Headed for the Far Side of the Sky.
While carrying anxieties and impatience about a new environment, it powerfully sings of the resolve to keep moving forward without abandoning what you love.
It’s okay to cry, to have regrets, and not to rush.
The positive message—to start walking in the direction the wind blows, following the quickening of your heart—will gently encourage anyone beginning a new chapter in life or continuing to pursue their dreams.
Express Ticket and RhythmConton Candy
Written as the theme song for the film “Zenbu of Tokyo,” released in October 2024, this track marks a major milestone for Conton Candy as their first movie theme song.
Its exhilarating guitar sound and lyrics depicting the struggles of youth set against the city of Tokyo leave a strong impression.
Loveless words and unpleasant memories of the past are all reset by a loved one’s smile—imbued with the purity and strength that come with youth.
Vocalist Tsumugi has said the song was created with the message “I want you to be yourself,” conveying a wish for listeners not to forget their own colors even amid a chaotic city.
It’s a masterpiece we highly recommend to anyone who can relate to the conflicts of adolescence and the hope for the future.
Blue JeansHANA
The girls’ group HANA, produced by Chanmina, released their second single in July 2025.
In contrast to the powerful vibe of their previous track “ROSE,” this time they deliver a mid-tempo ballad that poignantly expresses the ache of young love.
They want to stay natural and effortless—like a pair of well-worn old sneakers—yet their anxiety swells in front of the one they like.
The lyrics, which vividly capture those late-night emotional swings, truly strike a chord.
Don’t miss the visual rollout in collaboration with DIESEL, as well as the music video that pairs heartache with raw emotion.
When you’re unsure about your feelings of love, or lying awake at night with thoughts of someone special, this song will gently stay by your side.
life hackVaundy
A love song by Vaundy that portrays the wavering of the heart where anxiety and expectation in romance intersect.
It depicts how the narrator rides an emotional rollercoaster with every change in the other person’s attitude, unable to suppress the surge of unstoppable feelings.
The psychological portrayal of oscillating between the desire to create and the urge to protect captures a genuine conflict that anyone in love can relate to.
Released digitally in March 2020, the track was later included on the May 2020 album “strobo.” In 2022, it was selected as the TV commercial song for the apparel brand GLOBAL WORK, delivering a refreshing world in a CM featuring Tsubasa Honda.
It’s a song to listen to when you’re puzzled by the push and pull of romance, or on nights when your heart races thinking about someone you love.