[2026] Western music you've heard at least once — from trending new tracks to timeless classics

Beggin’Måneskin

Måneskin – Beggin’ (Lyrics/Testo)

Måneskin, the young rock band from Italy who are set to perform at Summer Sonic in August 2022, are poised to draw even more attention.

With their glamorous, fearless look and a natural star quality rare among recent young bands, they’re already a hot topic among rock fans in Japan, especially online.

Did you know that Beggin’, their cover of the song by the Four Seasons— the group that achieved worldwide success in the 1960s—featured on their 2017 debut EP Chosen, has become hugely popular on TikTok? Compared to the original version, which blends refined strings and a romantic feel with a groovy rhythm, Måneskin deliver a straightforward cover as a simple rock band.

Perhaps that simplicity suits TikTok videos, as the track has reportedly been used over 10 million times.

It seems many listeners are enjoying it without realizing it’s a Four Seasons cover or that it’s performed by Måneskin.

If you’ve been curious, take this opportunity to check out both Måneskin’s version and the original!

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How Do You Sleep?Sam Smith

Sam Smith – How Do You Sleep? (Official Music Video)

It’s “How Do You Sleep?” by British singer-songwriter Sam Smith, released in 2019.

It expresses the sadness of thinking about a lover whose heart has grown distant.

It’s a poignant ballad that showcases the voice of this Grammy-winning artist, often described as angelic.

The video also features Sam’s first-ever dance performance.

greedyTate McRae

Tate McRae – greedy (Official Video)

The song released in September 2023 by Canadian artist Tate McRae features confident lyrics and a catchy melody.

It skillfully portrays complex emotions about love and expresses a strong sense of self-worth with the phrase “I would want myself.” Showcasing the full appeal of Tate, who is also active as a dancer, the track generated major buzz on TikTok.

The piece was co-created with Ryan Tedder, the lead singer of OneRepublic.

Set to an up-tempo beat, it conveys the strength to stay true to oneself.

It’s a perfect pick for a drive or whenever you want to boost your mood.

Heat WavesGlass Animals

Glass Animals – Heat Waves (Official Video)

The so-called “viral hit”—a song that isn’t brand-new yet suddenly gains attention online and becomes a hit—is a phenomenon unique to today’s music scene.

Because of that, there are likely many cases where people have heard a track but don’t actually know which artist or band it’s by.

The song featured here, Heat Waves, is included on Dreamland, the album released in 2020 by Glass Animals, a band formed in Oxford, UK, in 2013.

It’s truly a viral hit, having remained on streaming charts not only in the UK but around the world for over a year.

The band’s overall sound is indie pop/rock with distinctly British psychedelic elements—so in Japan especially, they might be a group only known to music fans who closely follow UK rock.

It’s fascinating and fun that a band of that type ended up making their name known worldwide in such an unexpected way.

Of course, this achievement is grounded in how good the song is, and if you’ve only encountered it casually on social media, I encourage you to look into its background, check out the album, and dive deeper into the appeal of the band Glass Animals!

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Left And Right (feat. Jung Kook of BTS)Charlie Puth

Charlie Puth – Left And Right (feat. Jung Kook of BTS) [Official Video]

A love song by Charlie Puth, who shot to fame with the massive hit See You Again, the theme song of the classic car-action film Furious 7.

With BTS’s Jung Kook participating, the song is also extremely popular in Japan.

The lyrics, themed around lovesickness, portray memories of a loved one flickering back and forth, expressed by panning the vocals between the left and right speakers.

Be sure to listen with earphones and check it out!

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Take My BreathThe Weeknd

The Weeknd – Take My Breath (Official Music Video)

While his fifth studio album, Dawn FM—released in January 2022—continues to be a massive hit, The Weeknd has once again presented a sound at the forefront of mainstream trends, namely ’80s-style synth-pop.

Once known as a standard-bearer of alternative R&B, he is now one of the most important artists in popular music.

His track Take My Breath, released ahead of the album in August 2021 as its lead single, features a simple disco beat, sparkling synths, and a melody full of wistful, hook-laden lines that particularly appeal to Japanese listeners.

It’s an undeniable killer tune, and its sound—akin to his previous smash-hit album After Hours—felt like The Weeknd’s declaration that Dawn FM would serve as a second chapter to After Hours.

The song was also used by NBC in the United States for its commercials for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and is available on YouTube, so those who love the Olympics and check out commercials from various countries may have noticed it.

Lyrically, it’s a passionate and sensual love song that is quintessentially him.

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I Will SurviveGloria Gaynor

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor (1978)

It’s a song by Gloria Gaynor, a leading figure in disco who was hailed as a disco queen by DJs of the time, released in 1978.

In Japan, the following year, 1979, singer Akira Fuse created his own Japanese lyrics and released a cover version, which became a hit.