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

Guess featuring billie eilishCharli XCX

Charli xcx – Guess featuring billie eilish (official video)

A collaboration between UK artist Charli XCX and American artist Billie Eilish, this track is defined by provocative lyrics and an innovative sound.

Fusing French house with hyperpop, the song uses a game of guessing underwear colors as its theme to probe the boundary between sexuality and privacy.

Released in August 2024, it appears on the deluxe edition of Charli’s album Brat.

The project also contributes socially: the underwear used in the music video was donated to charity.

It’s a must-listen for those who enjoy bold expression and want to experience the cutting edge of contemporary pop.

MessyLola Young

Lola Young – Messy (Official Video)

Hailing from South London, Laura Young is a standout songstress with a multicultural background who has been nurturing her musical talents since childhood.

Taken from her second album, “This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway,” released in May 2024, this track exploded in popularity on TikTok and achieved the remarkable feat of debuting at No.

1 on the UK Singles Chart.

Beneath its catchy, pop-soul melody, the song vividly portrays the tension between self-expression and the weight of others’ expectations.

Drawing on her own experience with ADHD, the lyrics capture the emotional swing between a ‘too-perfect self’ and a ‘messy self,’ resonating with many listeners.

She’s also expanding her reach, including an appearance on The Tonight Show in January 2025.

It’s a song for anyone searching for their true self—a track that perfectly reflects the spirit of our times.

JumpVan Halen

Van Halen – Jump (Official Music Video) [HD]

The moment that fully ’80s intro keyboard phrase hits your ears, you can’t help but feel like jumping around—just like the title says! This huge hit was released as the lead single from Van Halen’s masterpiece album “1984,” fronted by guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who sadly passed away in October 2020.

It reached No.

1 on the U.S.

Billboard chart.

Its catchy style—boldly incorporating shimmering keyboards into a hard guitar sound—is quintessentially ’80s and has had a major influence on Japanese popular music as well.

With the powerful vocals of David Lee Roth, the singer who helped shape the image of early Van Halen as a born entertainer, just listening to it is enough to lift your spirits.

The song is often used in various contexts, and it was featured again in 2019 in a TV commercial for Suntory All-Free, so some people may have discovered it there for the first time.

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KOH-1

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I Want It That WayBackstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way (Official HD Video)

It’s the lead single from the Backstreet Boys’ third album, Millennium, released on April 28, 1999, and it’s an essential song when talking about the group.

Its beautiful melody and the five members’ harmonies make it not only one of their signature tracks, but also a beloved pop song that represents the 1990s.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Pink Pony ClubChappell Roan

Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club (Official Music Video)

This soul-stirring dance-pop number portrays a character seeking freedom from a conservative environment and embarking on a journey to embrace their true self.

Released in April 2020 by American singer-songwriter Chappell Roan, the song initially didn’t draw much attention, but it was reevaluated as a sleeper hit in 2024 and climbed into the Billboard Top 10.

Inspired by a visit to a gay bar in West Hollywood, the track carries a message of self-discovery and liberation, rooted in her own experience of moving from her hometown in Missouri to a big city.

It debuted at No.

90 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2024 and went on to peak at No.

9, showing remarkable staying power.

Celebrating diversity as a queer party anthem, it’s a highly recommended track for anyone searching for a place where they belong.

Uptown GirlBilly Joel

Billy Joel – Uptown Girl (Official Video)

You’ve probably heard it in a beverage company’s TV commercial—the one with the actress in a white dress out on the grasslands! It’s a song that feels like it contains all of Billy Joel’s songwriting craft, one that even music aficionados can’t resist.

SorryJustin Bieber

Justin Bieber – Sorry (PURPOSE : The Movement)

Justin Bieber, a singer well-known in Japan through commercials and more, has his songs played often here.

Among his tracks, the most globally famous is “Sorry,” which has been viewed over 3 billion times on YouTube.

It’s said that the lyrics were written for his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, and the repeated apologies of “I’m sorry” leave a strong impression.

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Saitō Ayumu

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