Hi-STANDARD’s Signature Songs and Hidden Gems Guide [2026]

Stay GoldHi-STANDARD

Hi-STANDARD – Stay Gold [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

One of the songs most people cite as Hi-Standard’s signature track is “Stay Gold.” It’s a huge highlight at Hi-Standard’s own shows, of course, and it also gets played frequently during the members’ solo projects—Ken Yokoyama’s Ken Band and Akihiro Namba’s NAMBA69—where it becomes one of the biggest crowd-pleasers every time.

The phrase “stay gold” has become the rallying cry for all Hi-Standard kids.

All GenerationsHi-STANDARD

Hi-STANDARD -All Generations(OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Among their songs, let me introduce a track that powerfully proclaims their comeback.

This number opens the album “THE GIFT,” released in October 2017 after an 18-year hiatus.

True to its title, it delivers a compelling message that resonates across generations, paired with an exhilarating, heart-stirring drive.

The irresistibly sing-along chorus will have you pumping your fist in the air, as if embodying the unity of a live show.

When you’re facing a challenge or taking a new step forward, listening to it is sure to give you a push.

The Sound Of Secret MindsHi-STANDARD

Hi-STANDARD – The Sound Of Secret Mind [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

I personally think the songs on Angry Fist have especially strong melodies.

The one that really brings me to tears is The Sound Of Secret Minds.

These days, it’s not unusual to pair tear-jerking melodies with a fast beat, but back then it was the dawn of melodic hardcore.

Even overseas, let alone in Japan, it was rare to play a minor-key, emotional melody over a punk beat, and this track shocked listeners.

Angry Fist was also released on Fat Wreck, the independent label run by NoFX, an American melodic hardcore band connected with Hi-Standard, and it drew a huge response.

As a result, by the time Hi-Standard was only just starting to become known in Japan, they had already reached the unbelievable milestone of breaking into the US and Europe.

Can’t Help Falling in LoveHi-STANDARD

HI-STANDARD – Can’t Help Falling In Love

Among Hi-STANDARD’s cover songs, one of the most popular is “Can’t Falling in Love.” It was included on the EP “Love is A Battlefield,” released just before they went on hiatus in 2000, and the original is by the legendary rock star Elvis Presley.

The original is a slow, tender ballad, but Hi-STANDARD turned it into a fast-paced track, bringing out a different kind of appeal.

Rock (punk) covers of famous songs aren’t unusual now, but you could say that this trend was sparked by Hi-STANDARD.

Stop The TimeHi-STANDARD

Hi-STANDARD – STOP THE TIME

I think Hi-Standard’s name really started to become widely known after the release of their 3rd album, Angry Fist.

Back then, Hi-Standard mainly toured live houses, but they gradually built up popularity in the underground scene, and when Angry Fist reached No.

4 on the Oricon charts, it put their name on the map.

Riding that momentum, they launched their self-produced rock festival, Air Jam, for the first time.

One of the standout tracks from this breakthrough album, Angry Fist, is Stop The Time.

Its guitar riff was copied by countless young guitarists and helped popularize the idea of “poppy guitar riffs” in the later J-Punk scene.

Brand New SunsetHi-STANDARD

Hi-STANDARD – BRAND NEW SUNSET

On the credits for Making The Road, the final track is listed as Brand New Sunset.

It starts with Ken Yokoyama’s guitar arpeggios and gradually builds, and it’s a song brimming with refreshing, positive energy.

Hi-Standard went on hiatus after their self-hosted festival Air Jam 2000 in the year 2000, but they resumed activities following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

They may now be heading toward a “brand new sunset,” just like this song.

Dear My FriendHi-STANDARD

Hi-Standard – Dear My Friends

Hi-Standard’s fourth album, released in 1999, was a work that shocked Japan’s music scene.

At the time, they were on an indie label they ran themselves, and despite having no tie-ins or promotion, the album reached a million sales.

While phenomena like this occasionally happen in the internet era, it was highly unusual back then.

It became a legendary album that gave the subsequent J-Rock scene the confidence that “if the music is good, the fans will follow.” “Dear My Friend,” included on Making the Road, is also a song that remains deeply popular with fans.

As the title suggests, it’s a song dedicated to their friends—and in a sense, to their fans as well.