Recommended cheer-up songs for high school students: tracks that will motivate you to do your best on entrance exams and club activities when you listen to them.
Between club activities, daily classes, and studying for entrance exams, high school students have more than ever to work hard on, don’t they? Sometimes you might hit a wall and feel troubled.
In times like that, I recommend listening to your favorite motivational songs to lift your spirits! Upbeat tracks or lyrics filled with encouragement can give you the strength to try again.
In this article, we’ll introduce motivational songs recommended for high school students.
There are plenty of perfect songs to cheer you on for clubs and exams, so be sure to find the one that’s just right for you.
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Recommended cheer songs for high school students: tracks that will motivate you for exams and club activities (21–30)
Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//
A heartwarming medium-tempo rock number selected as the theme song for the drama “The Winner in February: A Classroom for Guaranteed Success.” Known for their hit song “Neko,” the band DISH// released this track as their 14th single in November 2021.
It also drew attention for being co-written by vocalist Takumi Kitamura and Hattori from Macaroni Enpitsu.
Set to a march-like rhythm that propels you forward, the lyrics express gratitude to family and the preciousness of having a place to return to.
As you fight through each day, you may sometimes feel frustrated with your own inability to be honest.
Listening to this song at such times can help you realize the importance of those who stay by your side and give you the courage to take another step forward.
What We Got ~A Miracle Is You~King&Prince
When you’re running straight toward your dreams, do you ever suddenly feel lonely or like you’re about to lose confidence? For moments like that, King & Prince’s “What We Got ~Kiseki wa Kimi to~” will give you courage.
Their uniquely clear vocals and warm sound remind you how important it is to pursue your dreams in your own way.
Listening to this song will wrap you in a sense of reassurance, as if a close friend were right beside you, cheering you on.
ichibanKing&Prince
If you’re a high school student gearing up to hit the desk with determination, you’ve got to listen to this number by King & Prince.
Written and composed by KREVA, the track made waves for blending heavy hip-hop with traditional Japanese flavors.
The lyrics, which declare a resolve to charge straight toward the top, are sure to ignite a fighting spirit—“I can’t afford to lose either!” It’s the lead track from the album Made in, released in June 2022, and it drew major attention when it was performed on that year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
NonfictionsDa-iCE
This is a song by Da-iCE that I want high school students who are feeling tired from studying for exams to listen to.
Chosen as the theme song for 2025’s Nettou Koshien, its driving sound and emotional melody are sure to boost your concentration while you study.
The lyrics also carry a passionate message: “Everyone is the protagonist of the drama that is their own life.” I think it’s the perfect cheer song for those who want to give their all to both club activities and studying.
determinationSUPER BEAVER
When you want to boost your focus at a crucial moment, I recommend this work by SUPER BEAVER.
It carries a message that doesn’t deny who you are now, and instead reframes your incompleteness as “room to grow.” It gives you the courage to accept that “my real journey is still ahead.” Written specifically as the theme song for Morinaga’s in Jelly commercial in November 2023, it’s included on the album Ongaku, released in February 2024.
It’s perfect for those times when you want to quietly ignite your fighting spirit, like right before an exam.
ChessboardOfisharu Higedan Dism
This is a grand number by Official HIGE DANDism that gives you the courage to take your own step, even as you lose your way, on the vast board we call life.
Its worldview, likened to a checkerboard of black and white squares, is sure to resonate deeply with high school students living through days without rules or right answers.
Included on a single released in September 2023, the song was created as the set piece for the Middle School Division of the 90th NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.
It was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta and has been loved across generations.
Give it a listen when you feel crushed by wins and losses in club activities or the overwhelming pressure of entrance exams.
It will affirm the path you’ve taken so far and give you the strength to choose your next move.
IBUMP OF CHICKEN
When you need the courage to choose your future, how about the powerful sound of BUMP OF CHICKEN? This track was selected as the ending theme for the TV anime My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON.
Released for streaming in October 2025, the song was created with deep respect for the story’s world, as all the band members are fans of the original work.
As the title—meaning “myself”—suggests, the lyrics portray a mix of hope and impatience, while the exhilarating rock sound is sure to resonate with teens in the midst of their youth.
Give it a listen especially when you want to fire yourself up.