[School Festival] High schoolers hype up a live show! A collection of recommended Japanese band songs

FREEDOM FIGHTERSSCANDAL

SCANDAL 『FREEDOM FIGHTERS』(STUDIO LIVE ver.)

An energetic rock tune that inspires young people chasing their dreams! Delivering a powerful sound along with a fierce resolve to carve out one’s own destiny, this uplifting anthem by the rock band SCANDAL is included on their album “SCANDAL,” released in February 2017.

It carries a message filled with strong determination when facing the many barriers before you, and hope for the future.

The aggressive guitar riffs and rhythmic drums create a sound that will be a reliable ally in any situation where you want to fire yourself up—whether it’s a performance at a school festival or right before a sports match.

Small RevolutionSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Small Revolution” Music Video

It’s the courage to unleash what’s in your heart that fuels those first small steps in life.

This fiery rock number carries that message.

It’s an anthem that gives a powerful push to anyone who secretly longs to “change” or “move forward” but can’t quite find the courage.

Included on the album Music and used as an insert song for the TV Asahi drama Mars: Zero no Kakumei, the track was also selected for a mass-sing-along segment on TBS’s music special Ongaku no Hi 2024.

Why not perform it with your friends at a club or society showcase, or on your school festival stage?

Sora-buneTOKIO

Sora-fune (Sky Ship) – TOKIO (Full)

TOKIO elevates a song written and composed by Miyuki Nakajima—imbued with a powerful message—into their own distinctive rock sound.

This gem of a track portrays a strong will and courage to chart one’s own course in life without handing the helm to others.

Released in August 2006 as their 35th single, it was used as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “My Boss My Hero.” It topped the Oricon singles chart and won the Lyrics Award at the 48th Japan Record Awards.

Widely embraced across generations, the song’s structure also makes it easy to perform on school festival stages.

With its dramatic progression and catchy melody line, it’s a piece that lets you fully savor the thrill of live performance.

SHAMEROCKUVERworld

UVERworld　『SHAMROCK』

A moving piece that, along with its bright melody, carefully portrays the bittersweet feelings of those chasing their dreams.

Rather than lamenting what was lost as the price paid, it sings of the importance of facing forward and keeping on running.

Released in August 2006 as UVERworld’s fifth single, it was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Dandori.

~Dance☆Drill~.” A track that resonates with anyone striving toward a goal or who has experienced parting with someone dear.

Perform it on a school festival stage, and the entire venue is sure to come together in excitement.

summer festivalWhiteberry

NatsuMatsuri

A coming-of-age love song that portrays a summer festival night spent with a sweetheart in a yukata.

Interwoven with nostalgic scenes like goldfish scooping and sparklers, it captures, in a true-to-life way, the frustration of being unable to confess one’s feelings, the pangs of regret, and the fleeting nature of young love.

Released as a single in August 2000, it became a major hit, peaking at No.

3 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Its sweet-and-sour lyrics and sound make it perfect for school cultural festivals where students are in the thick of youth.

flash[Alexandros]

[Alexandros] – Flash (MV) Theme Song of Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash

With its exhilarating guitar riffs, this powerful song is imbued with a strong will to face the future.

Created as the theme song for the film Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway, [Alexandros] released this work in May 2021.

The protagonist’s journey of overcoming past fears to become a new self resonates perfectly with the band’s fresh start as they officially welcomed Ibu Riad as a member.

The grand music video shot in a factory drew significant attention, and by May 2023 the song surpassed 100 million streams.

It has become a work loved by a wide audience beyond Gundam fans.

If performed on a school festival stage, it would likely envelop the entire venue in an overwhelming sense of unity.

Heroineback number

back number – Heroine (full)

A heartrending love song that gently embraces a fleeting winter crush.

The whiteness of the snow and the warmth of the heart are strikingly portrayed, and the protagonist’s inability to put their feelings into words is beautifully expressed through a delicate melody.

Released in January 2015 by back number, it gained attention as the JR East “JR SKISKI” campaign song, also featured in a commercial starring Suzu Hirose.

It’s a perfect choice for bands looking for a calm, mellow piece.