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

Teenager ForeverKing Gnu

King Gnu – Teenager Forever

A four-piece mixture band, King Gnu captivates with high-level musicianship and unconventional song structures.

As the title suggests, it’s a number you’ll especially want to perform at a high school culture festival.

With two vocalists of distinct character and sudden shifts in arrangement and sonic intensity, the complex structure might feel hard to cover.

But precisely because of that, there’s less chance your song will overlap with other bands’ picks—and if you polish your performance, you’re sure to become heroes on the culture festival stage.

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Hoshino Takashi

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To tell you the truth,yangusukinii

Young Skinny – Actually, You Know, [Official Music Video]

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Young Skinny’s “Hontou wa ne,” released in 2022, is a track also included on the album “I Thought Anything Would Be Forgiven If I Turned It Into a Song.” The gentle atmosphere—like letting out hidden feelings and one’s own vulnerabilities—comes through in the sound as well.

With a calm tempo and a structure that layers each phrase, the piece is perfect for practicing the finer techniques that articulate those phrases.

It may be important to play each note with certainty, yet with a sense of lightness, aligning your breathing with one another as you perform.

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kappamaki

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I am the strongest.Ado

[Ado] I’m the Strongest (Uta from ONE PIECE FILM RED)

Released in June 2022 as an in-film song for ONE PIECE FILM RED, this track drew major attention for being composed by Motoki Omori of Mrs.

GREEN APPLE.

It peaked at No.

2 on Billboard JAPAN’s Hot 100 and has surpassed 70 million streams, showcasing overwhelming popularity.

Ado’s powerful vocals layered over a strong, rock-driven sound, paired with confident lyrics, are sure to fire up the crowd.

With energetic guitar riffs and standout drums, it’s a great piece to show off a band’s performance chops.

If the audience has seen the film, they might even sing along.

an unrelated personKaneyori Masaru

Kaneyori Masaru “A Person Who Has Nothing to Do (with Me/Us)” MV

This song portrays the complex emotions that follow a breakup.

It was released digitally in April 2022.

The sweet, cute vocals and down-to-earth band sound leave a strong impression.

It begins with the feeling of wanting to shut everything out so much that you lose your appetite, then goes on to sing about memories of an ex and inner turmoil.

It’s a piece that offers comfort to anyone who’s been through heartbreak.

If performed on a school festival stage, it would likely resonate widely.

CHAINSAW BLOODVaundy

CHAINSAW BLOOD / Vaundy：MUSIC VIDEO

Released in October 2022 and featured as the ending theme of episode 1 of the anime Chainsaw Man, this track is a rock tune distinguished by its heavy rhythm section and dark guitar sound.

Its lyrics, brimming with violence and impulsiveness, radiate a unique allure and have earned it high praise as a musical reinterpretation of the original work’s world.

While the performance itself has a simple structure, the key lies in the arrangement that emphasizes the weight of the drums and bass, along with the memorable guitar riff—so make sure each part is thoroughly rehearsed.

As a tie-in with a popular anime, it’s highly recognized among younger audiences and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at live shows!

Blue SpringSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Aoi Haru” Music Video (Full)

It is a heartwarming song that celebrates the radiance of youth and the bonds between people.

Released as a single in March 2016, it became well-loved as the web commercial song for Taisho Pharmaceutical’s Lipovitan D.

It powerfully expresses the resolve to live with faith in the future and how memories with loved ones give life its meaning.

The track is included on the album “27,” created when the members were 27 years old, and proudly reached No.

16 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

SUPER BEAVER’s earnest vocals and band sound deliver moving emotions that resonate in the heart.

It’s recommended for times when you want to sing together and get energized with friends, such as for class performances or school festivals.

This is a song that accompanies those who wish to share their feelings with someone special, as well as those who feel nostalgic for their youth.

HE IS MINEkuriipuhaipe

CreepHyp 'HE IS MINE'

A bittersweet song that uses count-song-like lyrics and a striking melody to depict the progression and shifts of a romance.

It vividly portrays the protagonist’s wish to deepen their bond through physical intimacy and the emotional sway caused by a gap in feelings with their partner.

Released in September 2010 and included on the album “From the Landing, With Love,” this track distills the allure of CreepHyp’s indie era, combining a medium-tempo sense of drive with Sekai Kan Ozaki’s lustrous vocals that resonate deeply.

Known as a live favorite that fosters a strong sense of unity with the audience, performing this song at a school or cultural festival is sure to draw plenty of attention.