A wonderful classic

[2026] A roundup of dark Western songs I'd like middle schoolers to listen to

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

When we’re weighed down by melancholy, it’s the power of music that gently wraps around our hearts.

Sometimes we feel deep empathy by laying bare the darkness inside; other times we find encouragement amid despair—here are some classic Western songs that do just that.

Focused mainly on Gen Z artists, we’ve selected tracks that can stand beside the many kinds of emotional pain today’s middle schoolers (as of 2025) may face—heartbreak, friendship troubles, anxieties about the future, and more.

Listening while understanding the lyrics will make them resonate even more deeply.

Just be careful not to get swallowed by darkness that’s too deep—and by all means, try listening as you read the lyrics.

[2026] A Compilation of Dark Western Songs for Junior High Students to Listen To (21–30)

Until The World Goes ColdTrivium

Trivium – Until The World Goes Cold [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Until The World Goes ColdTrivium

Since the vocalist is half Japanese, you can find photos on Instagram of them holding chopsticks while eating.

Their powerful performance and the vocalist’s motivating voice are striking, but if you watch the music video, you’ll see the word “loneliness,” and overall this song brings the band’s darker side to the forefront.

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Would?Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains – Would? (Official HD Video)

Would?Alice In Chains

When people think of grunge, Nirvana is usually the first band that comes to mind, but I think Alice In Chains kept putting out incredibly dark and cool tracks as well.

I wonder why their vocalist didn’t become a legend…

Their music feels fitting when you’re in a dark, painful, and troubled state.

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Shout Out to My ExLittle Mix

Little Mix – Shout Out to My Ex (Official Video)

Shout Out to My ExLittle Mix

I chose it because it’s a song that blows away depression.

Watching them sing with all their might and perform with raw emotion makes me feel ashamed of my gloomy self, and I naturally start to feel energized.

Or, it’s so dazzling that it makes me even more depressed—one or the other.

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Stay ft. Mikky EkkoRihanna

Rihanna – Stay ft. Mikky Ekko

Stay ft. Mikky EkkoRihanna

It’s a love song, but since it seems to be from around the time Rihanna herself experienced domestic violence, I can’t help feeling a dangerous sense of codependency in it.

If you listen to it in middle school and then revisit it in high school or college, comparing it with your own relationships and those of your friends, I think you can understand the song better.

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B.Y.O.B.System Of A Down

System Of A Down – B.Y.O.B. (Official HD Video)

B.Y.O.B.System Of A Down

I think if you can sublimate your darkness to this extent, it would feel really refreshing.

The repeated, breathless screams and the brisk tempo make this song addictive.

The lyrics, which sharply satirize the politics of the time, also left a strong impression on me, but personally I like the cool tempo in the chorus.

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