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[2026] Best Western Songs for Middle School Students to Learn and Study English

If English class alone doesn’t quite satisfy you, but cracking open a workbook feels a bit heavy… then English study using Western pop music is exactly what we want junior high school students to try! When it’s music you like, it naturally sticks in your ears, which not only strengthens your listening skills but also trains your reading as you follow along with the lyrics.

In this article, we’ve rounded up a wide range of songs—mostly the latest hits—that junior high students can enjoy while improving their English.

From tracks with comfortable tempos that are easy to listen to, to songs with simple lyrics that are easy to understand, every pick is perfect as a study companion.

Find your favorite track and enjoy learning English through music!

[2026] Recommended Western Songs for Junior High School Students Learning and Studying English (31–40)

PILLOWTALKZAYN

ZAYN – PILLOWTALK (Official Video)
PILLOWTALKZAYN

“PILLOWTALK” is a track defined by profound lyrics and a hard-hitting groove that showcases Zayn’s unique, sensual appeal.

It’s a song that can prompt even middle schoolers to reflect on their own emotions.

While it rides the wave of a revival sound, it also feels fresh, with an easy-to-listen-to melody that makes it recommendable across generations.

Drawing inspiration from the past while looking toward the future, its sound captivates listeners.

Be sure to experience the depth and breadth of Western pop music through this song.

SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire – September (Official HD Video)
SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire

It’s a bit from the older generation, but it’s still a dance number heard in many settings today.

The chorus features a phrase everyone has heard, making it familiar across generations.

Since most of the lyrics are simple words to pronounce, it’s easy to use as a learning material, and with a bit of practice, even junior high school students who have just started learning English can sing it right away.

Live While We’re YoungOne Direction

One Direction – Live While We’re Young
Live While We're YoungOne Direction

One Direction, the boy band that achieved top-tier success in the 2010s.

The feats they pulled off in the few years before going on hiatus in 2016 can’t be summed up in a short sentence.

Of course, they’re hugely well-known in Japan as well, and the song we’re featuring this time, “Live While We’re Young,” was a massive hit released in 2012.

It was even used as the theme song for the TV show Mezamashi Doyoubi, so many of you have probably heard it.

It’s a pop song bursting with youthful energy—quintessentially them at their peak—and its lyrics about enjoying your youth will likely resonate directly with junior high students in the midst of adolescence.

It’s My LifeBon Jovi

Bon Jovi – It’s My Life (Official Music Video)
It's My LifeBon Jovi

What does Western rock music mean to middle schoolers? It might be a bit old-fashioned and outdated.

Still, it’s true that there’s always a certain number of students who absolutely love it.

And since they tend to prefer classic, straight-ahead rock, Bon Jovi is always popular.

Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way (Official Music Video)
Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz

I feel like this is the kind of vibe summer used to have back in the day.

If you prioritize the hot, high-energy feel of rock over typical summer-themed words, this track really fits, doesn’t it? It was even used in a beer commercial in Japan, so I’m sure most of you have heard it at least once.