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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!

Playlist

[2026] Best Western Songs for Middle School Students to Learn and Study English
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastGood Luck, Babe!Chappell Roan
Good Luck, Babe!Chappell Roanplay_arrow
A song depicting a secret romance in a chapel lawn
2eastback to friendssombr
back to friendssombrplay_arrow
A somber breakup song, wishing we could go back to being friends
3eastBIRDS OF A FEATHERBillie Eilish
BIRDS OF A FEATHERBillie Eilishplay_arrow
A buzzworthy love song themed around eternal love
4eastgreedyTate McRae
greedyTate McRaeplay_arrow
Tate McRae confidence songs suitable for learning English
5eastOrdinaryAlex Warren
OrdinaryAlex Warrenplay_arrow
Alex’s Love Song to His Wife
6eastBeautiful ThingsBenson Boone
Beautiful ThingsBenson Booneplay_arrow
A ballad from Benson Boone’s signature songs that portrays gratitude and loss
7eastMystical MagicalBenson Boone
Mystical MagicalBenson Booneplay_arrow
Benson Boone’s new song is making waves
8eastChangesCharlie Puth
ChangesCharlie Puthplay_arrow
A pop song with the theme of change
9eastFeatherSabrina Carpenter
FeatherSabrina Carpenterplay_arrow
Expressing the lightness with which Sabrina is liberated from the breakup
10eastThat’s So TrueGracie Abrams
That’s So TrueGracie Abramsplay_arrow
English learning songs for self-growth from heartbreak
11eastdrivers licenseOlivia Rodrigo
drivers licenseOlivia Rodrigoplay_arrow
The debut single set a global hit record
12eastSTAYThe Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber
STAYThe Kid LAROI, Justin Bieberplay_arrow
The Kid LAROI and Bieber's smash hit
13eastShape of YouEd Sheeran
Shape of YouEd Sheeranplay_arrow
Introduce Ed Sheeran's smash hit song
14eastAs It WasHarry Styles
As It WasHarry Stylesplay_arrow
Harry Styles' global hit song
15eastSomeone You LovedLewis Capaldi
Someone You LovedLewis Capaldiplay_arrow
Lewis Capaldi’s smash-hit heartbreak ballad
16eastLet It BeThe Beatles
Let It BeThe Beatlesplay_arrow
A world-famous rock that surely everyone knows...
17eastThe Real MeThe Who
The Real MeThe Whoplay_arrow
It’s a classic song by a legendary British rock band...
18eastOne TimeJustin Bieber
One TimeJustin Bieberplay_arrow
Justin Bieber's early hit songs
19eastSorryJustin Bieber
SorryJustin Bieberplay_arrow
Beaver’s song is a message to young people
20eastWhat Am IWhy Don’t We
What Am IWhy Don't Weplay_arrow
An inspiring introduction to Ed Sheeran’s moving songs
21eastthank u, nextAriana Grande
thank u, nextAriana Grandeplay_arrow
Ariana Grande’s breakup song
22eastChained To The RhythmKaty Perry
Chained To The RhythmKaty Perryplay_arrow
They are a Western music artist who represents the United States.
23eastHave a nice dayBon Jovi
Have a nice dayBon Joviplay_arrow
Bon Jovi is easy to listen to and popular even among middle schoolers.
24eastWe Are Never Ever Getting Back TogetherTaylor Swift
We Are Never Ever Getting Back TogetherTaylor Swiftplay_arrow
Taylor's masterpiece—an iconic song everyone can enjoy!
25eastWe Are Never Getting Back TogetherTaylor Swift
We Are Never Getting Back TogetherTaylor Swiftplay_arrow
Learning English with Taylor's breakup songs
26eastBoatEd Sheeran
BoatEd Sheeranplay_arrow
Ed Sheeran’s heartbreak song “Boat”
27eastLove YourselfJustin Bieber
Love YourselfJustin Bieberplay_arrow
Introduction to Justin Bieber’s popular songs
28eastWhateverOasis
WhateverOasisplay_arrow
Gritty, hard-hitting guitar rock that grabs your heart
29eastViva Las VengeancePanic! At The Disco
Viva Las VengeancePanic! At The Discoplay_arrow
Panic! At The Disco's classic song
30eastUntil I Found YouStephen Sanchez
Until I Found YouStephen Sanchezplay_arrow
Songs with simple lyrics that are perfect for learning English
31eastwhat would you do?Tate McRae
what would you do?Tate McRaeplay_arrow
Learning English with Tate McRae’s songs
32eastFoxey LadyThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
Foxey LadyThe Jimi Hendrix Experienceplay_arrow
Retro charm, funky classic
33eastJumpin’ Jack FlashThe Rolling Stones
Jumpin' Jack FlashThe Rolling Stonesplay_arrow
I was captivated by the Rolling Stones’ powerful sound.
34eastPaint It, BlackThe Rolling Stones
Paint It, BlackThe Rolling Stonesplay_arrow
A masterpiece that fuses the sitar with Western music
35eastFavorite SongToosii
Favorite SongToosiiplay_arrow
Toosii’s “Favorite Song” is popular.
36eastPILLOWTALKZAYN
PILLOWTALKZAYNplay_arrow
Zayn’s captivating music, a moving track
37eastSeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fireplay_arrow
A dance song loved across generations
38eastLive While We’re YoungOne Direction
Live While We're YoungOne Directionplay_arrow
Introducing One Direction’s 2012 smash hits
39eastIt’s My LifeBon Jovi
It's My LifeBon Joviplay_arrow
For junior high school, what kind of presence is Western rock music…
40eastAre You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz
Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitzplay_arrow
Back in the day, this was pretty much the typical summer vibe...
41eastReal WorldAll American Rejects
Real WorldAll American Rejectsplay_arrow
A six-member rock band that enjoys immense popularity in the United States...
42eastThe World Is YoursArch Enemy
The World Is YoursArch Enemyplay_arrow
A very them-like, quintessentially them moment from Sweden’s hugely popular band...
43eastDo I Wanna KnowArctic Monkeys
Do I Wanna KnowArctic Monkeysplay_arrow
Arctic Monkeys are a British...
44eastSo Far AwayAvenged Sevenfold
So Far AwayAvenged Sevenfoldplay_arrow
It’s a popular song by a popular American metal band...
45eastWe Don’t BelongBlack Veil Brides
We Don't BelongBlack Veil Bridesplay_arrow
The American LA-based ... which is wildly popular among young people
46eastDon’t stop Believin’Glee
Don't stop Believin'Gleeplay_arrow
The American musical drama “GLEE”…
47eastHolidayGreen Day
HolidayGreen Dayplay_arrow
An American three-piece punk rock band...
48eastThe TrooperIron Maiden
The TrooperIron Maidenplay_arrow
The globally best-selling British heavy metal...
49eastWhat I’ve DoneLinkin Park
What I've DoneLinkin Parkplay_arrow
The six-member American rock band that has won a Grammy Award…
50eastWhere We BelongLostprophets
Where We BelongLostprophetsplay_arrow
A song by a five-member rock band from the UK. This…
51eastThe Day That Never ComesMetallica
The Day That Never ComesMetallicaplay_arrow
As one of the Big Four of American thrash metal...
52eastDeadMy Chemical Romance
DeadMy Chemical Romanceplay_arrow
The American rock band, which has disbanded yet still enjoys worldwide popularity, …
53eastStory Of My LifeOne Direction
Story Of My LifeOne Directionplay_arrow
Japan of the world-famous, hugely popular pop star group...
54eastSnow (Hey Oh)Red Hot Chili Peppers
Snow (Hey Oh)Red Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
A hugely popular song by a Grammy Award–winning American band. Da...
55eastNot Gonna DieSkillet
Not Gonna DieSkilletplay_arrow
An American four-piece Christian rock ban…
56eastDead MemoriesSlipknot
Dead MemoriesSlipknotplay_arrow
The wildly popular global masked metal band from America…
57eastMake Up Your MindTheory Of A Deadman
Make Up Your MindTheory Of A Deadmanplay_arrow
Canada's national hard rock band, Nicke...
58eastHelloAdele
HelloAdeleplay_arrow
Adele's songs are appealing and easy to sing.
59eastDeep DownAlok x Ella Eyre x Kenny Dope feat. Never Dull
Deep DownAlok x Ella Eyre x Kenny Dope feat. Never Dullplay_arrow
Alok’s exhilarating track, with irresistibly captivating bass
60eastGirlFriendAvril Lavigne
GirlFriendAvril Lavigneplay_arrow
Favorite songs that give me energy and power
61eastSk8er BoiAvril Lavigne
Sk8er BoiAvril Lavigneplay_arrow
Avril's nostalgic youth song
62eastI Want It That WayBackstreet Boys
I Want It That WayBackstreet Boysplay_arrow
When I was in junior high school, I loved the choruses of band music and got hooked on Western songs, so I memorized them.
63eastYour PowerBillie Eilish
Your PowerBillie Eilishplay_arrow
Billie Eilish’s quietly powerful song
64eastmy futureBillie Eilish
my futureBillie Eilishplay_arrow
A masterpiece I made with Finneas during the COVID-19 pandemic
65eastPlease MeCardi B & Bruno Mars
Please MeCardi B & Bruno Marsplay_arrow
A mature collaboration track by Cardi B and Bruno Mars
66eastCall Me MaybeCarly Rae Jepsen
Call Me MaybeCarly Rae Jepsenplay_arrow
Start learning English with Carly’s classic hit
67eastRun Away With MeCarly Rae Jepsen
Run Away With MeCarly Rae Jepsenplay_arrow
Refreshing music that colors the brilliance of youth
68eastClose To YouCarpenters
Close To YouCarpentersplay_arrow
Carpenters' classic songs are perfect for learning English
69eastParadiseColdplay
ParadiseColdplayplay_arrow
A masterpiece breathing anew in the revival culture
70eastViva La VidaColdplay
Viva La VidaColdplayplay_arrow
Coldplay’s masterpiece, a hymn to life
71eastEasy Lover feat Big SeanEllie Goulding
Easy Lover feat Big SeanEllie Gouldingplay_arrow
Ellie Goulding's new song is captivating.
72eastLife Is Good ft. DrakeFUTURE
Life Is Good ft. DrakeFUTUREplay_arrow
An iconic track by a top rapper in the trap scene
73eastTroubled TimesGreen Day
Troubled TimesGreen Dayplay_arrow
English music learning ideal for junior high school students
74eastLate Night TalkingHarry Styles
Late Night TalkingHarry Stylesplay_arrow
Harry Styles' popular songs and appeal
75eastWaffle HouseJonas Brothers
Waffle HouseJonas Brothersplay_arrow
A young, popular sibling band with songs brimming with youthful energy
76eastWhat Do You Mean?Justin Bieber
What Do You Mean?Justin Bieberplay_arrow
Explanation of Justin Bieber's love songs
77eastThis Is How We DoKaty Perry
This Is How We DoKaty Perryplay_arrow
Katy Perry with a powerful voice and bright, upbeat music
78eastINDUSTRY BABYLil Nas X, Jack Harlow
INDUSTRY BABYLil Nas X, Jack Harlowplay_arrow
Lil Nas X's hit song has a good groove.
79eastWingsLittle Mix
WingsLittle Mixplay_arrow
An anthem for the younger generation, praising the courage to spread their wings.
80eastSugarMaroon 5
SugarMaroon 5play_arrow
Cool and refreshing music
81eastHardwiredMetallica
HardwiredMetallicaplay_arrow
Metallica's 'Hardwired' is an anthem for youth.
82eastThis Time AroundMichael Jackson
This Time AroundMichael Jacksonplay_arrow
Music that blends nostalgia and modernity is popular.
83east7 ThingsMiley Cyrus
7 ThingsMiley Cyrusplay_arrow
Miley’s bittersweet heartbreak rock song
84eastSunroofNicky Youre, dazy
SunroofNicky Youre, dazyplay_arrow
The TikTok hit “Sunroof” is extremely popular among junior high school students.
85eastDon’t Stop Me NowQueen
Don't Stop Me NowQueenplay_arrow
A song with simple, easy-to-remember English lyrics, a great chorus, and one I've loved for a long time.
86eastPerfect IllusionLady Gaga
Perfect IllusionLady Gagaplay_arrow
Why do Western music artists inevitably end up being compared to Japanese (J-pop) artists…
87eastSmells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvanaplay_arrow
People with foul mouths talk about things like Nirvana as if they were for middle schoolers...
88eastFake My Own DeathSUM41
Fake My Own DeathSUM41play_arrow
When you get into punk rock, you end up with a bunch of similar-sounding bands...
89eastNew RomanticsTaylor Swift
New RomanticsTaylor Swiftplay_arrow
I started getting interested in Western music around middle school...
90eastWith or Without YouU2
With or Without YouU2play_arrow
The parents of today’s junior high school students are in their late 30s to 40s…
91eastFaintLinkin Park
FaintLinkin Parkplay_arrow
Before you get hooked on Western music, you usually end up liking Western movies...
92eastHey JudeThe Beatles
Hey JudeThe Beatlesplay_arrow
For a middle schooler, a band that feels like a grandpa…
93eastGotta Be YouOne Direction
Gotta Be YouOne Directionplay_arrow
One Direction, released in 2011…
94eastFirefliesOwl City
FirefliesOwl Cityplay_arrow
If you're a middle schooler who likes the Poppo Song, then Owl...
95eastAll Summer LongKid Rock
All Summer LongKid Rockplay_arrow
A high school boy is about to have a campfire...
96eastCheck It OutNicki Minaj
Check It OutNicki Minajplay_arrow
It's a super bright, pumped-up, high-energy song. The guy...
97eastLightningThe Wanted
LightningThe Wantedplay_arrow
Isle, with its insanely cool pop tune...
98eastMary The NightLady Gaga
Mary The NightLady Gagaplay_arrow
It begins with electronic tones and grows powerful…
99eastJadedAerosmith
JadedAerosmithplay_arrow
So-called old-school rock bands are really...
100eastCan’t Feel My FaceThe Weeknd
Can't Feel My FaceThe Weekndplay_arrow
It’s a popular song by The Weeknd. He will continue to ma…