[2026] Best English-language wake-up songs recommended for junior high school students

Up From The BottomLinkin Park

Up From The Bottom (Official Music Video) – Linkin Park

A single released in March 2025 by Linkin Park, who made a comeback with a new lineup in 2024.

The track is a new song included on the deluxe edition of the album “From Zero,” featuring the band’s signature nu-metal sound and a powerful message.

Distorted guitar riffs and driving drums are layered with electronic textures and turntable scratches, delivering a sense of speed reminiscent of their early classics.

The lyrics portray the struggle and hope of a protagonist fighting to climb up from rock bottom, offering encouragement to middle schoolers facing challenges.

It’s a perfect pick for those who want to wake up energized or boost their mood before heading to school.

Man I NeedOlivia Dean

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

Olivia Dean, a singer-songwriter from London, is drawing attention with a music style rooted in neo-soul and R&B, including a nomination for the 2023 Mercury Prize.

Her track released in August 2025 is a soul-pop number marked by a dynamic, driving rhythm and honey-sweet harmonies.

The lyrics center on knowing how one deserves to be loved and confidently asking for it.

It’s upbeat, sexy, and made for dancing—perfect for boosting your energy from the morning.

It’s also recommended for junior high students who want to stretch a little and savor something a bit more grown-up.

get him back!Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo – get him back! (Official Video)

Released in September 2023 from the album GUTS, this song simultaneously sings about two conflicting feelings toward an ex—wanting revenge and wanting to get back together.

Olivia Rodrigo blends rap rock and pop punk to capture a complex mix of lingering attachment and anger toward a former partner.

The contrast between the whispered delivery in the verses and the explosive shouts in the chorus—the interplay of quiet and loud—is particularly striking.

The track was used in the official trailer for the movie Mean Girls and was also added as a playable song in Fortnite.

Because it expresses the complexities of romance so directly, it’s perfect for dealing with heartbreak or for blasting away those foggy feelings on a morning when you need a boost!

IllegalPinkPantheress

PinkPantheress – Illegal (Official Video)

This track opens Fancy That, the artist’s second mixtape, released in May 2025.

UK-born PinkPantheress has drawn attention with her unique sound that modernizes ’90s drum’n’bass and UK garage.

In this song, themes of forbidden love and secret relationships explore the struggle of crossing moral boundaries.

The music video impressively blends live action and animation, creating a visual world where reality and fantasy intersect.

Many listeners have likely encountered its strangely nostalgic yet fresh melodies and sounds on platforms like TikTok.

It’s a great recommendation for middle schoolers who want to try listening to slightly more mature-sounding Western pop.

clichémgk

mgk – cliché (Official Music Video)

Machine Gun Kelly delivers a pop-punk number that’s guaranteed to boost your energy from the morning.

Having started out as a rapper, he pivoted to pop punk in 2020 and hit No.

1 on the U.S.

charts with his album Tickets to My Downfall.

Released in May 2025, this track blends dance-pop and pop-rock into an upbeat, summery tune.

The choreography and staging—reminiscent of ’90s and 2000s boy bands—garnered buzz, sparking a dance challenge on TikTok and generating major excitement across social media.

Its exhilarating melody and uplifting energy make it perfect for middle schoolers looking to get pumped before heading to school.