A compilation of cool Japanese rock band songs. Recommended tracks for cover bands.
Whether you’ve just started playing an instrument or you’re in a band choosing songs for an upcoming live show, you might be thinking, “I want to play something cool!” In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of cool band songs.
We’ve gathered a variety of tracks—ones with cool vocals, ones with impressive instrumental performances, and more—so feel free to use this as a reference! Once you decide which song to play, all that’s left is to practice until you can perform it with style!
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Cool songs by Japanese rock bands: a roundup of recommended tracks for cover bands (41–50)
bright redMy Hair is Bad
My Hair is Bad captivates many fans with their husky vocals and raw, confessional lyrics.
They’re often talked about as being “emo” in every way—from the performance to the words.
Among their songs, Akai (Makka) is especially popular.
The track brims with speed and emotion, portraying a heartrending love affair that turns into an almost maddening obsession.
What deserves special mention this time is the performance itself.
The song’s full-throttle drive, with its steadily rising voltage, sounds cool no matter how you hear it—and if you can pull it off well, you’ll look undeniably cool too.
It’s sure to light up a live show!
RPGSEKAI NO OWARI
A song everyone can enjoy in various ways, from performing to dancing! Chosen as the theme song for the movie “Crayon Shin-chan: Very Tasty! B-Class Gourmet Survival!!,” it also features a fun dance in the music video.
Try taking on different instruments as a band, or dance as a group—either works great! Coordinating costumes could be a nice touch, too.
All eyes will be on you as you express yourself with a big smile and lots of fun!
Song of a FriendBUMP OF CHICKEN
BUMP OF CHICKEN’s rock songs are cool, but their warm ballads like this one are amazing too! On top of that, the lyrics of “Tomodachi no Uta” are excellent, making it a moving masterpiece that’s sure to touch you when you listen.
It’s great to play with a band, of course, but it also works beautifully as a gentle solo performance.
migratory bird[Alexandros]
![migratory bird[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O_DLtVuiqhI/sddefault.jpg)
[Alexandros]’s 10th single.
It was featured in a commercial for Asahi The Dream beer and also used as the theme song for the film “Akebono.” The sound is bursting with speed and is insanely cool! The striking high notes in the chorus are another highlight.
It fills you with a bright, positive feeling that makes you want to break into a run.
THE OVERUVERworld
It was released in 2012 as UVERworld’s 22nd single.
The song was chosen as the theme for the TBS Friday drama “Kuro no Onna Kyoshi” and debuted at No.
2 on the weekly Oricon chart.
It’s a medium-tempo rock track with a simple band ensemble, offering a pure band sound to enjoy.
somedaySaucy Dog
It’s a mid-tempo rock number by Saucy Dog.
The relaxed, smoothly flowing beat feels great, and the slightly wistful tone in the opening vocals is beautiful.
The lyrics are another highlight, and I think it would be really cool if, when you sing this song, you picture a scene and perform as if you’re conveying that scenery.
together; along with; bothWANIMA
Now, WANIMA has become a leading presence in Japan’s rock scene, and they’re widely known even among people who don’t usually listen to rock.
Among their songs, this one is especially famous and has a great groove, so it’s bound to hype up a live show! It showcases their trademark bright personality and sense of speed, and it’s undeniably a cool track.
If you can perform it faithfully to the original, you’ll not only earn respect from fellow musicians, but even people who don’t know much about instruments will be captivated by the sheer energy of the performance!