Ranking of popular songs for year-end and New Year parties
Year-end and New Year events to enjoy with friends or company colleagues.
From year-end parties that wrap up the year to New Year gatherings, some of you might be in charge of picking the BGM.
From songs you can use for slideshow movies to theme songs for entertainment segments.
In this article, based on reliable feedback from music fans who have contributed to our site, we’ve researched everything from the latest hits to timeless classics, and curated especially cheerful numbers that should fit the mood of a banquet.
Enjoy!
Top 10 Most Popular Songs for Year-End and New Year Parties
A Little Love SongMONGOL8001rank/position
A love song that pours out straightforward feelings, “Chiisana Koi no Uta.” It’s a signature track by the Okinawan rock band MONGOL800, released in 2001, and it’s remained a beloved hit ever since, featuring in commercials and even inspiring a movie.
You can play it if the guitar uses power chords, the bass sticks to root notes, and the drums keep an 8-beat.
Fancy tricks can come later—first, aim to get through the whole song from start to finish.
One note of caution: the original tempo is quite fast, so take it slow at first.
ReiwaGōruden Bonbā2rank/position
Released just two hours after the new era name “Reiwa” was announced in April 2019, Golden Bomber’s “Reiwa” is a raucous, over-the-top song that’s quintessentially Kinbaku.
It fills you with the spirit to live brightly in this new era! Even if you don’t know the song, its sheer momentum will sweep you up, making it perfect for parties.
No matter how many years pass since the era change, it’s a tune that, when sung together, can blow your everyday worries away.
Packed with playful, gag-filled elements, enjoy this track with laughter and lively energy!
ultra soulB’z3rank/position
Ultra Soul, with its growling lead guitar in the intro, really sticks in your ears.
It’s a track released in 2001 by the legendary rock duo B’z.
After its release, it was chosen as the theme song for the World Aquatics Championships, bringing it to a huge audience.
The title call that comes at the end of the chorus is especially memorable—it makes just about anyone want to shout along.
If you’re going to sing it at a party, be sure to throw on a checkered shirt, the trademark look of the vocalist, Inaba!
PretenderOfisharu Higedan Dism4rank/position
Cover videos by popular YouTube creators are also creating a buzz! This is the second single from Official HIGE DANDism, “Pretender,” which set an astonishing record with 500 million total streams and over 1 million full-track downloads.
Many people probably remember hearing the melody in theaters or commercials as the theme for the film “The Confidence Man JP: Episode of the Romance.” The rhymed lyrics and striking turns of phrase are pure brilliance! Since the song has wide melodic intervals and is hard to sing, practice repeatedly—like at karaoke—before the real performance!
One Night CarnivalKishidan5rank/position
Kishidan’s high-energy tune “One Night Carnival” kicks off with spoken lines.
Their visuals evoking delinquents and biker gangs, the nostalgic band sound, and the para-para-style choreography all mesh perfectly, pulling you right into their world! It’s a national karaoke staple and hugely popular at karaoke.
This song that everyone knows is sure to be a hit with any generation! Learn the moves and try performing it with your friends while you sing.
loveHoshino Gen6rank/position
The hilarious bit that propelled Oideyasu Koga to stardom on the M-1, “When I sing karaoke, the mood totally dies…,” feels like something that could really happen, doesn’t it? Rather than singing a song nobody knows, it’s best to pick a massive hit everyone’s familiar with! In that sense, Gen Hoshino’s ‘Koi’ is a can’t-miss, perfect choice for any year-end party, no matter who’s there.
I’m sure the ‘Koi Dance’ will help lift the vibe, too.
When in doubt, go with this song first—snatch the mic before someone else sings it!
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā7rank/position
“Memeshikute” is Golden Bomber’s biggest hit and signature song.
It was released in 2009, which surprises me because I find myself listening to it so often that I think, “Has it really been that long?” It’s also well-known that Golden Bomber performed at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen for four consecutive years, from 2012 to 2015, thanks to this track.
Despite the content of the lyrics, it’s no exaggeration to call this song a party and dance staple.
It’s a hype tune that people of any generation can sing and dance to.
