Hi-STANDARD Popular Song Ranking [2026]

WHO’LL BE THE NEXTHi-STANDARD15rank/position

Hi-STANDARD – WHO’LL BE THE NEXT

Hi-STANDARD is a band that sparked the 90s Japanese punk and melodic hardcore boom and continues to have a major influence on Japanese bands today.

Their outdoor festival, AIR JAM, is said to have paved the way for bands to host their own open-air festivals.

They’ve produced countless classic songs, and you should definitely listen to “WHO’LL BE THE NEXT.” It features a poppy, bright tone and a driving, high-speed rhythm.

The distinctly 90s band sound has a certain charm—where even the noise feels musical and pleasant.

Be sure to experience the sound of this band that serves as a root for many of today’s artists.

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Another Starting LineHi-STANDARD16rank/position

Hi-STANDARD- ANOTHER STARTING LINE- Full ver.(OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Hi-STANDARD went on hiatus in 2000 and resumed activities in 2011 after an 11-year break.

Then, in 2016, they released “Another Starting Line,” their first new song in about 16 years, in a way that was quintessentially Hi-STANDARD.

Without any prior announcement, the single appeared as a surprise in CD shops on the release day.

It sparked a huge buzz on social media like Twitter and even made the top news on Yahoo! that day.

The understated manner in which they handled their first release in 16 years was also very much in the Hi-STANDARD style.

CrowsHi-STANDARD17rank/position

Crows【Hi-STANDARD】

While Hi-Standard had many connections with overseas punk bands, they naturally also had deep ties to Japan’s punk rock scene.

And their cover of Bloodthirsty Butchers’ song—who became legends in Japan’s punk scene—is “Crows.” The original is a Japanese-language track titled “Karasu” with a more alternative rock sound, but in Hi-Standard’s version it’s translated into English and arranged with a hardcore feel.

Incidentally, the Butchers also shared the bill with Hi-Standard at the very first live show after the band formed.

It’s an episode that offers a glimpse into both Hi-Standard’s history and the legacy of the legendary Butchers.

Growing UpHi-STANDARD18rank/position

Hi-STANDARD – Growing Up [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The title track included on the album, “Growing Up,” is, plainly put, a popular Hi-Standard song.

It features a melody and chord progression reminiscent of oldies, combined with a punk groove—a track packed with everything that makes Hi-Standard appealing.

Incidentally, although this song is now only available on the album, it was reportedly handed out as an EP in 1996 when Hi-Standard opened for Green Day—now a household name in the U.S.—during their Japan tour.

Hi-Standard has performed alongside many overseas bands, including Green Day, blink-182, and The Offspring.

I hope you can feel that remarkable legacy on your way to school! And of course, it’s also a super catchy number.

Mosh Under The RainbowHi-STANDARD19rank/position

Hi-STANDARD / MOSH UNDER THE RAINBOW

Included on the album “MAKING THE ROAD.” A mid-tempo track with a delightfully bouncy rhythm.

Combined with lyrics like “The rain’s stopped—let’s all form a circle and mosh,” it’s a song that, in today’s terms, really “shines at festivals.”

Mosh Under The Rainbow IIHi-STANDARD20rank/position

Mosh Under the Rainbow

Isn’t this the live anthem that shines brilliantly in Japan’s punk scene—Hi-STANDARD’s very own? The track is included on the classic album “MAKING THE ROAD,” released in 1999, which sold over 600,000 copies.

After the spoken-word intro, the laid-back beat and guitar riff built on triplets give it a vibe distinct from their other songs.

The English lyrics even say, “Let’s mosh under the rainbow!”—you can practically picture everyone linking arms and jumping together to the easygoing rhythm.

New LifeHi-STANDARD21rank/position

Hi-STANDARD – New Life [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

“New Life,” included on “Growing Up,” is likely one of the songs that’s especially popular with fans.

Even people who don’t know Hi-Standard at all might recognize its intro.

That intro has long been used as the jingle played before and after commercials on the radio show “All Night Nippon” hosted by the comedy duo Ninety-Nine.

As an aside, the young comedy duo NON STYLE reportedly took their name as a play on Hi-Standard.