Hi-STANDARD Popular Song Ranking [2026]

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)Hi-STANDARD31rank/position

Happy Xmas(War Is Over)

This is a track where Hi-STANDARD covers one of the world’s most beloved Christmas songs with a punk arrangement.

They reconstruct the original’s gentle prayer for peace with a driving band sound and beautiful choral work that draws you in.

The message wishing for a future without conflict resonates even more powerfully as it overlaps with their energetic performance.

Originally included on the 7-inch single “WAR IS OVER” in 1997, it was released on CD in December 2016 on the cover EP “Vintage & New, Gift Shits.” It’s the perfect song when you’re in the mood for a punk Christmas tune.

Hello My JuniorHi-STANDARD32rank/position

Hello My Junior

This is a track from the classic album THE GIFT, released in October 2017.

It’s a thrilling punk rock number bursting with Hi-Standard’s signature style, packing an exhilarating, fast-paced sound into under two minutes, and lyrics like “Move by instinct, not logic” that really hit home.

The song also features the comical chorus that’s a staple at their live shows, making you want to sing along without thinking.

When you listen to it at times when overthinking keeps you from taking a step forward, it gives you so much energy that your worries start to feel ridiculous.

I highly recommend it as the perfect spark to boost your mood.

I Get AroundHi-STANDARD33rank/position

Hi-Standard – I Get Around (Punk Cover)

This is a cover by Hi-Standard, a band representing Japanese melodic hardcore and melodic punk, of a song by The Beach Boys.

You might expect them to stick with the fresh surf vibe, but as expected, the chorus kicks into a high-speed beat—what you could call their signature Hi-Sta style—making it a characteristically Hi-Standard cover that ramps up the energy.

Just RockHi-STANDARD34rank/position

Just Rock

A blistering blow that grabs the listener’s heart in a flash—just one minute long.

It’s a track from Hi-STANDARD’s classic album “MAKING THE ROAD,” released in June 1999.

Packed into this song is an extremely direct and powerful message: don’t be swayed by the media or other people’s voices—stick to your own style.

Compared to their other tracks, its sound condenses a hardcore rush and energy that pounds your eardrums.

When you’re on the verge of losing yourself by worrying about others’ eyes, this detonator of a number will blow away your doubts and give you a strong push forward.

Kiss Me AgainHi-STANDARD35rank/position

Hi-standard【KISS ME AGAIN】

It’s a heartwarming classic that opens with an unforgettable guitar riff.

“If I grow old and my appearance changes completely, will you still love me the same?” It expresses that slightly anxious yet straightforward question.

It’s filled with a pure, pure wish to “stay by my side forever.” Their unique charm lies in setting such innocent, earnest feelings to a fast-paced, melodic punk sound.

This track appears on the masterpiece Growing Up, released in November 1995.

It’s a song for everyone who, when thinking about the future with someone special, wants to believe in an unchanging love.

Maximum OverdriveHi-STANDARD36rank/position

Hi-STANDARD – Maximum Overdrive [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The first track on Hi-STANDARD’s second album, “Growing Up,” is “Maximum Overdrive.” When “Growing Up” was released, the term “melodic hardcore” didn’t exist yet.

At a time when punk conjured images of rough-and-tumble bands like the Sex Pistols or The Clash, this album was a shock.

Guys who looked like your everyday neighbors in T-shirts and shorts were playing cheerful songs with a punk sound.

Can you imagine how striking that was? This album truly rewrote Japan’s punk scene, and this track was its very first step.

No HeroesHi-STANDARD37rank/position

Hi-Standard　No Heroes

The title “No Heroes” might sound negative at first, but to me the song carries the nuance of “I’ll be the hero myself, so I don’t need anyone else.” The lyrics addressed to the heroes of my past really resonate with me.

NothingHi-STANDARD38rank/position

Hi-Standard-Nothing (with lyrics)

“Making The Road” is an album that absorbs a variety of genres.

Some tracks evoke jazz, while others are straightforward hardcore.

Among them, “Nothing” stands out.

As a composition, it’s a textbook example of melodic hardcore, but pay attention to the intro.

Ken Yokoyama, Hi-Standard’s guitarist, normally plays without any guitar effects—plugging straight into the amp—but only for the intro of “Nothing” he uses a chorus effect.

It’s a must-hear track for Hi-Standard-loving guitar kids.

Our SongHi-STANDARD39rank/position

Our Song

A track from the mini-album “Screaming Newborn Baby,” released in November 2025 by Hi-STANDARD, the punk rock band that set a milestone in melodic hardcore in the ’90s and resumed activity after a long hiatus.

Following the passing of Akira Totsuoka, ZAX from The BONEZ joined as the new drummer, marking the first step of the band’s new lineup.

It’s a rock tune that kicks off with a poppy guitar phrase, singing of an unwavering resolve to keep chasing dreams and the unchanging bonds of friendship despite the passage of time.

While retaining the powerful punch characteristic of punk, the lyrics add a mature perspective shaped by the years, resonating with anyone striving to move forward with love for family and friends in their heart.

PentaxHi-STANDARD40rank/position

Hi-STANDARD　pentax

Compared to J-pop songs, Hi-Standard’s tracks are very short, with most running about two to three minutes.

Among them, the especially short “Pentax” from the album “Making The Road” clocks in at a mere 35 seconds.

Yet even within this sub-one-minute span, Hi-Standard manages to complete the song.

It’s a simple one-chorus track, but it’s brimming with charm.