Hi-STANDARD Popular Song Ranking [2026]

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.

Rain ForeverHi-STANDARD41rank/position

Rain Forever

This track, included on Hi-STANDARD’s single “ANOTHER STARTING LINE,” which was released without prior notice in October 2016, features lyrics that liken a stagnant period in life to rain, leaving a deep emotional impact.

It conveys a message that will resonate with many: even though we get discouraged by repeated failures, there are things we gain precisely because there are things we lose.

Hi-STANDARD’s characteristically high-velocity sound rings out as if to sweep away that inner turmoil.

It’s a song with the power to push you forward when you’re feeling down and helpless, or when you’re hoping to take a step toward tomorrow.

Sexy GirlfriendHi-STANDARD42rank/position

Sexy Girlfriend(bonus track)【Hi-STANDARD】

Lastly, let me introduce the bonus track included at the end of the album “Making The Road,” titled “Sexy Girlfriend.” This is (perhaps?) the only acoustic-style song by Hi-Standard, with Ken Yokoyama playing the ukulele.

The mood feels like a slightly wistful summer evening, but when you look at the lyrics, it’s packed with dirty jokes—an effortlessly laid-back ending that’s quintessentially Hi-Standard (lol).