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[High School Students] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]
From this year’s generational popularity rankings, we’re unveiling the latest top 100 in one go, ordered by the most plays among high school students!
High school is a time when you can devote yourself to studies, clubs, romance, part-time jobs, and more.
By looking at the rankings, you can see what middle schoolers were listening to around this time.
The playlist is updated weekly.
[High School Students] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026] (1–10)
Sugar Song and Bitter StepUNISON SQUARE GARDEN1rank/position
UNISON SQUARE GARDEN is a rock band known for their overwhelming vocals and high-level musicianship.
Their 2015 release Sugar Song and Bitter Step is a danceable track packed with colorful charm.
The moment you hear the light, upbeat guitar in the intro, you can’t help but want to start stepping.
The refreshing melody line that unfolds with a rhythmic tempo also resonates with the heart.
It’s an uptempo tune that works both with technical choreography and beginner-friendly arrangements—perfect for livening up culture festivals and school festivals!
RomanticismMrs. GREEN APPLE2rank/position
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE is a rock band known for their piercing pop sensibilities and melodies brimming with euphoria.
This single, released in April 2019, was written specifically for a Shiseido SEA BREEZE commercial.
Crafted by Motoki Ohmori, the song depicts human love and the vitality of life on a grand scale, captivating listeners’ hearts.
Its colorful, bouncy sound and dynamic energy make it perfect for high schoolers who want to fire up a school festival live show.
It’s a highly recommended up-tempo tune that embraces the bittersweet exhilaration of youth and lets the entire venue come together and have fun.
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE3rank/position
This track captivates with its refreshing guitar sound and exhilarating sense of speed.
Crafted by the popular band Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, you might also recognize it as the opening theme for the anime “Oblivion Battery.” Released in April 2024, it went on to win the Grand Prize at the 66th Japan Record Awards the same year.
The lyrics, which depict the brilliance and inner conflicts of youth, amplify the excitement of summer vacation.
Be sure to give it a listen as the perfect BGM for making memories with friends!
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE4rank/position
Brimming with the sparkle and exhilaration of summer, this piece is perfect as BGM for sports days and athletic festivals.
Created by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, it was released in August 2018 as the theme song for the film “Aonatsu: 30 Days of Love.” It was later included on the album “Attitude.” Its refreshing band sound and a worldview that captures the brilliance of youth are the song’s key charms.
Overflowing with energy that gives listeners a push forward, it boosts the motivation of students practicing hard for the big day.
How about playing it during relays, cheer battles, and other moments when you want to heat up the field? It’s sure to become a cheer that resonates in the hearts of those working up a sweat.
CorrectRADWIMPS5rank/position
It’s a warm number that feels like it cheers you on as you set off on a journey to find yourself and your future.
The beautiful piano melodies and band sound crafted by RADWIMPS, layered with a grand choral arrangement by students, are truly moving.
The theme of finding your own answers at your own pace—rather than following a path set by others—perfectly suits those living through their youth.
Sparked by a performance at “18-sai-sai,” an event created together with 18-year-olds, this work was released as a CD in February 2024.
It gently gives a push to those who, while carrying bonds with friends and their own struggles, are trying to move forward.
It’s a perfect choice for moments when the whole school comes together, like at cultural festivals and school festivals!
A Little Love SongMONGOL8006rank/position
A beloved classic that stands as a monument to youth punk! Riding on a driving, fast-paced beat, it sings of love for the important people close to us and an unchanging, eternal bond.
Its straightforward message fires up your heart every time you listen and gives you the energy to keep your hands moving at work! Featured on MONGOL800’s album “MESSAGE,” released in September 2001, this song sold over 2.8 million copies despite being an indie release, and it was used as the motif for the film “Little Love Song” and as the ending theme for the anime “Teasing Master Takagi-san.” It’s a guaranteed pick-me-up when you want to boost your mood and focus, or when you need that last push—highly recommended!
Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi7rank/position
Falling in love with someone brings lots of joy, but there are also times when you suddenly feel sad or scared, and your mood drops.
This is a sentimental love song that perfectly fits those feelings: Kenshi Yonezu’s “Eine Kleine.” Even though thinking about the person you like should make you happy, you can’t help but think negatively—everyone experiences that.
It’s a slightly sad yet deeply moving love song about wishing for that person’s happiness, even if it means sacrificing your own feelings.
