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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!
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE2rank/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 APPLE3rank/position
An exhilarating rock number that epitomizes summer with an irresistible, piercing sense of refreshment.
In this track by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE, seasonal scenes like wind chimes and sunflowers are painted while conveying a fiery message: don’t wait for the story to come to you—be the protagonist and dash through the present.
Released as a single in August 2018, it was written as the theme song for the film “Aonatsu: 30 Days of Love.” It has since taken root as a Koshien stadium cheer song, encouraging countless high school ballplayers and students.
It’s perfect not only as a pump-up work BGM, but also for blowing away a downcast mood.
CorrectRADWIMPS4rank/position
A gentle anthem of support that blends the bittersweetness and hope of youth.
It portrays, with a warm gaze, the feelings of young people searching for answers of their own.
Its message—that there is no single right answer in life and it’s okay to move forward at your own pace—will surely touch everyone’s heart.
Released digitally in January 2024 by RADWIMPS, this song has often been sung at school graduation ceremonies and in scenes of remembrance.
When you feel anxious about the future or find yourself at a crossroads in life, this warm, comforting track will softly nudge you forward.
Please, take the courage from this song to help you step into a new beginning.
A Little Love SongMONGOL8005rank/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!
horizonback number6rank/position
A gem of a track by back number that gently stays close to your heart whenever you hit a wall in life.
Even amid the despair that feels like your dreams and hopes are collapsing, the lyrics portray the journey of looking inward and eventually finding light—sure to move you deeply.
This song is also known for being created in August 2020 for high school students after the Inter-High Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While affirming frustration and sorrow, it gives a sense of the view that awaits beyond overcoming them.
As you step into a new world at graduation, you may feel anxiety or loneliness.
In those moments, this song will wrap your pain in its embrace and give you the quiet courage to take that first step.
astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN7rank/position
Released in March 2001, this BUMP OF CHICKEN song was also used as an insert track for the drama “Tentaikansoku” (Stargazing).
The image of the protagonist gazing up at the starry sky while reflecting on their future and relationships is striking.
The lyrics capture the drive to chase dreams and the struggle with reality, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s a song we especially recommend to those facing worries and uncertainties in their youth.
Listen to it while looking up at the night sky, and you’re sure to find courage.
Eine KleineYonezu Kenshi8rank/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.
HarukaYOASOBI9rank/position
YOASOBI’s famous song “Haruka.” For female students living in the Reiwa era, this piece could be considered a staple graduation song.
True to YOASOBI’s style, it still features drastic pitch shifts, but since there are relatively few syllables set to the main melody, it can be considered easy to sing in terms of wordiness.
However, the vocal range is quite wide—from mid1 G to hi F#—and the highest notes are fairly high, so you need to sing with a clear focus on keeping the pitch accurate.
OrangeSPYAIR10rank/position
It became a massive hit as the theme song for the 2024 film Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle.
The same track was also chosen as the theme song for TBS Television and BS-TBS’s Volleyball Nations League 2024, powerfully expressing the passion of young people who devote their youth to volleyball, and marking a revival of the long-standing collaboration between SPYAIR and Haikyu!!.
It’s a rock ballad characteristic of SPYAIR, with easy-to-catch pitches that help you score steadily in karaoke.
The melody is basically structured so you can sing each phrase carefully.
It builds toward the latter half, and the vocal melody changes slightly in the final chorus, so it’s a good idea to review that part thoroughly.
