Best Songs and Popular Tracks by Male Singer-Songwriters: 2026 Rankings

canaryYonezu Kenshi92rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Canary

Released in August 2020, this gentle, heartwarming ballad closes out the landmark album STRAY SHEEP, which set the record of selling over two million copies.

It affirms the distance that unexpectedly came between people and the bewilderment of a changing everyday life, while portraying the resolve to keep moving forward through the image of birds letting their songs ring out.

The song was also chosen as the theme for NHK’s documentary program “Futari no Distance” (Two People’s Distance).

When you find yourself feeling a vague anxiety—wondering, “What’s going to happen from here?”—give it a listen.

It will surely wrap your heart in a softly glowing warmth.

peace signYonezu Kenshi93rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Peace Sign

Peace Sign, the uplifting anthem by Kenshi Yonezu, a young superstar of the music scene.

It’s a track where a modern, dynamic backing sound meshes perfectly with Yonezu’s richly expressive vocals.

The lyrics are profoundly layered—you’ll feel their depth more and more each time you listen.

Try listening while thinking about the meaning behind the “peace sign.”

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zunx2P

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I was looking at the moon.Yonezu Kenshi94rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – I Was Looking at the Moon / Moongazing

Kenshi Yonezu, the singer-songwriter whose 2018 release “Lemon” was a huge hit.

His 2023 release “Tsuki wo Miteita” (“I Saw the Moon”) opens with a very striking, emotional intro featuring only soft vocals and piano.

The highlight is when the chorus arrives: the strings come in all at once, and his singing shifts to a more powerful tone.

Another must-hear moment is the development right after the chorus, where it pares back to just strings and piano.

Overall, there are many sections where you can enjoy the harmony between the piano and the other parts, so be sure to listen with that in mind!

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Yuuki

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Ghost of the SeaYonezu Kenshi95rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Spirits of the Sea

What makes the view of a pitch-black summer night sea and the starlit sky above it even more dreamlike is Kenshi Yonezu’s “Umi no Yuurei” (“Spirits of the Sea”).

Released digitally in 2019, the song was chosen as the theme for the animated film Children of the Sea.

Yonezu’s crystalline falsetto evokes a mysterious world, and as you listen, you feel as if you’ve warped into another realm.

The lyrics convey fond memories of summer, along with the hope that “next year will bring more wonderful memories.” Summer passes in an instant, almost like a ghost, and this song captures the beauty of that unreal atmosphere.

As summer draws to a close, try singing it while layering it with your own cherished memories.

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SAKI

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Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)Yonezu Kenshi96rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Gray and Blue (+Masaki Suda)

This is a song by Kenshi Yonezu that drew huge attention through a collaboration with Masaki Suda, who also radiates overwhelming presence as an actor.

The track is included on Yonezu’s fourth album, “BOOTLEG,” released in November 2017.

Looking back on the bygone days of youth, this slightly sentimental piece is perfect for long autumn nights when the clamor of summer has subsided.

It depicts a yearning for those radiant “blue” days and the struggle of living in a “gray” reality, with the poignant feeling of missing an old friend you can no longer see conveyed through their two voices.

It’s a heart-tugging song that, when you listen to it as you recall happier times and feel a bit lonely, seems to awaken emotions tucked away deep in your heart.

Horse and deerYonezu Kenshi97rank/position

Kenshi Yonezu – Horse and Deer

A song by Kenshi Yonezu characterized by powerful melodies and lyrics that resonate with the heart.

Written as the theme song for the drama “No Side Game,” it was released digitally in August 2019.

Alongside its grand sound, the lyrics—depicting people who confront adversity and keep moving forward—leave a strong impression.

By listening to one’s inner voice and singing of the importance of love and bonds, this piece encourages those who wish to keep challenging themselves without giving up in the face of hardship.

Give it a listen when you’re striving toward a new environment or goal.

AlbaSuda Keina98rank/position

Keina Suda “Alba” MV

People say he evolves from Balloon to Keina Suda with each new release.

By now, many listeners feel that the songs he sings himself are compelling precisely because they’re woven together by his own voice.

The song he released in June 2020 features lyrics that seem to question the depths of our hearts—part of its appeal.

It came out just as the stay-at-home period due to COVID-19 had begun to ease, and although that wasn’t the original intention, its lyrics that gently support our weakened hearts became a talking point.

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Hane Keisuke

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