Ranking of Western Music Artists Popular Among Junior High School Students [2026]

Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRockLMFAO85rank/position

LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock

LMFAO is an electropop duo consisting of Redfoo and SkyBlu, who are active as rappers, dancers, and DJs.

Their signature song, Party Rock Anthem, was released as a single in 2011 and reached number one on the singles charts in more than seven countries worldwide.

British singer Lauren Bennett and singer-songwriter/rapper GoonRock appear as featured artists.

With its fast tempo and the memorable dance steps in its music video, this track might be a great fit for a sport like “touchdown,” where you kick a rugby ball, loop around a turnaround marker, and head for the goal!

RudeMAGIC86rank/position

MAGIC! – Rude (Official Video)

A track by Magic!, a Canadian reggae-pop band based in California.

Released in 2013, it reached the Top 10 on charts around the world.

It samples Bob Marley and The Wailers’ 1980 track “Three Little Birds.”

Girls Like YouMaroon 5 ft. Cardi B87rank/position

Maroon 5 – Girls Like You ft. Cardi B (Official Music Video)

In the fall, when it’s easy to feel nostalgic, you tend to want to listen to songs that bring back memories.

This Maroon 5 track is a love song that tells a story while looking back on the past.

The lyrics portray a bittersweet heartbreak, so give it a listen when you’re in the mood for something wistful.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Billie JeanMichael Jackson88rank/position

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Official Video)

Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” a timeless favorite across generations, is a masterpiece of dance-pop.

Released as a single from the 1982 album Thriller, it dominated the charts nonstop from January 1983.

Its sound brilliantly fuses post-disco and funk, and its storytelling lyrics—rejecting allegations—combined with an energetic rhythm are sure to captivate today’s listeners.

It’s also the song where Michael Jackson’s legendary moonwalk was unveiled, so be sure to give it a listen and experience its allure for yourself!

FlowersMiley Cyrus89rank/position

Miley Cyrus – Flowers (Official Video)

American songstress Miley Cyrus rose to fame in the 2000s through Disney Channel’s hit series Hannah Montana and has continued to evolve as an artist, exploring a wide range of genres including pop, rock, R&B, and country.

Flowers, which she released in January 2023 as the lead single, is a precursor to her eighth album, Endless Summer Vacation.

It’s a moving message song about the importance of self-love, written after experiencing heartbreak and nearly losing herself, and then overcoming that period.

As one of the biggest international hits of 2023, your students have likely heard it somewhere.

Miley’s powerful vocals, memorable melody, and disco-tinged pop sound are sure to create maximum excitement at key moments in events like sports festivals and school field days.

Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana90rank/position

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

This is a historic masterpiece by Nirvana that rewrote the music scene of the 1990s with nothing more than a power-chord riff blasted through heavily distorted guitars.

Kurt Cobain, who at the time was elevated as a spokesperson for the so-called Generation X, delivered screams that resonated powerfully with young people grappling with loneliness and frustration.

Because the band’s history—and the tragic events surrounding Kurt Cobain afterward—is so well known, people tend to approach the song with all kinds of preconceptions.

But I hope today’s middle schoolers will simply experience how straight-up cool the song itself is.

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KOH-1

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WorkRihanna91rank/position

Rihanna – Work (Explicit) ft. Drake

Rihanna, who is said to be a fan of current Japan national soccer team coach Halilhodžić.

Her lustrous vocals and overwhelming expressive power make her a rare type of singer even by global standards.

It’s the perfect track for those who want a slightly different kind of morning song.

Also, don’t miss her collaboration with Drake.