Ranking of Popular Children's Songs [2026]

Happy Endingback number64rank/position

back number – Happy End (full)

A ballad that portrays the heartrending feeling of trying to force a smile while hiding the sorrow of parting.

It vividly depicts the protagonist’s struggle, unable to fully accept the breakup and cut off lingering feelings for their former partner.

Their attempt to act tough and pretend there’s a happy ending is so poignant it brings tears to your eyes.

Released in November 2016 as their 16th single, this song was written as the theme for the film “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday,” which premiered in December of the same year.

It’s one of back number’s signature tracks, also included on the album “Encore.” Why not listen to it on a night when you want to let your emotions flow and cry your heart out to feel refreshed?

Cute Girlfriendsyudou65rank/position

【Ka Fu】Cute Girlfriend【syudou】

Vocaloid producer syudou is known for his dense worldbuilding where love and madness intertwine.

His song “Cute na Kanojo,” released in February 2021, is a spine-tingling yandere track.

The downtempo arrangement paired with a sweet vocal leaves a deep impression on listeners.

The protagonist’s feelings for their beloved are pure—and that purity is precisely what makes it so frightening.

Take your time with this masterpiece of a Vocaloid song by syudou: turn up the volume and savor it.

Goodbye ElegySuda Masaki66rank/position

Masaki Suda “Sayonara Elegy”

Masaki Suda’s famous song “Sayonara Elegy.” Although it carries a vibe similar to Kazuyoshi Saito’s works, it was written and composed by Huwie Ishizaki, featuring a distinctive blend of decadent atmosphere and hopeful melody.

The vocal range is mid1 C# to mid2 G#, which is typical—or perhaps slightly high—for a male song.

While it’s a guitar-rock style piece, Suda’s version doesn’t include sections that require belting.

The highest note, mid2 G#, is often sung in falsetto in recent trends, but since this is fundamentally rock, it’s better to sing it in chest voice, even with a bit of a shout.

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Ryo

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broad daylightKing Gnu67rank/position

King Gnu – Hakujitsu

Released in 2019, this long-running hit dramatically boosted King Gnu’s popularity.

It was created to align with the drama “Innocence: False Accusation Lawyer,” infusing the heavy themes of past mistakes and wrongful convictions with a resolve and sorrow to “expose them under the light of day.” Since the key is particularly high, few people sing it in the original key, but by using breath like Iguchi does and adding falls, you can get much closer to the vibe.

Lowering the pitch at the ends of phrases in the A and B sections works especially well.

Try singing while staying relaxed.

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Kubota Mami

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Wherever you areONE OK ROCK68rank/position

Wherever you are

Wherever you are, a signature ballad by ONE OK ROCK, remains a beloved classic that still enjoys enduring popularity at karaoke and beyond.

It’s a work that fully showcases elements of Western rock ballads, featuring expressions not typically found in standard Japanese pop, which is part of its appeal.

While the song isn’t particularly known as a harmonizing piece, if you listen closely, you’ll hear solid backing vocals in the chorus and the bridge.

Given its emotional nature, adding harmonies can bring out a great deal of beauty in the vocals, so definitely give it a try.

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Ryo

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Wake Me UpAvicii69rank/position

Avicii – Wake Me Up (Official Video)

A historic masterpiece by the late DJ Avicii.

It’s a captivating track where EDM and acoustic tones intersect beautifully, with a melody that feels open and liberating.

The theme centers on youthful anxieties and the determination to keep moving forward while searching for one’s place.

Released in June 2013 as the lead single from the album True, which came out in September 2013.

At the time, it was played at numerous major festivals and later became widely used in commercials and event background music.

It’s perfect for a flawlessly synchronized flag-dance performance—when the dynamic movements align with the music, the crowd’s excitement is sure to soar! Highly recommended for those who want to create an inspiring stage at a school sports day.

whiteoutreGretGirl70rank/position

reGretGirl "Whiteout" Official Music Video

This is a track included on reGretGirl’s 2017 mini-album “my,” by the three-piece rock band from Osaka.

It’s a winter song that beautifully fuses poignancy with a catchy melody, portraying a modern heartbreak haunted by the anxiety of unread messages.

The exhilarating guitar sound and lyrics about the quiet fading of love are seriously emotional.

Give it your all at karaoke during the Christmas season.