Popular Western Music Band Rankings [2026]

Best Day Of My LifeAmerican Authors64rank/position

American Authors – Best Day Of My Life

The signature song of American Authors, a band based in New York, is a joy-filled piece that celebrates the best day of one’s life.

With striking imagery like sunlight and starry skies, it conveys a determination to move boldly toward the future without being bound by the past.

Released in March 2013, the track was featured in films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Delivery Man, and its positive message has been embraced around the world.

It’s a perfect song for life’s special moments—anniversaries with loved ones or times when you’re ready to take a new step forward.

Carry OnAngra65rank/position

Angra – Carry On (Official)

The song included on Angra’s first album, Angels Cry, by the Brazilian power metal band, is a melodious track that incorporates classical elements.

Released in 1993, it begins with a thrilling introductory guitar riff, and its exhilarating sound—woven from powerful vocals and virtuosic performances—captivated many metal fans.

Featuring high-register vocals and a catchy melodic line, this piece remains one of Angra’s signature songs and continues to enjoy great popularity.

This Will Be Our YearThe Zombies66rank/position

The Zombies – This Will Be Our Year (Lyric Video)

Many of you may remember the song released in April 1968 on the masterpiece Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies, the UK-born masters of baroque pop, as it was used in Japan as the theme for the wedding magazine Zexy’s TV commercial.

Written by bassist Chris White, the song gently comforts a lover who has overcome a painful past, saying, “The sadness is over; good years lie ahead,” carrying a warm message that celebrates a fresh start.

Its sound—delicate piano tones, a horn section, and Colin Blunstone’s refined vocals—makes it a perfect track to ring in the New Year.

It was also featured in a holiday commercial by the American brand FIGS and continues to be cherished across generations as a song that symbolizes hope.

Shut Up and DanceWalk the Moon67rank/position

WALK THE MOON – Shut Up and Dance (Official Video)

An irresistible anthem that fuses the shimmer of ’80s new wave with the pop sensibilities of the 2010s.

Walk the Moon were a rock band based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and they whipped festival crowds into a frenzy with euphoric synthesizers, sharp guitar chops, and chant-like choruses.

Released in 2014 as the lead single from the album “Talking Is Hard,” the song became a major hit, peaking at No.

4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Inspired by the moment when vocalist Nicholas Petricca was asked by his partner to “shut up and dance” at a club, it carries a message of shaking off stress and hesitation and just moving your body.

Beloved in many settings—including its use in the Broadway musical “Moulin Rouge!”—it’s perfect for moments when you want to get everyone involved, like wedding receptions or year-end parties.

Heart Of GlassBlondie68rank/position

Blondie – Heart Of Glass

This track is known as a quintessential disco number, but in fact, around the middle of the song—near the two-minute mark—there’s a cleverly woven section in 7/4.

It suddenly shifts from the standard 4/4 to 7/4, with the synthesizer riff performed in a shortened, one-beat-trimmed pattern.

This unexpected use of odd meter adds a perfect accent to a beat that can easily become monotonous, creating a brief jolt for the listener.

Released in January 1979, it topped charts around the world and is featured on the album Parallel Lines.

It’s a recommended listen both for those who love steady dance beats and for those who want to experience the intrigue of irregular time signatures.

Dr. FeelgoodMötley Crüe69rank/position

Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (Official Music Video)

Mötley Crüe, a band that epitomizes the LA metal scene of the ’80s.

The title track from their landmark 1989 album Dr.

Feelgood became a signature song that powered the band to their first No.

1 on the U.S.

album chart.

Known for being created while the members were sober from drugs and alcohol, the song tells a story of the pleasures—and the ruinous dependency—brought by a figure known as the “doctor.” Riding on a blend of funky rhythms and heavy guitar riffs, you can practically see the protagonist getting drawn deeper into a dangerous world.

Why not immerse yourself in the heat of ’80s rock while experiencing the power and groove that defined LA metal?

Cake By The OceanDNCE70rank/position

DNCE – Cake By The Ocean

This is a unique track that expresses fun and passion over a breezy funk-pop groove.

The September 2015 debut by American dance-rock band DNCE skillfully weaves in elements of 1970s disco and R&B, spinning a metaphor that likens a romantic seaside moment to sweet treats.

Brimming with a spirit of adventure and humor, the lyrics and Joe Jonas’s charming vocals harmonize in perfect balance.

Reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard charts, the song continues to captivate listeners worldwide with its funky guitar riffs and catchy melodies.

It’s an ideal pick for parties or drives, and a great choice whenever you want to lift your mood.