RAG MusicKids
A wonderful classic

Western songs we want elementary school students to listen to: recommended classics and hit tracks

These days, elementary school students receive active English education, and thanks to the growth of the internet they can access music from around the world anytime.

It’s a time when many kids enjoy music without distinguishing between Western and Japanese songs.

In this article, we researched recommended Western music for elementary school students living in such a global era.

From that famous theme song used in an animated movie, to hit songs you’ve probably heard somewhere, to timeless classics that can even help with studying English—we’ve put together a diverse selection!

Playlist

Western songs we want elementary school students to listen to: recommended classics and hit tracks
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastOh Happy DaySt. Francis Choir with Ryan Toby
Oh Happy DaySt. Francis Choir with Ryan Tobyplay_arrow
The film starring Whoopi Goldberg, “...
2eastshape of youEd Sheeran
shape of youEd Sheeranplay_arrow
The appeal of Ed Sheeran’s signature songs
3eastOb-La-Di, Ob-La-DaThe Beatles
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-DaThe Beatlesplay_arrow
The Beatles’ 1989 song “Ob-La-Di, …”
4eastTry everythingShakira
Try everythingShakiraplay_arrow
Used in the Disney film Zootopia...
5eastHakuna MatataJason Weaver,Nathan Lane,Ernie Sabella
Hakuna MatataJason Weaver,Nathan Lane,Ernie Sabellaplay_arrow
Disney’s 1994 feature-length animated film “...
6eastStory of My LifeOne Direction
Story of My LifeOne Directionplay_arrow
The British boy group, One Direc…
7eastHello KittyAvril Lavigne
Hello KittyAvril Lavigneplay_arrow
Even in Japan as a rock singer in the 2000s...
8eastStart of something newZac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens
Start of something newZac Efron & Vanessa Hudgensplay_arrow
The musical film “High School Musi...”
9eastSeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fireplay_arrow
A funk band representing the 1970s, A...
10eastLet It GoIdina Menzel
Let It GoIdina Menzelplay_arrow
Above all else, Disney’s film “Frozen”...
11eastI Want You BackThe Jackson 5
I Want You BackThe Jackson 5play_arrow
King of Pop, Michael Jackso…
12eastYesterday Once MoreCarpenters
Yesterday Once MoreCarpentersplay_arrow
A signature song by the sibling duo, The Carpenters…
13eastGood TimeOwl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
Good TimeOwl City & Carly Rae Jepsenplay_arrow
As expected, even elementary school children sway their bodies and jump…
14eastShake It OffTaylor Swift
Shake It OffTaylor Swiftplay_arrow
Female singer, Taylor Swift’s…
15eastImagineJohn Lennon
ImagineJohn Lennonplay_arrow
One of the signature songs by John Lennon of The Beatles, “…
16eastStand By MeBen E. King
Stand By MeBen E. Kingplay_arrow
The bassline of this striking melody and th…
17eastOnly TimeEnya
Only TimeEnyaplay_arrow
Released in 2000, it became a big hit in Japan as well...
18eastDon’t Look Back In AngerOasis
Don't Look Back In AngerOasisplay_arrow
The anthem by the British rock band OASIS…
19eastBad DayDaniel Powter
Bad DayDaniel Powterplay_arrow
Singer-songwriter Daniel Powta...
20eastIt’s A Small WorldDisneyland Children’s Chorus
It's A Small WorldDisneyland Children's Chorusplay_arrow
Speaking of Disneyland, the attraction I absolutely want to ride is...
21eastLive While We’re YoungOne Direction
Live While We're YoungOne Directionplay_arrow
A five-member boy group from the United Kingdom. Me...
22eastParty In The U.S.A.Miley Cyrus
Party In The U.S.A.Miley Cyrusplay_arrow
Miley Cyrus, in Japan in 2006...
23eastVideo Killed The Radio StarThe Buggles
Video Killed The Radio StarThe Bugglesplay_arrow
The Buggle, a two-man male group…
24eastKarma ChameleonCulture Club
Karma ChameleonCulture Clubplay_arrow
A single released in 1983. Cult…
25eastSugarMaroon 5
SugarMaroon 5play_arrow
The popularity of Maroon 5, which is quite well-known even in Japan...
26eastParty Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRockLMFAO
Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRockLMFAOplay_arrow
Things like rap and club music as well…
27eastEverything you doM2M
Everything you doM2Mplay_arrow
A single released in 2000. M2M is a girl...
28eastTake Me Home, Country RoadsJohn Denver
Take Me Home, Country RoadsJohn Denverplay_arrow
Affectionately known as “Country Road” in Japan…
29eastDirty WorkAustin Mahone
Dirty WorkAustin Mahoneplay_arrow
In Japan, the comedy talent Buruzon Chiemi’s ne...
30eastWhen Can I See You Again?Owl City
When Can I See You Again?Owl Cityplay_arrow
The theme song for the overseas version of the movie Wreck-It Ralph...
31eastI wanna be like youLouis Prima
I wanna be like youLouis Primaplay_arrow
Insert song from the Disney film “The Jungle Book”…
32eastPass The DutchieMusical Youth
Pass The DutchieMusical Youthplay_arrow
A single released in 1982. Music…
33eastUptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronson
Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronsonplay_arrow
Even hearing the song title or the artist’s name doesn’t ring a bell…
34eastSexy SexyBrian Setzer Orchestra
Sexy SexyBrian Setzer Orchestraplay_arrow
American guitarist Brian Setz…
35eastHave You Never Been MellowOlivia Newton-John
Have You Never Been MellowOlivia Newton-Johnplay_arrow
Female singer Olivia Newton- …
36eastCuban PeteJim Carrey
Cuban PeteJim Carreyplay_arrow
Insert song from the American comedy film “The Mask”…
37eastHow Far I’ll GoAlessia Cara
How Far I'll GoAlessia Caraplay_arrow
An epic yet warm song, reminiscent of the sea, that serves as the theme for a Disney film.
38eastBaby ft. LudacrisJustin Bieber
Baby ft. LudacrisJustin Bieberplay_arrow
A single released in 2010. Jaz…
39eastUnder the SeaSamuel E. Wright
Under the SeaSamuel E. Wrightplay_arrow
Insert song from Disney’s film “The Little Mermaid”…
40eastI Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
American female singer Whitney H...
41eastGhostbustersRay Parker Jr.
GhostbustersRay Parker Jr.play_arrow
The theme song of the movie “Ghostbusters”…
42eastDaydream BelieverThe Monkees
Daydream BelieverThe Monkeesplay_arrow
Don't forget your dreaming heart. In 1967, Lily...
43eastDschinghis KhanDschinghis Khan
Dschinghis KhanDschinghis Khanplay_arrow
Dschinghis Khan, a West German music group...
44eastSk8er BoiAvril Lavigne
Sk8er BoiAvril Lavigneplay_arrow
Avril Lavigne is, at the beginning of the 2000s…