Band songs that get the crowd going by genre
There are so many genres of music performed in a band format! Of course, there’s rock and jazz, and plenty of music that has branched out from them as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce popular songs performed by bands, organized by genre.
It might be a chance to discover music that shares various roots and has influenced one another along the way.
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Recommended classic songs by Western rock bands (1–10)
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
A signature song by Nirvana, the three-piece band that launched grunge as a new genre in the rock world and sparked a global boom.
Despite its simple structure of repeating the same chord progression, the ensemble—led by vocals that never make it feel monotonous—was a blind spot and a revolution in the early 1990s rock scene, when advanced technique was at its peak.
It’s said that by 2002 its music video was the most played in Europe, a track that etched Nirvana’s name into rock history.
Don’t Look Back In AngerOasis
A song by Oasis, the British rock band also known for their admiration of the Beatles—fellow working-class musicians who became a global phenomenon.
In Japan, the track is heard in various contexts, from TV commercials to movie ending themes and music games.
True to its background, the song features a high-quality, beautiful melody and arrangement that evoke the Beatles, as if they were reborn with a modern sound, while also signaling the arrival of a new era in rock.
It remains a beloved number for that very reason.
Bohemian RhapsodyQueen
A song by the British rock band Queen, released in 1975 and included on the band’s fourth album, A Night at the Opera.
The song’s structure is highly dramatic: it starts a cappella and initially takes on a ballad-like tone, then shifts into an operatic middle section, and finally concludes with hard rock.
When I first listened to it, I was deeply struck by the operatic middle part.
This song also lent its title to the biographical film about Queen’s lead vocalist, the late Freddie Mercury.
I truly believe it’s a masterpiece that represents Queen—no, one that deserves its place in the history of rock music!
Recommended jazz band classics (1–10)
A must for music lovers!! A collection of classics by jazz musicians
People sometimes say that jazz is where true music lovers ultimately end up, and if you love music, you really can’t skip jazz. There was even a recent manga themed around jazz, but jazz is fiery and cool! Here are classic jazz tracks beloved by musicians active across various scenes—not just rock bands, but hip-hop artists as well.
Moanin’Art Blakey
Not only is it an important classic in the history of jazz, but if there’s a song that transcends the genre and enjoys wide recognition, it’s “Moanin’.” This title track opens the masterpiece album “Moanin’,” released in 1958 by jazz legend Art Blakey—famed for his “Niagara roll” drumming technique.
Composed by Jazz Messengers pianist Bobby Timmons under Blakey’s leadership, the brilliance of this piece hardly needs reiteration.
As a quintessential example of funky jazz, it’s been used in commercials here in Japan as well, so many of you have likely heard it.
For those just starting to explore jazz, this is a highly recommended first track!
Autumn LeavesCannonball Adderley
Known by its Japanese title “Kareha” (Fallen Leaves), Autumn Leaves was originally a chanson but is also a quintessential jazz standard.
There are countless versions performed at various tempos, but the most famous is likely this medium-tempo take from Cannonball Adderley’s 1958 album Somethin’ Else.
Following the striking introduction, Miles Davis’s plaintive, almost weeping trumpet is truly a masterpiece.
Take FiveDave Brubeck, Paul Desmond
Known as a jazz standard, Take Five is a rare piece performed in an unusual 5/4 time signature.
Its distinctive rhythm and catchy melody are likely familiar to many listeners.
Dave Brubeck, the composer of Take Five, encountered Bulgarian music played in an unusual 9-beat meter while visiting Turkey during a tour of the Eurasian continent.
Intrigued by the unique character of that sound, Dave returned to the United States and set out to compose using unconventional rhythms—resulting in Take Five.
Although there had been jazz pieces in 5/4 before, Take Five became a classic widely recognized by the public thanks to its memorable melody and rhythm.
Since many people have heard it, be sure to remember the title too!
Blue TrainJohn Coltrane
“Blue Train,” which also became the title of John Coltrane’s 1957 album, is a celebrated classic in Blue Note’s popular 1500 series and a track where you can truly experience the essence of jazz.
Centered on the groove laid down by bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones—who played with Coltrane in the Miles Davis band—the superb interplay between the horns of John Coltrane and Lee Morgan is a major highlight.