[2026] The allure of syncopation: A collection of songs with striking syncopation

This is a bit sudden, but are you familiar with the word “syncopation”? It’s a musical term for creating a distinctive effect by deliberately shifting meter or rhythm—such as changing the accents of strong and weak beats within a bar.

If you don’t play an instrument or study music theory, you might not have heard of it.

But in fact, syncopation is widely used in the music you enjoy every day.

This time, focusing on pop and rock, we’ve put together a variety of “classic syncopation tracks” from both Western and Japanese music, across different eras.

Your favorite song might actually be using syncopation too!