Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[2026] Let's Sing at the Chorus Competition! A Roundup of Recommended Western Songs

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

When it comes time to choose a piece for the chorus competition, I think many people are thinking, “We don’t want to overlap with other classes!” Since it’s a special competition, you want to pick songs that are uniquely yours and show a performance that stands out from the rest.

In times like that, singing Western music is highly recommended! So in this article, I’ll introduce lots of Western songs that are great for choral performances.

I’ve included not only timeless classics but also recent pop hits, so please use this as a reference when selecting your piece.

[2026] Let’s Sing at the Choir Contest! Recommended Western Songs (81–90)

ABCThe Jackson 5

The Recruits – ABC [Jackson 5 cover] (2017 Midwinter)

ABCThe Jackson 5

From the title alone, it gives off a school-themed vibe, so this is my recommendation as a choral piece.

It’s a nostalgic number released in 1970 by The Jackson 5, which included a young Michael Jackson.

It’s been used in commercials and is a song almost everyone has heard at least once.

The quintessential Motown sound would really stand out at a choral competition, and it would be great to sing it with some energy, clapping hands and stamping feet.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Go The DistanceAlan Menken

Go The Distance – Hercules Soundtrack | One Voice Children’s Choir Cover (Official Music Video)

Go The DistanceAlan Menken

Go the Distance is a song that’s well-loved as the theme for Disney’s Hercules.

It’s a work by Michael Bolton, who has produced many classic ballads.

Set to a gentle melody, it sings of the protagonist expanding his hopes for the future.

Since it’s quite slow and has a steady tempo, it seems relatively easy to sing.

By the way, if you want to know the lyrical content, you can also check a Japanese translation version.

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LovelyBillie Eilish, Khalid

Lovely – Billie Eilish & Khalid | One Voice Children’s Choir | Kids Cover (Official Music Video)

LovelyBillie Eilish, Khalid

This work is notable for its dark, unhurried sound.

While expressing deep sorrow and loneliness, its progression somehow conveys a sense of hope that resonates with the heart.

The contrasting voices of Billie Eilish and Khalid create an exquisite harmony.

Released in April 2018, it was also featured on the soundtrack of the Netflix drama “13 Reasons Why.” The lyrics, which portray the emotions of people struggling with mental anguish, have struck a chord with many listeners.

If performed at a choir competition, it would undoubtedly leave a deep impression on the audience.

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Let It GoIdina Menzel

Idina Menzel – Let It Go (from Frozen) (Official Video)

Let It GoIdina Menzel

Frozen, which was also extremely popular among children in Japan, was released as a Disney film in 2013.

The generation that used to hum its songs might be the very ones now in the chorus competition age.

How about trying that familiar song in English this time? Singing it as a choir adds depth to the music and lets you feel a different kind of charm.

If you don’t have many members with the vocal strength to carry the solo parts, we recommend having several people sing them in unison.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Someone You LovedLewis Capaldi

Choir! Choir! Choir! sings Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved”

Someone You LovedLewis Capaldi

This song is marked by a poignantly bittersweet melody.

The piano’s timbre and his soul-stirring vocals capture the pain and loneliness of heartbreak without leaving anything out.

Unfolding at a gentle tempo, it’s sure to seep deep into the listener’s heart.

Featured on Lewis Capaldi’s debut album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, released in May 2019, the track sparked a huge response, including spending six weeks at No.

1 on the UK Albums Chart.

It resonates not only with those who’ve experienced a breakup, but also with anyone who has lost someone dear.

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