Recommended Western music for college students: world classics and popular songs

NumbLinkin Park

Numb (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE] – Linkin Park

A truly long-standing Western music artist.

Their recognition is very widespread.

When you think of Linkin Park, I believe this song represents them.

Although it’s a somewhat old track, it doesn’t feel dated at all—if anything, it’s so fresh that it makes me think it could be considered new music.

Uptown FunkMark Ronson

Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk (Official Video) ft. Bruno Mars

The music evokes the vibe of a stylish overseas shoe store or apparel shop.

Vocally, it has the feel of energetic, wild male voices—something akin to Avicii.

It’s a track I’d recommend to a wide audience, not just young listeners but adults as well.

PermanentSpag Heddy

Spag Heddy – Permanent

A song that became famous because a world-renowned robot dancer performed to it.

The artist, originally a hard worker who steadily built a fanbase, skyrocketed to stardom after the robot dancer’s performance.

It may not feel like typical Western pop, but it’s a track you should listen to at least once.

HelloAdele

Adele – Hello (Official Music Video)

The atmosphere exudes a sense of tragic melancholy, like a heartbreak song.

Rather than relying on the sound, it seems to be a track that showcases the artist’s own vocal ability.

It may not be hugely popular among younger listeners, but I hope people of all ages will give it a listen.

FadeAdventure Club

Adventure Club – Fade (Ft. Zak Waters)

An artist with quite a long career.

They’ve been popular since the early days, and even now their popularity shows no signs of fading.

As you’d expect from such a popular artist, every song is a consistently great classic—so much so that you could almost say you can’t call yourself a fan of Western music if you don’t know them.

Ten Feet TallAfrojack

AFROJACK – Ten Feet Tall (Lyric Video) ft. Wrabel

Afrojack is quite famous, but I imagine there are still people who don’t know him.

However, he’s an incredible artist who has provided songs for Sandaime J Soul Brothers—an artist every Japanese person likely knows.

So if you like LDH, he’s an artist you should know, and these are songs you should know.

HeroesAlesso

Alesso – Heroes (we could be) ft. Tove Lo

Since this song is also available in Japanese karaoke, there are probably quite a few people who can speak English and sing it at karaoke.

The balance between the vocals and the sound in the chorus is just right, making it a song that’s completely free of any discomfort when listening.