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

WaterTyla

Tyla – Water (Official Music Video)

The breakout work by South Africa’s rising star Tyla makes a striking impression with its dazzling sound that fuses pop, R&B, and Afrobeats.

Her passionate vocals blend with Amapiano rhythms, brilliantly showcasing refined musicality and youthful sensibility.

Released in July 2023 as the lead single from the album “Tyla,” it reached No.

15 on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100.

At the 2024 Grammy Awards, it won Best African Music Performance, opening up new possibilities for South African music.

The track has also earned fervent support from young people worldwide, with its dance challenge going viral on social media.

Perfect for school festivals and dance performances, its exhilarating beat and outstanding groove will instantly elevate the atmosphere of any venue.

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.

Blended Family (What You Do For Love) (Audio) ft. A$AP RockyAlicia Keys

Alicia Keys – Blended Family (What You Do For Love) (Official Audio) ft. A$AP Rocky

A ballad that celebrates family love, characterized by lyrics that resonate with the heart and a warm melody.

It is included on Alicia Keys’s sixth album, “Here,” released in 2016.

The lyrics, which convey the importance of love and acceptance amid complex family relationships, are especially striking, and the collaboration with A$AP Rocky is another highlight.

Singing about bonds that transcend blood ties, this song delivers an important message for today’s society, where diverse family forms exist.

It’s a track I especially recommend to college students stepping into a new environment—it might inspire you to cherish your connections with family and friends and help you lead a fulfilling college life.