A Western pop 'congratulations' song. A celebratory song.
Japan doesn’t have a deeply developed culture of expressing “love,” but it does have a strong culture of expressing “gratitude” and offering “blessings.”
This time, we’ve focused on “blessings” and selected some classic Western songs!
Because many overseas songs are religious “blessing songs,” they tend to carry a stronger message than their Japanese counterparts.
We’ve curated tracks for a variety of situations, so we think people of all generations can enjoy them.
Now then, please sit back and enjoy!
- Recommended Western Songs to Express Gratitude & Thanks [2026]
- [2026 Edition] Recommended Western Songs for Celebrations: Timeless Classics That Convey Your Feelings
- Popular Western Birthday Songs [Western Music Ranking]
- Fun Western pop songs—tunes that make you feel happy just by listening
- [2026] Classic Western songs to celebrate the New Year: Popular tracks to kick off the year
- [2026] A roundup of Western/foreign-language motivational songs—cheer anthems that support your life
- Top Foreign Pop Songs of Gratitude [2026]
- Departure songs in Western music: world-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Stylish and cute Western birthday songs: timeless tracks to brighten any celebration
- [2026 Edition] Classic Western songs with great lyrics: beautiful messages that resonate with the heart
- [2026] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended classics
- Classic Western pop songs that make you happy just by listening — happy songs
- [2026] Western songs expressing gratitude to parents: classic tracks dedicated to fathers and mothers
Western 'congratulations' songs. Celebration songs (1–10)
CongratulationsVesta Williams
Vesta Williams, a singer who gained international popularity with her soulful voice.
She was often compared to Chaka Khan, but her hallmark was classic, soulful R&B and soul music even more so than Chaka Khan.
A song of hers I recommend as a celebratory tune is Congratulations.
It’s a wedding-themed celebration song, and both the melody and the lyrics radiate happiness.
It’s a perfect track to send to a friend who’s getting married.
Cheers (Drink To That)Rihanna
Raise your glass and celebrate tonight! The perfect song for that mood is Rihanna’s party anthem.
Featured on her 2010 album Loud and released as a single in August 2011, it peaked at No.
7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Its catchy hook—sampling Avril Lavigne’s “I’m with You”—sticks in your head and begs to be sung along to.
The groove of the guitars blends seamlessly with Caribbean heat in the beat, letting you feel the weekend’s freedom with your whole body.
With its message of forgetting the bad stuff and toasting the night away, it’s an ideal pick to amp up a birthday party.
It’s also great when you want a chic, grown-up vibe or a lively celebration with friends!
CongratulationsCliff Richard
Cliff Richard is a British artist who was active from the 1950s to the 1960s.
He’s famous as a British singer who achieved international popularity even before the Beatles.
His song “Congratulations” is renowned as one of his signature works, and as the title suggests, it centers on the theme of celebration.
The message—that openly expressing love to one’s partner is the most joyful thing of all—is particularly striking.
Western pop 'Congratulations' songs. Celebration songs (11–20)
Happy, Happy BirthdayWanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson, celebrated as the “Queen of Rockabilly,” has been active since the dawn of rock ’n’ roll in the 1950s.
This song, which she included on her 1958 album Wanda Jackson, is a cover of a doo-wop number originally made a hit by The Tune Weavers in 1957.
Its structure is striking: beneath the birthday wishes lies a bittersweet longing for a former lover.
Set to a sweet melody, the lyrics say “happy birthday” while quietly revealing the pain of not being able to be by their side—an emotion that resonates deeply.
Wanda’s powerful yet emotive vocals leave a distinct aftertaste that sets it apart from a merely sweet ballad.
It’s a perfect pick for those who want to create a sophisticated birthday mood or who love vintage-tinged Western pop.
Raise Your GlassP!nk
A song that sends a surge of party energy racing through the room the moment you raise your glass.
Released by P!nk in 2010 as a new track on her greatest hits album “Greatest Hits… So Far!!!,” it’s a celebratory toast to those who don’t fit neatly into society’s boxes.
Produced by Max Martin and Shellback, it features a vibrant beat around 122 BPM and a chorus that bursts open with an exhilarating melody.
It reached No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2010, becoming P!nk’s third chart-topper there.
The track also appeared in ads for the film Bridesmaids and in the trailer for New Year’s Eve, and has become a widely loved anthem for celebrations.
With its message that “it’s okay to be yourself,” this song is perfect for anyone planning a birthday party that breaks the mold.
Congratulationssunday’s best
Sunday’s Best is an American emo band formed in 1997.
While relatively minor, they are highly regarded within the emo scene and enjoy a certain level of recognition.
Being a minor band doesn’t mean their music is edgy or inaccessible—every song has its catchy moments.
Their track “Congratulations” is a well-known celebratory song by the band.
If you’re into 2000s emo, this delivers an irresistible, classic sound.
Be sure to check it out.
Cartooney Tunes (Incl. Happy Birthday)Video Kids
Video Kids is a Dutch pop unit born from the wave of Euro disco that took Europe by storm in the 1980s.
They gained popularity with a distinctive style that blended light, synth- and drum machine-driven sounds with cartoonish comic sound effects and chants.
This track is included on their debut album, The Invasion of the Spacepeckers, released in December 1984, and its biggest charm lies in the incorporation of the famous birthday song phrase into its playfully cartoon-like melody.
The sparkling electronic tones—like spilling out the contents of a toy box—perfectly evoke the excitement of a birthday.
This piece is perfect as background music for a child’s birthday party, and is also recommended for anyone looking to liven up the atmosphere with a slightly unique song choice.