Cool, popular Western hit songs that are highly regarded

AGUANILEMarc Anthony

Festival de Viña 2012, Marc Anthony, Aguanile

In “Aguanile,” the congas lay down a snappy rhythm, the guitar kicks in with a stylish groove, multiple trumpets layer on top, and a beautifully complex, orchestrated Latin sound rings out, over which Marc Anthony’s energetic, powerful vocals deliver a stellar performance.

Without YouMariah Carey

Mariah Carey – Without You (from Fantasy: Live at Madison Square Garden)

Mariah Carey’s stylish song “Without You,” overflowing with sadness and poignancy, is such a wonderful piece of music that once you hear it, it will never leave your heart.

The original “Without You” was released on record and sung by the British rock group Badfinger about 50 years ago, in November 1970.

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart (Dimitri From Paris Remix)Mark Ronson, Miley Cyrus

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart (Dimitri From Paris Remix) [Audio]

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart is a collaboration between music producer Mark Ronson—who skyrocketed to fame after his work with Bruno Mars—and singer Miley Cyrus.

This version is a remix of that track by DJ Dimitri From Paris.

Compared to the original, it leans even more into a disco vibe, and the retro use of reverb and other effects really catches the ear.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Girls Like You ft. Cardi BMaroon 5

Maroon 5 – Girls Like You ft. Cardi B (Official Music Video)

A song released in 2018 by Maroon 5, a pop-rock band with worldwide popularity.

Though they’re a band, they’ve fully incorporated electronic music elements, giving it a modern feel.

The music video features not only the band members but also many women—dancers, singers, athletes, and actresses—familiar faces from TV and dramas, so you’ll likely recognize quite a few of them.

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Saitō Ayumu

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Water SlideMew

Mew – Water Slides

This is a popular track from Mew’s 2015 album “+-,” which is also hugely popular in Japan.

Its dreamy yet dark atmosphere and addictive quality make it a song that sticks in your head after just one listen—it’s truly wonderful anytime you hear it.

The regular version is cool enough on its own, but the acoustic version has its own flavor and is also incredibly cool.

Trop FreshMonsieur Nov

Monsieur Nov – Trop Fresh (clip officiel) [présenté par Musicalement Entre Nous]

Monsieur Nov is an artist from Vietnam.

He may not be very familiar to audiences in Japan, but in Europe he’s a highly regarded R&B singer.

His famous track “Trop Fresh” is a piece that evokes high-quality R&B and neo-soul.

Although he’s from Vietnam, he’s active in France, so all the lyrics are written in French.

The way French liaison works pairs beautifully with R&B, so be sure to check it out!

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Ryo

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Only ShallowMy Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine – Only Shallow (Official Music Video)

Here’s a song from My Bloody Valentine, a heavyweight of the shoegaze genre alongside Slowdive and RIDE.

Even if you’re not familiar with Western music or shoegaze, I think it’ll go down smoothly.

In short: it’s just incredibly cool—there’s no better way to put it.