[2026] Classic Western songs to celebrate the New Year: Popular tracks to kick off the year

New Year’s DayBon Jovi

Bon Jovi – New Year’s Day

If you’re looking for a New Year’s song with masculine lyrics, we recommend New Year’s Day.

Sung by Bon Jovi, the track portrays men raising their glasses and ringing in the New Year boisterously with their buddies.

For men living alone with no plans with a partner or family, it might be nice to gather with friends and welcome the New Year while listening to this song.

Bon Jovi’s passionate vocals further elevate the track, making it a must-listen for rock fans.

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New Year’s DayPentatonix

New Year’s Day – Pentatonix 2015 Recap Video

Since their formation in 2011, the a cappella group Pentatonix has been hugely popular not only in their home country of the United States but also here in Japan, and this song is perfect for celebrating the New Year! In their early days, they drew attention by posting cover songs on YouTube, but this track—centered on their own original music—was included on their self-titled major-label debut released in 2015.

It’s a masterpiece with an uplifting message that resonates: say goodbye to the past and move forward on a new path.

As showcased in the opening of the song, the sacred resonance born from the a cappella technique—expressing music using only the human voice—feels especially fitting for ushering in the New Year.

It’s great to listen to on your own, but if possible, we hope you’ll experience the brilliance of this piece in the company of as many people as you can gather!

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What Are You Doing New Year’s EveCarpenters

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve

This song by the quintessential 1970s pop duo, the Carpenters, included on their 1984 album An Old-Fashioned Christmas, is a cover of a standard written by Frank Loesser in 1947.

Although Karen Carpenter’s crystal-clear vocal was recorded in 1978, it remained unreleased for many years; Richard Carpenter later added new orchestration, shaping it into a gently rendered ballad.

With lyrics that quietly ask, “How will you spend New Year’s Eve?”, the song is filled with an intimacy that evokes slipping away from the buzz of a glittering party to share a quiet moment together in a secluded room.

Wrapped in serene piano and strings, it’s perfect for those times when you want to feel a touch of bittersweet romance just before the new year arrives.

Happy New YearABBA

ABBA – Happy New Year (Video)

ABBA is a Swedish music group that gained worldwide popularity.

They’re also well known in Japan as a group that still enjoys enduring popularity.

“Happy New Year” is one of ABBA’s classic songs, and just as the title suggests, it’s a simple New Year’s song crafted to celebrate the arrival of a new year.

What’s especially striking is its message about letting go of the year’s mistakes and hitting the reset button as we head into the next year.

Since the New Year is a time when we can reset our mindset, listening to this song might be a good way to discover a new version of yourself.

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Raise Your GlassP!nk

P!nk – Raise Your Glass (Official Video)

Pink is a singer-songwriter who combines a bold persona with undeniable musical talent and enjoys immense popularity worldwide.

In Japan, too, her songs have been used as drama theme tunes, making her a household name.

Raise Your Glass, included on her 2010 greatest hits album Greatest Hits…

So Far!!!, was created to thank her fans in celebration of the 10th anniversary of her debut.

It’s an ultra-pop party anthem with a positive message—perfect for events from New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day with close friends.

In fact, the song was also featured in the 2011 film New Year’s Eve.

It’s used in a particularly iconic way in the trailer, so be sure to check it out.

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New Year’s DayU2

New Year’s Day (Remastered 2008)

U2 is a world-famous rock band from Ireland.

Their song New Year’s Day was released as the lead single from the 1983 album War and became a global hit.

Because the song was influenced by the Polish democratization movement, it isn’t a simple celebration of the New Year; its lyrics lament a world that never changes.

At its core it is a love song, but the contrast between a happy couple’s romance and a world that keeps waging war gives the work its depth.

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This Is the New YearA Great Big World

A Great Big World – This Is the New Year

A Great Big World is a musical duo that has gained popularity with a pop-centered sound.

Some of you in Japan may already know them.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend for the New Year is This Is the New Year.

This track was also featured in the TV show Glee, and it conveys a message of reflecting on the past and taking a fresh step forward into the new year—in other words, it’s essentially a New Year’s resolution song.

It’s a particularly great pick for students preparing for exams.

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