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

Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years Without The One You LoveThe O’Jays

O’Jays – Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years Without The One You Love

The O’Jays are a late-blooming soul trio who honed their craft for over a decade.

Their ‘Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years Without The One You Love’ has a wonderfully joyful feel—truly a song befitting the New Year.

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New Year’s PrayerJeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley – New Year’s Prayer

Jeff Buckley was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who was active from 1990.

He is also known for his wide tenor vocal range.

This song was used as the theme song for the American TV drama The Dead Zone.

11:59 It’s JanuaryScrawl

Scrawl – 11:59 It’s January

Scroll was an American indie rock trio active from 1985 to 1998.

This track is included on their 1998 album Nature Film.

It’s a melancholic song about looking back on a long year and welcoming the new year with a fresh mindset.

Kiss Me at Midnight*NSYNC

Kiss Me at Midnight

*NSYNC is an American idol group that was active from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

Their style is similar to the Backstreet Boys, and their music isn’t just standard idol pop—it’s characterized by a touch of R&B.

Among their songs, a perfect pick for the New Year is “Kiss Me at Midnight.” The lyrics depict a New Year’s party, and the portrayal of a man and woman deepening their relationship and becoming lovers in the midst of it is wonderfully romantic.

Be sure to check out the Japanese translation as well.

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new year’s dayOliver Francis

Oliver ~ new year’s day

Oliver Francis is an artist who’s been active mainly on platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud.

His music is rooted in mellow hip-hop, and his pop-leaning style has earned him strong praise from female listeners.

Among his tracks, one that’s especially perfect for the New Year is “new year’s day.” It’s a flex-themed piece centered on the New Year, highlighted by the punchline: “I’m too rich for the rich boys.”

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Have a Little Faith In MeJon Bon Jovi And Lea Michele

Jon Bon Jovi & Lea Michele – Have A Little Faith In Me (New Year’s Eve Soundtrack)

New Year’s Eve is a 2011 romantic comedy directed by Garry Marshall, famed for classics like Pretty Woman.

For some, it’s a film that comes to mind every time the New Year rolls around.

If you’ve seen it, you’ll know that Jon Bon Jovi—the frontman of Bon Jovi—appears in the film as a rock star and performs at a nighttime party hosted by a music company.

The song he sings there is Have a Little Faith in Me.

At a New Year’s gathering of music lovers who’ve seen the movie, gently strumming this song on guitar would surely be a hit.

By the way, Have a Little Faith in Me isn’t a Bon Jovi original—the original was released in 1987 by John Hiatt, one of America’s quintessential singer-songwriters.

It’s included on his acclaimed, family-themed album Bring the Family, which you should definitely give a listen to as well.

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New Year’s Honoursanother sunnyday

Another Sunny Day – New Year’s Honours (1992)

For those who want to deliberately pick a different kind of Western song for the New Year, I recommend this fairly niche track.

Among listeners in Japan who are deeply into what’s called neo-acoustic or guitar pop, Another Sunny Day has a legendary status and is held in very high regard.

They were a band on the popular neo-acoustic label SARAH, and in typical fashion, they broke up without ever releasing an original full-length album.

The song I’m introducing here, “New Year’s Honours,” has the feel of classic neo-acoustic: delicate acoustic guitar arpeggios, a vulnerable vocal, and assured songwriting all coming together.

It’s included on their only compilation, the 1992 release London Weekend.

Strictly speaking, the title refers to the British honours system, where the New Year Honours list—such as recipients of the Order of the British Empire—is announced at the end of each year.

That said, the song itself doesn’t actually touch on that; instead, it poetically depicts the tender, fragile emotions of a protagonist who has lost someone precious.

I hope you enjoy that contrast as part of its appeal.

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