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

I Gotta FeelingThe Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling (Official Music Video)

To celebrate the start of a new year, you need songs that put you in a positive, upbeat mood.

This track by The Black Eyed Peas from their album The E.N.D.

is an exhilarating dance-pop number brimming with the feeling that tonight is going to be special.

The sound—layered vocals over an electronic beat—perfectly captures the excitement just before you head to the party.

Released in 2009, it spent 14 consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in more than 20 countries worldwide.

With its message of forgetting everyday stress and having an all-out good time, it’s the perfect song for ringing in the New Year.

Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem)Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey – Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem, Fireworks Version)

Mariah Carey’s second Christmas album, “Merry Christmas II You,” features a cover of “Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem).” In Japan, the song is known as “Hotaru no Hikari.” Unlike the version we’re familiar with as “Hotaru no Hikari,” this rendition stands out with an emotional yet stylish arrangement, making it a perfect pick for your year-end party playlist.

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My UniverseColdplay X BTS

Coldplay X BTS – My Universe (Official Video)

This is a collaborative work by Coldplay, one of the UK’s leading rock bands, and the South Korean boy group BTS.

Released in September 2021 and included on the album Music of the Spheres, the song features lyrics that naturally weave together English and Korean, along with a pop-rock sound infused with electronic elements.

It carries a universal message that we can stay connected even when we’re apart, with themes of coexistence and solidarity that transcend national, linguistic, and cultural boundaries.

Through the metaphor of the cosmos, it paints a grand vision that inspires hope and positivity at the start of a new year.

Debuting at No.

1 on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100, the track blends the two acts’ distinct personalities into a celebratory piece—making it a perfect song to kick off the year.

Can’t StopRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop [Official Music Video]

Red Hot Chili Peppers, the legendary rock band born in California.

Released as a single in 2003 from their 2002 album “By the Way,” this track is a high-octane number that fuses funk rock and rap rock.

Its lyrics carry a message of refusing to hold back the energy that wells up inside and living life as the main event, not just a rehearsal—perfect for anyone who wants to charge into the new year with momentum.

In fact, it was performed at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, leaving a global impression of unstoppable drive and relentless forward motion.

It’s also used as the entrance music for players at the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams home games, making it a beloved staple for energizing sports scenes.

A highly recommended song for anyone looking to accelerate from day one of the new year!

Castle On The HillEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill [Official Music Video]

This song weaves together childhood memories of looking up at the castle on the hill in my hometown with the person I am today.

It paints Ed Sheeran’s youthful days in Framlingham, Suffolk, with shimmering guitar rock.

From the reckless teenage years spent with friends, to the present where everyone’s taken their own path, and the longing to return someday.

Blending nostalgia with hope, this track is perfect for reflecting on your roots as you welcome a new year.

Released in 2017 from the album ÷, it debuted at No.

2 on the UK charts.

It was also used in the trailer for the animated film Ferdinand, underscoring themes of adventure and growth.

A recommended song for anyone who wants to renew their feelings for home and take that first step into the new year.

New Year’s DayTaylor Swift

New Year’s Day

Taylor Swift’s classic song, “New Year’s Day.” When people think of Taylor Swift, many probably imagine upbeat, catchy pop tunes.

It’s true that in recent years those kinds of songs make up most of her releases, but she originally started as a country music singer, so she has also put out gentle, quintessentially country-style tracks.

“New Year’s Day” is one such work, depicting a romance set against the backdrop of a New Year’s party.

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This Will Be Our YearThe Zombies

The Zombies – This Will Be Our Year (Lyric Video)

Many of you may remember the song released in April 1968 on the masterpiece Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies, the UK-born masters of baroque pop, as it was used in Japan as the theme for the wedding magazine Zexy’s TV commercial.

Written by bassist Chris White, the song gently comforts a lover who has overcome a painful past, saying, “The sadness is over; good years lie ahead,” carrying a warm message that celebrates a fresh start.

Its sound—delicate piano tones, a horn section, and Colin Blunstone’s refined vocals—makes it a perfect track to ring in the New Year.

It was also featured in a holiday commercial by the American brand FIGS and continues to be cherished across generations as a song that symbolizes hope.