Summary of Western pop music: A comprehensive introduction to famous pop songs from overseas.

High HopesPanic! At The Disco

Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes (Official Video)

Many of you have probably heard songs by the American rock band Panic! At The Disco used in TV shows and commercials.

This track, released in June 2018, became a huge hit, peaking at No.

4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

With uplifting, encouraging lyrics, powerful vocals, and a grand, orchestral sound, it’s a song that gets your heart pumping.

It was also used to promote the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, making it a perfect anthem to amp up the excitement during sporting events.

Every Rose Has Its ThornPoison

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

It’s a heartbreak song by Poison, an American heavy metal band that was especially popular in the ’80s, featured on their smash-hit second album Open Up and Say…

Ahh!, and it’s said to be based on real experiences.

It starts with a relaxed acoustic guitar intro and gradually swells into something grand, which is really moving.

This may be sudden, but haven’t you ever hurt your partner with just a casual word? In the lyrics, that kind of drifting apart is poignantly compared to the dual nature of a rose’s beauty.

It really resonates with a broken heart…

And perhaps because of the sound’s atmosphere, there’s a curious warmth to it as well.

Brett Michaels’s husky yet crystalline vocals gently seep in—what a lovely song.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KEI

Report a problem

Fight SongRachel Platten

Rachel Platten – Fight Song (Official Video)

This song, which carries the message “It’s okay, I can still fight,” is a worldwide hit released in 2015 by American artist Rachel Platten.

Reflecting her own struggles and hopes in her music career, it resonated with many people and was used in a variety of contexts.

It was frequently played during Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and became an iconic track.

Its universal theme of believing in one’s inner strength and moving forward without giving up likely struck a chord with countless listeners.

Even those who aren’t very familiar with Western pop music have probably heard it at least once!

Killing Me Softly With His SongRoberta Flack

Roberta Flack – Killing Me Softly With His Song (Official Audio)

It’s a landmark R&B classic that almost everyone has heard at least once.

Sung by American artist Roberta Flack, the song is marked by its gently enveloping melody and deeply resonant lyrics.

Released in January 1973, it spent five consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The following year, it achieved the remarkable feat of winning three Grammy Awards.

Its lyrics, which portray a woman who deeply identifies with the performer’s delivery, have continued to captivate listeners.

In Japan, it’s well known from a Nescafé commercial, and its Japanese title, “Yasashiku Utatte” (literally, “Sing Gently”), may be even more familiar.

Bridge Over Troubled WaterSimon&Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water

Known in Japan by the title “Bridge over Tomorrow,” it is one of the signature songs by the American folk duo Simon & Garfunkel.

Influenced by gospel music, the song conveys a message of dedicating oneself to a loved one.