RAG Music
Lovely Western music

[Wind Ensemble] Recommended Western pop songs for concerts: timeless classics from every era

At concert band performances, unlike competitions, many groups choose to play pop music, don’t they?

Among them, Western pop songs pair well with a brass sound, and there are many popular tunes that have been performed for years.

Still, some of you might be thinking, “When it comes time to actually pick a piece, it’s hard to decide…”

So in this article, we’re carefully selecting and introducing Western pop songs we’d love to hear performed by wind ensembles, in order of recommendation!

Be sure to listen together, discuss your options, choose a piece, and put on a wonderful performance.

Playlist

[Wind Ensemble] Recommended Western pop songs for concerts: timeless classics from every era
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastDeep Purple MedleyDeep Purple
Deep Purple MedleyDeep Purpleplay_arrow
Deep Purple's songs are a staple in wind ensembles.
2eastWe are the worldUSA For Africa
We are the worldUSA For Africaplay_arrow
Charity song by USA for Africa
3eastUptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronson
Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronsonplay_arrow
Hit song by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
4eastHot StuffDonna Summer
Hot StuffDonna Summerplay_arrow
Donna Summer’s hot and passionate classic
5eastHappyPharrell Williams
HappyPharrell Williamsplay_arrow
Introduction to Pharrell's hit song 'Happy'
6eastSeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fireplay_arrow
The allure of September’s smash-hit song
7eastCan’t take my eyes off youBoys Town Gang
Can't take my eyes off youBoys Town Gangplay_arrow
A cover song by Boys Town Gang
8eastMusic of the BeatlesThe Beatles
Music of the BeatlesThe Beatlesplay_arrow
Performing the Beatles' upbeat songs in a wind ensemble
9eastDon’t Stop Me NowQueen
Don't Stop Me NowQueenplay_arrow
Queen’s dynamic masterpiece expresses the joy of living
10eastShake It OffTaylor Swift
Shake It OffTaylor Swiftplay_arrow
Taylor Swift popular songs
11eastTop of The WorldCarpenters
Top of The WorldCarpentersplay_arrow
Arranging Carpenters classics for wind band
12eastGo WestVillage People
Go WestVillage Peopleplay_arrow
Introduce Go West by Village People
13eastBorn This WayLady Gaga
Born This WayLady Gagaplay_arrow
Lady Gaga's signature technopop song
14eastDancing QueenABBA
Dancing QueenABBAplay_arrow
Beloved across generations for ABBA’s signature songs
15eastThrillerMichael Jackson
ThrillerMichael Jacksonplay_arrow
Michael's Thriller, a dance number for Halloween
16eastI Want You BackThe Jackson 5
I Want You BackThe Jackson 5play_arrow
The Jackson 5’s debut track showcases Michael’s vocal prowess
17eastTreasureBruno Mars
TreasureBruno Marsplay_arrow
Bruno Mars’s 1970s disco-style song
18eastCopacabana(At The Copa)Barry Manilow
Copacabana(At The Copa)Barry Manilowplay_arrow
Barry Manilow's Latin music song
19eastCarpenters ForeverCarpenters
Carpenters ForeverCarpentersplay_arrow
Medley of the Carpenters' classic songs
20eastWe’re all aloneBoz Scaggs
We're all aloneBoz Scaggsplay_arrow
Many great covers of Boz Scaggs classics
21eastTheme from RockyBill Conti
Theme from RockyBill Contiplay_arrow
The Rocky theme is a staple piece for concert band.
22eastI Should Be So LuckyKYLIE MINOGUE
I Should Be So LuckyKYLIE MINOGUEplay_arrow
Kylie Minogue's bright disco song
23eastKilling Me Softly with His SongRoberta Flack
Killing Me Softly with His SongRoberta Flackplay_arrow
Lyrics by Lori Lieberman, famous for Roberta’s cover
24eastSmooth CriminalMichael Jackson
Smooth CriminalMichael Jacksonplay_arrow
Michael Jackson’s 1988 song
25eastIrresistiblement (I’m Your Captive)Sylvie Vartan
Irresistiblement (I'm Your Captive)Sylvie Vartanplay_arrow
Sylvie's upbeat pop song
26eastRaindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head (Even When It Rains)B.J.Thomas
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head (Even When It Rains)B.J.Thomas
Introduction to the original song of 'Ame ni Nurete'
27eastStand By MeBen E. King
Stand By MeBen E. Kingplay_arrow
A signature movie theme song by Ben E. King
28eastI’m in the mood for DansingThe Nolans
I'm in the mood for DansingThe Nolansplay_arrow
The Nolans’ upbeat and poppy signature song
29eastYou Raise Me UpSECRET GARDEN
You Raise Me UpSECRET GARDENplay_arrow
A piece of music famous for figure skating programs
30eastThe Girl From IpanemaAstrud Gilberto
The Girl From IpanemaAstrud Gilbertoplay_arrow
Bossa nova masterpieces composed by Jobim
31eastAll I Want For Chirstmas Is YouMariah Carey
All I Want For Chirstmas Is YouMariah Careyplay_arrow
Mariah Carey's Christmas song
32eastlet It BeThe Beatles
let It BeThe Beatlesplay_arrow
A piece arranged from a Beatles classic
33eastMY HEART WILL GO ONCéline Dion
MY HEART WILL GO ONCéline Dionplay_arrow
The Titanic theme song is hugely popular.
34eastHighway StarDeep Purple
Highway StarDeep Purpleplay_arrow
Deep Purple’s representative famous songs
35eastYMCAVillage People
YMCAVillage Peopleplay_arrow
YMCA, famous for Hideki Saijo’s Japanese version
36eastLast ChristmasWham!
Last ChristmasWham!play_arrow
George Michael, a classic Christmas song
37eastLet It GoIdina Menzel
Let It GoIdina Menzelplay_arrow
Explanation of the theme song from Frozen
38eastA Whole New WorldPeabo Bryson & Regina Belle
A Whole New WorldPeabo Bryson & Regina Belleplay_arrow
The theme song of a Disney movie becomes a hit
39eastI Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
Whitney Houston's signature songs