[A Cheer for Myself] A pep song dedicated to you who are doing your very best
Even when you’re giving it your all, sometimes things just don’t go well.
There are times when you feel like throwing in the towel, or you get so down that you withdraw into yourself.
In moments like that, how about listening to some music to gather the courage and strength to overcome hardships?
In this article, we’re introducing a special selection of cheer-up songs we’d love to dedicate to those who are doing their best.
Songs that lift you when you’re feeling low, songs that fire you up with a “Let’s go!” spirit, and songs that gently stay by your side.
May you find an anthem of encouragement that resonates with your heart.
- [A Life-Affirming Anthem] An Encouraging Song to Cheer You On
- [Deeply Moving] A Tear-Jerking Cheer Song: Popular Inspirational Anthems That Resonate with the Heart
- [For those doing their best] A collection of motivational cheer songs
- Before a match or when you feel like giving up! Cheer songs to keep you going in club activities
- An uplifting song with great lyrics. A wonderful, memorable message that stays with your heart.
- [For those who strive] An encouraging cheer song
- Songs that make you feel positive when you listen. Top recommended cheer and positive tracks.
- Songs that help you work hard. Cheer songs for working people.
- Take the first step!! Songs that give you courage, songs that make you persevere when you listen
- [For Success in Exams] An Encouragement Song We Want Hardworking Exam-Takers to Hear
- [Cheer-Up Songs Special] Songs that give you courage when you're feeling down. Encouraging tracks.
- [Today's Cheer Song] To everyone giving it your all! A gem of an inspiring anthem that resonates with the heart
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
[A Cheer Song for Myself] A motivational anthem dedicated to you who are doing your very best (71–80)
We againSG
Singer SG, whose popularity has surged on social media platforms like TikTok.
He originally gained a following by leveraging his language skills to cover English- and Korean-language songs in Japanese, and Japanese songs in Korean.
His original track “Bokura Mata” (“We, Again”) is a gentle, encouraging number, with a soft voice that gives you courage.
The lyrics are especially striking for moments when you and someone dear must go your separate ways—like graduation or starting a job—blowing away that anxious, lonely feeling.
When you face a painful farewell, why not take your time and listen to this song?
I just can’t give up.GENIC
It’s a heart-pounding anthem that portrays a heroic figure who stands back up, even after falling, crashing into walls, and getting covered in mud.
This rock track by the dance and vocal group GENIC was released in June 2025 and was chosen as the ending theme for the final episode of the TV anime “Catch Me at the Ballpark!” Both the lyrics and the sound convey a strong determination to never give up on one’s dreams, even in the face of setbacks.
It’s a motivational song that gives a push to anyone striving with everything they’ve got.
RiverAKB48
AKB48 mostly has love songs and upbeat pop tunes, but their song “River” is a rare, serious cheer song for them.
It likens the adversities and trials one must overcome to a river, carrying a powerful message that no matter the hardship, you can get through it depending on your mindset.
[A Cheer Song for Myself] A pep song dedicated to you who are doing your very best (81–90)
sailing dayBUMP OF CHICKEN
This is “sailing day,” a signature song by BUMP OF CHICKEN that was used as the theme for a smash-hit anime.
With its uptempo sound and exhilarating vocals, it makes you feel like you can’t help but start running.
“Sailing” literally means setting sail, and by extension, the lyrics carry a positive message of taking the helm of your own life and moving forward on your own.
rainbowFukuyama Masaharu
Niji (Rainbow), used as the theme song for the quintessential 2000s coming-of-age drama Water Boys.
With Masaharu Fukuyama’s resonant low voice and a light, catchy melody, it’s an uplifting song that feels approachable to anyone.
The theme of the song is “surpassing your own limits,” and the ideal image of yourself that lies beyond those limits is expressed as a rainbow.
In the Morning of DeterminationAqua Timez
Aqua Timez, who have captivated many listeners with their melodious sound and lyrics that resonate with the heart, released this ambitious work as their major-label debut single in July 2006.
While acknowledging one’s true, unvarnished self yet still choosing to face forward and keep walking, the song makes a striking impression and can also be seen as a challenge to a modern society obsessed with perfection.
It deftly expresses the doubts and anxieties felt while chasing dreams, as well as the resolve to grow.
Chosen as the theme song for the animated film “Brave Story” and earning the band a spot on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, it became a social phenomenon.
It’s a song that feels like a gentle push on your back when you’re at a crossroads in life or on the verge of losing your way—warm, encouraging, and truly a source of strength for the heart.
Thunderous applauseLiSA
One that still stands out in our memory for going viral on TikTok is “Issai no Kassai.” It’s a song rock singer LiSA wrote specifically for the special program for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Set to an up-tempo yet weighty sound, it sings about the importance of believing in yourself.
Because it also portrays negative emotions, it’s a song that just about anyone can relate to.
Plus, the chant-like calls that evoke soccer crowd support make it a track that really fires you up.
