Popular Songs Frequently Heard on YouTube Shorts [Carefully Selected Edition]
TikTok is the social media platform that symbolizes the present day.
As the idea of enjoying short videos has taken hold, other social media platforms besides TikTok have also begun to focus on short-form content.
In this era, YouTube Shorts is having an impact comparable to TikTok.
Even if you don’t use TikTok, many of you have likely come across YouTube Shorts.
This time, we’ve picked out popular songs frequently used on YouTube Shorts—both Japanese and international—spanning a wide range of generations.
- Songs Frequently Used in YouTube Shorts [Dance Music Edition]
- An addictive song used on TikTok
- Songs by female artists you often hear on YouTube Shorts
- Popular anime songs you often hear on YouTube Shorts
- Recommended BGM for YouTube Shorts! Popular songs released in the Reiwa era
- Popular BGM on TikTok. A roundup of trending songs.
- Songs Frequently Used in YouTube Shorts [Korea / K-POP Edition]
- A stylish song that’s very popular on TikTok.
- Catchy Commercial Jingles and Ad Songs Featured on YouTube Shorts
- Heisei-era songs that are popular on YouTube Shorts
- Popular K-pop and Korean songs that brighten up YouTube Shorts
- Popular songs on TikTok
- Pick up the songs that went viral on social media! Reiwa-era dance numbers
Songs You Often Hear on YouTube Shorts [Carefully Selected Popular Edition] (1–10)
3:03 PMsharou
A track whose pleasant waves of sound make you want to listen closely.
Ethereal vocals layered over a thrilling beat linger in your ears.
Created by Sharlow, a renowned composer of free BGM indispensable for short videos, and released in February 2022.
It zeroes in on a specific moment—3:03 p.m., as the title suggests—expressing the emotions and circumstances of that time.
Featuring a relaxed lo-fi hip-hop beat, its melodic, soothing sound brings a calm feeling to listeners.
Its versatility for various types of videos and its healing effect are especially appealing.
How You Like ThatBLACKPINK
BLACKPINK is a girl group that has gained worldwide popularity with their sharp, stylish dance-pop infused with hip-hop.
They’re also extremely popular in Japan, so many of you may already know them.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is How You Like That.
This global hit is still frequently used on YouTube Shorts and TikTok.
It tends to be featured in stylishly produced videos, especially in before-and-after transformations and impressive skills clips.
Be sure to check it out.
Love WindIkuta Rira
The lyrics, which portray the bewilderment at the very moment love begins, blend with a breezy, spring-like ensemble to create a sweet-and-sour yet positive atmosphere.
This song is a work released by Lila Ikuta in April 2025, written as the theme song for ABEMA’s dating reality show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.
New Zealand Edition.” It marks the third time she has provided a theme for the series, underscoring their strong affinity.
The song depicts how the presence of another gently melts a heart made timid by past experiences, something many listeners will relate to.
If you’re hoping to take a new step forward, it will surely give you a gentle push.
Songs You Often Hear on YouTube Shorts [Carefully Selected Popular Edition] (11–20)
A Small Restaurant in the ForestTeshima Aoi
Set to a waltz rhythm, the gentle tale of a small restaurant deep in the forest unfolds.
With Aoi Teshima’s clear, translucent voice guiding listeners into a mysterious world, this piece aired on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” from April to May 2023 and captured many hearts.
Though the melody sounds charming at first, the lyrics conceal a deeper meaning.
There are expressions that evoke the end of life and parting from someone dear, giving the song a profoundness that allows for many personal interpretations.
Why not listen when you’re a little worn out by daily life or want to remember someone special? It is widely used in soothing short videos.
Bunny GirlAKASAKI
It features a unique sound that fuses Showa-era kayōkyoku with Vocaloid culture.
Centered on themes of romantic conflict and the search for self-expression, it conveys emotional turbulence through the character of a bunny girl.
Released in October 2024, the track became a viral hit on TikTok.
Immediately after release, it reached No.
1 on Spotify’s Top Viral chart, generating widespread buzz.
Evoking the nightlife and a sense of temptation, the song will resonate with young listeners grappling with love, while also appealing to adult audiences with a touch of nostalgia.
It has also become a go-to track as BGM for a wide variety of short videos.
ultra-strongestChou Tokimeki♡Sendenbu
It’s a song by Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu that’s taken over social media as a “Reiwa-era oshi-activity anthem.” Included on their December 2024 album Tokimeki Rulebook, the track straightforwardly sings of a deep love for having your camera roll filled with your oshi—and a possessiveness that won’t accept anything less.
The song sparked a huge movement, hitting No.
1 on TikTok’s chart for three consecutive weeks and surpassing 300 million total views across related videos.
On YouTube Shorts, it’s often used in clips where people enthusiastically show off what they love.
If you want to express your overflowing affection for your oshi, this is the perfect pick.
Be sure to check it out.
Rock That BodyThe Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are a group that blends electro sounds with hip-hop and enjoys worldwide popularity.
Their tracks are also familiar from YouTube Shorts.
This piece is a dance number from their 2009 album The E.N.D., which topped the Billboard charts.
The vocals make full use of Auto-Tune, and the electronic sounds—like being inside a video game—deliver a striking impact.
The song carries an irresistibly upbeat message: break free from your boring daily routine and just move your body and have fun.
It’s an easy-to-dance-to track that feels perfect as background music when you want to lift your mood.
Be sure to check it out.