ONE OK ROCK is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo that was formed in 2005. They have explored many different genres and have found success across everything, from alt-rock to pop-punk and emo. At the time of writing, they have released ten studio albums, with an eleventh already on its way.
Despite enjoying huge success in their native Japan, the group has only recently exploded in the Western market with help from collaborations with a Sonic video game and numerous anime series.
The group has acted as special guests for huge musicians like Hoobastank, Ed Sheeran, and most recently, Muse. As well as embarking on nearly a dozen international headline tours. They’ve also picked up eighteen awards worldwide for their albums, singles, and work as a group.
Top 10 One OK Rock Songs
Here are the ten best songs from One OK Rock!
10. Your Tears Are Mine
We start off this list with my favorite song in the band’s collection. Your Tears Are Mine has never been released as a single but features as track 12 on the group’s latest album, Luxury Disease. It has very quickly become a fan favorite, helped in part by the incredible live rendition the band performed throughout their most recent tour.
A heartfelt and powerful piano ballad about feeling the pain your partner feels when in a relationship. This song heavily revolves around the narrator reassuring and empowering his love interest to help them both through the struggles of life. Towards the end of the song, Taka really lets loose and unveils the full strength of his incredible voice, which is truly something to behold, especially live!
9. Taking Off
Number nine on our list is the second single of OOK’s 2017 studio album, Ambitions. Massively juxtaposed to the previous song, Taking Off is about the neverending merry-go-round of a destructive on-and-off relationship. The feeling that you know it’s all going to crash and burn, but neither of you can help but enjoy the moment rings throughout this relentless thumping hit.
The drums really take the fore on this track. Tomo lays down a fantastic rhythm and consistent, driving beat that underlines the whole song whilst overpowering everything else just the right amount when it needs to.
8. Save Yourself
Save Yourself was only the fourth single from the previously mentioned Luxury Disease album. But the combination of its magnificent intro riff and rock anthem feel has made it a clear candidate to start any concert the band ever performs. The fantastic alt-rock riff throughout, mixed with the Linkin Park-esque electronic breakdown about halfway through, makes this a real power track. Perfect for singing along to, as any crowd across the globe could attest to during the band’s most recent tour.
The lyrical content shouldn’t even really matter when a song is this good. But rest assured, that didn’t stop them from cramming as much uplifting sentiment into this one as possible.
7. Broken Heart of Gold
I mentioned earlier that the number 10 entry is my favorite on the whole list; well, this is a very close second. Broken Heart of Gold is yet another single from the band’s most recent effort. Now a casual reader may accuse me of recency bias, but one listen to any of the songs from that album that made this list will put your mind at ease. Every song on this list has earned its place, and this one is no different.
A slower-tempo power ballad, this song really lets the group exercise their sensitive sides. The poignant lyrics about the urge to just give up sometimes meld beautifully with the melody. On top of that, the powerful rhythm creates a wonderful four minutes of self-reflection. And once again, this song is only made better by a live crowd. I can’t suggest seeing these guys live highly enough!
6. Clock Strikes
Clock Strikes is one of the oldest songs to make this list, coming from the 2013 album Jinsei Kakete Boku Wa. This song almost marks the beginning of the band’s newest era. Originally, the group was much punkier and had a heavier sound.
But most recently, they’ve almost become a stadium rock band, similar to Thirty Seconds To Mars. Whilst this stylistic change would’ve no doubt rubbed some fans up the wrong way, there’s no disputing the fact it’s garnered them so much more success worldwide.
This song contains more singing in Japanese than any other on the list so far, but it melds seamlessly with the English chorus and verses. I always admire a band that can switch between multiple languages as easily as Taka and the guys do in this one. All on top of a strong underlying anthemic track, perfect for any fan to jam along, too.
5. The Beginning
From one of the oldest to the oldest songs on the list. Originally released as a single in August 2012, The Beginning is another song from the band’s sixth studio album. This song is a real taste of the band’s previous style. It’s pop punk, hard rock, and post-grunge beauty. Without a doubt, this song is one of their biggest hits in their native Japan, and it’s received a lot of love worldwide.
If you haven’t listened to anything by this band other than the earlier parts of this list, you’re in for a treat. Taka’s voice is usually so silky, smooth, and powerful, but here, it has a lot more grit to it. Granted, he’s still pitch-perfect, but the bridge before the final chorus specifically is just the right amount of gravelly. They use the subtle underlying piano chords brilliantly to just to tie it all together nicely.
4. Renegades
Back to the more recent past now, as I present to you Renegades. The first single off of the Luxury Disease album, it has already been streamed over 80 million times (not including the piano and acoustic versions).
As I mentioned earlier, the band has acted as a special guest for multiple huge artists, most notably Ed Sheeran. He has a co-writing credit for this song, and whilst his influence may not be immediately recognizable, it’s certainly part of its success.
Renegades is a very polished but significantly alt-rock anthem about the state of the modern world. A call to arms almost, for everyone to stand up and revolt against the system. You can definitely feel that tone coming through when the booming drums come in, reminiscent of war drums; they are the cherry on top of this 4-minute revolution anthem cake.
3. Stand Out Fit In
It’s impossible to listen to this without a sense of belonging. A song for the outcasts and people who feel they don’t fit in. Everyone’s favorite J-Rock band urges you to get up, shake off the dust, and raise a middle finger high in the air.
This song feels like it was written by the people, for the people. It’s only being recorded by the four regular band members and a few backing vocalists, but you get this feeling when you listen to it. You feel there’s an army singing along with you, an army of people who are just embracing themselves and being what they want to be.
Musically, this song is much more electronic and pop than anything else on the list, but that kind of doesn’t matter. The elements you’ve learned to love from a One OK Rock song are present throughout, and every member is in top form.
The true purpose of this song is in the lyrics. It’s overflowing with examples of what the modern world wants from you and shows you just how contradictory the mainstream is. So f**k it, you don’t need to be like anyone else, stand out.
2. Wasted Nights
Wasted Nights is an electro-pop-rock anthem about seizing the day, living life without regret and putting the thought of consequence aside for the night. You don’t need to think about tomorrow because you’re not there yet.
I simply have to turn my headphones up when this song comes on. It transports you to those few moments in life where you feel immortal. The group has captured the exact feeling you get when you walk into a venue to see your favorite band play and manage to put it into music.
If I had to describe this song in a word, it would be Goosebumps. Taka’s voice just takes the weight off of you for those short few minutes, and it only gets better the more you listen. I truly envy anybody who can hear this for the first time because it takes control of you and puts you in a trance right until that final note.
1. We Are
I used the word goosebumps for the previous song. This one puts goosebumps on top of the ones already there, and when you listen to it live… wow.
Everything I said about Wasted Nights can be directly transferred to this song and then some. The two were released over two years apart, but they feel almost like extensions of each other. I often get to the number one spot and tell you about how I always knew this song was going to take it.
I had no idea which song was going to sit here until I remembered the live version of this song recorded as part of the band’s 2017 Japan Dome Tour. I’m not even going to link the studio version below because it has nothing on this.
A better writer or critic would be more subjective, and a casual reader has the right to throw those accusations at me. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me. Just watch the video and thank me later. If you’re already a fan, then you know how stunning this is. If you’re not already a fan, you’re about to be.