Learning a new language can be a challenging but incredibly rewarding journey. One often-overlooked tool in the ESL learner's arsenal is music! Finding the best songs for ESL learners can significantly boost vocabulary acquisition, improve pronunciation, and even enhance cultural understanding. This isn't just about passively listening; it's about actively engaging with lyrics, dissecting pronunciation, and immersing yourself in the rhythm and flow of the language. Are you struggling to grasp tricky grammatical structures or improve your fluency? Do you crave a more engaging and fun way to learn English? Then this toplist of songs is your answer! We've compiled a selection of tracks perfect for different levels, from beginner-friendly pop anthems to more complex, lyrically rich pieces, ensuring there's something for everyone on their English language learning adventure. Get ready to sing your way to fluency!
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Roar | Katy Perry | PRISM | 4B+ |
| 2. Perfect | Ed Sheeran | ÷ (Deluxe) | 4B+ |
| 3. New Rules | Dua Lipa | Dua Lipa (Deluxe) | 3B+ |
| 4. Paradise | Coldplay | Mylo Xyloto | 2B+ |
| 5. Titanium |
David Guetta Sia | Nothing but the Beat 2.0 | 2B+ |
| 6. Call Me Maybe | Carly Rae Jepsen | Kiss (Deluxe) | 2B+ |
| 7. Happy | Pharrell Williams | G I R L | 1B+ |
1. Roar
Catchy Chorus: Roar's instantly memorable chorus is incredibly repetitive, making it easy for ESL learners to pick up and sing along, reinforcing pronunciation and vocabulary.
Simple Vocabulary: While empowering, the lyrics utilize relatively straightforward language, accessible to those learning English as a second language.
Strong Rhythm and Beat: The song's driving beat and clear rhythm provide a strong framework for learners to focus on individual words and phrases within the musical context.
2. Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Simple Vocabulary: "Perfect" utilizes straightforward language, making it easy for ESL learners to grasp the core meaning and follow along.
Relatable Theme: The song's theme of love and relationships is universally understood, transcending cultural barriers and connecting with listeners on an emotional level.
Catchy Melody: The memorable melody and rhythm are easy to sing along to, aiding pronunciation practice and improving musicality.
3. New Rules (2017)
Repetitive Chorus: The incredibly catchy chorus of "New Rules" is easy to sing along to, reinforcing vocabulary and pronunciation practice.
Clear Pronunciation: Dua Lipa's clear diction makes the lyrics highly accessible for ESL learners, aiding comprehension and pronunciation skills.
Relatable Theme: The song's theme of heartbreak and moving on is universally relatable, sparking conversation and encouraging English language use.
4. Paradise
Vocabulary & Pronunciation: "Paradise" features relatively straightforward lyrics with a good mix of common and less-common vocabulary, offering opportunities for ESL learners to expand their word power while enjoying the song's catchy melody. The clear pronunciation of Chris Martin's vocals makes it ideal for listening comprehension practice.
Emotional Impact & Cultural Relevance: The song's uplifting and hopeful message resonates universally, making it easy to connect with emotionally, even with a limited understanding of English. Its popularity makes it a great conversation starter in English.
Musical Simplicity & Repetition: The repetitive chorus and simple structure make it easy to follow along and sing along, which improves pronunciation and listening comprehension skills in a fun and engaging way.
5. Titanium (Nothing but the Beat 2.0)
Vocabulary: Sia's powerful vocals and relatively simple lyrics make the song ideal for picking up common phrases and pronunciation patterns.
Rhythm and Melody: The strong, repetitive beat and catchy melody are easy to follow along to, aiding in rhythm and intonation practice.
Cultural Relevance: "Titanium" was a massive global hit, providing a context for discussing pop culture and its impact across linguistic borders.
6. Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen)
Simple Vocabulary: "Call Me Maybe" utilizes a straightforward vocabulary, making it easy for ESL learners to grasp the lyrics and follow along.
Catchy Melody: The song's incredibly catchy melody and repetitive chorus are memorable and help with pronunciation practice.
Cultural Relevance: Its widespread popularity provides a relevant cultural touchstone, making it engaging for learners while expanding their understanding of contemporary pop culture.
7. Happy (G I R L - 2025)
Simple Vocabulary: "Happy" boasts a remarkably simple vocabulary, making it easy for ESL learners to understand and pick up new words in context.
Repetitive Chorus: The highly repetitive chorus provides excellent opportunities for pronunciation practice and memorization, reinforcing key phrases.
Upbeat and Positive Melody: The song's infectious, upbeat melody makes learning fun and engaging, fostering a positive learning experience.
8. Where Is the Love? (The Black Eyed Peas)
Simple Vocabulary: "Where Is the Love?" utilizes relatively straightforward language, making it accessible for ESL learners of various levels.
Catchy Chorus: The repetitive and melodic chorus is highly memorable, aiding pronunciation practice and vocabulary retention.
Cultural Relevance: The song's message of peace and unity offers a valuable cultural insight into contemporary social issues, sparking engaging classroom discussions.
9. Drag Me Down
Vocabulary & Phrases: "Drag Me Down" features relatively straightforward lyrics with common vocabulary, making it easy for ESL learners to grasp the meaning and pick up new phrases.
Catchy Melody: The song's upbeat tempo and memorable melody are highly engaging, making it enjoyable to listen to repeatedly, aiding memorization and improving listening comprehension.
Pronunciation Practice: One Direction's clear pronunciation provides excellent opportunities to practice English pronunciation, particularly for vowel sounds and intonation.
10. when the party's over (Billie Eilish)
Vocabulary & Pronunciation: "When the Party's Over" features clear pronunciation and relatively simple vocabulary, making it ideal for intermediate ESL learners to focus on comprehension and rhythm.
Emotional Nuances: Billie Eilish's emotive vocals effectively convey sadness and longing, offering a rich context for discussing feelings and emotions in English.
Melodic Simplicity: The song's melancholic melody is relatively easy to follow, assisting with listening comprehension and enabling students to pick up on the phrasing and intonation patterns of conversational English.
11Don't Stop Me Now
Queen
1978
Bohemian Rhapsody (The Original Soundtrack)
12I'm Yours
Jason Mraz
2008
We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
13Rain On Me
Lady Gaga,Ariana Grande
2020
On The 6
14Shotgun
George Ezra
2018
Staying at Tamara's
15This Love
Maroon 5
2002
Songs About Jane: 10th Anniversary Edition
16Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen
1984
Various Positions
17Uptown Girl
Billy Joel
1983
An Innocent Man
18Lose Yourself
Eminem
2002
2001
19Beautiful Day
U2
2000
All That You Can't Leave Behind
20We Can Work It Out
The Beatles
1965
21The Show
Lenka
2008
22Your Song
Elton John
1970
Elton John
23And I Love Her
The Beatles
1964
A Hard Day's Night (Remastered)
24Somebody to Love
Queen,George Michael
1976
Older
25ABC
Jackson 5
1970
26Shake It Off
Taylor Swift
2014
1989
27I Don't Trust Myself
John Mayer
2006
28Always On My Mind
Elvis Presley
1972
Elvis (Fool)