As a music enthusiast, I’ve come across several bands in the scene that made a meaningful impact on my life. However, ONE OK ROCK captured my heart and connected to my soul like no other. They have been my favorite rock band since forever. So, I’m thinking why not share my all-time favorite songs from them?

One of the things I love about ONE OK ROCK is their collective talent to be able to express music that speaks to our being. Their lyrics are raw and relatable, tackling themes ranging from self-discovery, love, heartbreaks, and friendship. Not to mention, their live performances are also surreal, Taka’s boundless energy and voice seemed straight out of their CDs. Being able to experience this firsthand was both breathtaking and incredible. That’s why I’m actually excited to share my faves, in no particular order.

Here are some of my favorite ONE OK ROCK songs

1. The beginning

First ever song I heard from them and I instantly fell in love. There was really something in this song that drew me in, from the gentle riffs in the opening to a fiery chorus that just blew you in. It’s just, it’s different. Good difference. Even the acoustic version is phenomenal, which is something that y’all should try listening to!

2. C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h

Hands down my go-to song whenever it feels like I’m closed off suddenly, not finding purpose in anything. This song is such an introspective and moving narrative exploring the ideas of “Yes there are bad times, but that doesn’t mean we should stop and not carry on.”

3. I was King

My fight song. ‘I was King’ single-handedly got me out of what I consider some of the worst situations in my life. Because it’s just right, isn’t it? “If I go down, I will go down fighting!”. Just one of those songs that prove ONE OK ROCK’s talent to blend raw emotion with their powerful instrumentation. 

4. Pierce

Just one of the love songs I adore from this band. It’s such a soulful and emotional song that whenever Taka sings this one live with his piano, it feels like he’s crying every time. And, I may have cried with him, too.

5. Mighty Long Fall

Heavy and strong rhythm with some head-pounding drums. This song takes the strong vibe and translates it into the need of moving forward and standing still in the face of adversity.  The part where the lyrics say “Get up, get up. Time to make amends for what you did,” never failed to send me chills every time.

6. Heartache (ONE OK ROCK)

Probably one of my favorite songs from their 35xxxv album. Heartache claws deep in your emotion with such heart-rending lyrics and a more stripped-down ballad compared to their more powerful sounds. This song was actually used for the live-action film of Rurouni Kenshin: Densetsu no Saigo-hen.

7. Clock Strikes

“Believe that time is always forever. And I’ll always be here.” Clock strikes is simply the best. A very powerful song with lyrics just as strong. ONE OK ROCK’s live performance in the Yokohama Stadium singing this one is such goosebumps driving, one that I will never forget and be grateful for.

8. Wherever You Are (ONE OK ROCK)

The promise of love and a lifetime is overflowing in this song. Written for a friend by Taka, ‘Wherever You Are’ will always have a special place in my heart. It just hits hard every time and tickles your hope for meeting your special someone, someday!

That’s it! All of ONE OK ROCK’s songs are automatically my favorite but these are just the ones that took the cake. They are my source of comfort and joy that helped me brave some of the most challenging times. If you haven’t listened to them yet, how about giving them a try one of these days? You never know, they might just become your new favorite band too.