Popular 80s hits for karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs!
What kind of songs do you sing when you go to karaoke?
Some people like to sing the latest hits, but 80s Japanese pop still enjoys strong popularity at karaoke.
Songs from that era are often either easy to sing or really satisfying to belt out, so they’re popular even among younger generations.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of recommended karaoke tracks from the biggest hits of the 80s.
We’ve focused on timeless classics that almost everyone has heard before and gathered songs perfect for karaoke, so use this as a guide when choosing what to sing.
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- Songs that get people in their 30s pumped up: a roundup of nostalgic tracks that are also great for karaoke
1980s hit songs popular at karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs! (1–10)
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Teng
Teresa Teng, the Asian songstress from Taiwan, sings “Toki no Nagare ni Mi wo Makase” (I Give My Love to the Flow of Time).
It’s an absolute classic that middle-aged and older generations always sing at karaoke! Lately, Showa-era pop songs have been catching on with younger people too, so I hope more and more of them will sing it.
A good song touches the heart no matter the era, don’t you think? Try singing it while savoring the lyrics about single-minded love, carried by its gentle, unhurried melody.
It’s also a great pick when going to karaoke with the whole family.
CheersTsuyoshi Nagabuchi
Included on Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s third album “Kampai,” the song was originally released on September 5, 1980.
Although it has become one of Nagabuchi’s signature hits, it wasn’t released as a single until eight years after the album came out, with a newly recorded version issued as the single.
As it became a staple song for graduation ceremonies in the 1980s and 1990s, many people have likely sung it themselves.
In that sense, I believe it’s a deeply nostalgic song for each person.
Please enjoy singing it along with your memories.
Wine Red HeartSafe zone
It was Safety Zone’s fourth single, released on November 25, 1983, with lyrics by Yosui Inoue.
The song has a uniquely dense, sensual mood, and that very “density” gives off a kind of stylish vibe that’s a bit different from the Showa-era mood kayō that came before—another part of its charm.
While much of that sense of style comes from the melody and arrangement themselves, it likely owes a lot to Tamaki’s somewhat distinctive vocal delivery.
When you sing it at karaoke, it might be fun to deliberately imitate Tamaki’s slightly dragged-out singing style!
Popular 80s hits for karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs! (11–20)
Red Sweet PeaSeiko Matsuda
Released on January 22, 1982, with composition by Yumi Matsutoya.
Among Seiko Matsuda’s many hit songs, this one is said to be especially popular.
Just by listening, you can feel a gentle brightness that evokes the arrival of spring—truly one of the great classics of the Showa era! When singing it at karaoke, you can imitate Seiko herself or add your own interpretation; it’s a song with a melody that lends itself to many expressive approaches.
Get WildTM NETWORK
TM NETWORK, the electronic music band led by Tetsuya Komuro, wrote Get Wild as the ending theme for the anime City Hunter.
Its melody and lyrics, inspired by the anime’s world, are still loved by many today.
It’s a fast-tempo dance track, making it perfect for when you want to cut loose.
If everyone joins in on that chorus, it’ll hype things up even more.
By the way, the long intro was designed to make it easier to play smoothly within the anime.
Take back the love!!Crystal King
The opening shout is memorable—the theme song of the TV anime Fist of the North Star is “Ai o Torimodose!!” It was released in 1984 by Crystal King, a rock band known for hits like “Daitokai” and “Shinkirou.” With its punchy, fight-song energy, it’s perfect for blowing off stress! It’s also a popular anime song for karaoke, so it’s a great pick when you can’t decide what to sing or want to break out of a rut.
It’ll hype up a big group or a solo karaoke session, so give it a try!
A long nightChiharu Matsuyama
This is the tenth single by Chiharu Matsuyama, a folk singer from Hokkaido who has gained popularity across generations for his soulful high-tone voice.
With a rock-style arrangement that set it apart from earlier folk songs, it became a massive hit and is known as Matsuyama’s biggest success.
The melody, featuring a driving yet dramatic ensemble and his expansive high notes, makes it especially satisfying to sing at karaoke.
It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser no matter who you go with—an iconic karaoke song representing the 1980s.