From Showa-era kayōkyoku to pop: songs that sound cool when you can really sing them
Many of you probably want to sing cool, deep tracks at karaoke with style.
In particular, Showa-era kayōkyoku and New Music, as well as early-to-mid Heisei J-POP, are packed with timeless masterpieces that still sound fresh decades after their release—a real treasure trove of cool, mature songs.
It’s precisely because of that universal appeal that these songs continue to be sung by today’s younger generation.
In this article, I’ll introduce plenty of those songs that, if you can pull them off, will give you that sophisticated edge.
I’ve picked selections mainly from Japanese music of the ’70s through the ’90s, with some of the latest J-POP mixed in, so use this as a reference when choosing songs for karaoke!
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- [For Men] Cool, Popular Songs That Impress at Karaoke
- Easy-to-sing karaoke songs recommended for men in their 50s
- Classic Showa-era songs that are easy to sing at karaoke
- Karaoke songs for men in their 40s: a curated selection of hit tracks women want to hear!
- A lineup of classics! Easy-to-sing Heisei-era songs, perfect for karaoke picks
- [For Men in Their 40s] A Collection of Songs That Score High at Karaoke [2025]
- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
- [2025] Songs I Want to Try Singing at Karaoke! A Roundup of Popular Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
- [Popular and Crowd-Pleasing!] Stylish Song Selections and Karaoke Tracks
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
- [50s] Karaoke Popularity Rankings by Generation [2025]
From Showa-era kayōkyoku to pop: cool songs that sound great when mastered (61–70)
Love MemoryShigeru Matsuzaki
You don’t often see it in Japan, but in Europe there are many competitions where singers vie on pure ability.
Love Memory was composed after a director at Pictor Records was deeply impressed by the Mallorca Music Festival and wanted to let the world know that Japan, too, has top-tier talent.
As a result, Shigeru Matsuzaki was chosen as the featured powerhouse vocalist.
The song went on to take second place in the overall category at the Mallorca Music Festival.
Ironically, it isn’t well known in Japan, but it’s actually an incredible piece.
By the way, at the time the chorus was reportedly arranged in Spanish.
Given all this, the song is extremely difficult, but it’s crafted to be as cool and sophisticated as it gets—so why not give it a try?
ParadiseKen Hirai
It was released in 2000 as Ken Hirai’s eighth single.
This song became the catalyst for his big breakthrough, but it was the first single for which Hirai himself neither wrote the lyrics nor composed the music.
His sexy, sultry vocals combined with the mature lyrics make for a very cool, sophisticated track.
You’re My Only Shinin’ StarMiho Nakayama
Miho Nakayama, who is also active as an actress, is known for winning the Japan Record Award with “You’re My Only Shinin’ Star.” The song, told from a woman’s perspective, expresses gratitude to her boyfriend and features vocals that make full use of high tones throughout.
So if you sing it, it can convey not only coolness but also a sense of beauty and elegance.
By the way, several versions have been released, so comparing them is recommended.
outdatedEigo Kawashima
Even when you say a song is “shibui,” the style can vary.
Some have a sweet vibe, others are stylish—there are many shades of shibui.
But this song, Jidai Okure, is, in a word, the ultimate shibui.
It’s a work that fully brings out a manly coolness, and the lyrics portray a straight-laced, old-school kind of man.
It might be hard to win popularity with women, but it will likely resonate with men.
Try practicing to get closer to Eigo Kawashima’s deep, rugged vocal tone.
With a fiery heartAkira Kobayashi
This is a song released by Akira Kobayashi in 1985, which was used in a commercial for Ajinomoto General Foods (AGF) “Maxim.” With lyrics by Yū Aku and music composed by Eiichi Ohtaki, the song became a major hit, winning the Gold Prize at the 28th Japan Record Awards and earning a spot in the 37th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It remains one of Kobayashi’s signature songs.
AliensKirinji
A supremely mellow and romantic song by Kirinji, Japan’s pride and joy of melody makers.
The chorus of this track is breathtakingly beautiful and vividly immersive.
The falsetto parts are gorgeous, but the key is quite high, so be prepared! If you can pull it off, it’s a true masterpiece that will make you think, “Wow, that was really something.”
Indigo WaltzToshinobu Kubota
If you want to sing some sophisticated R&B, I recommend Indigo Waltz.
This song is one of Toshinobu Kubota’s signature works and was released in 1988.
It features a classic R&B slow-ballad melody, giving it an overall mature vibe—truly the epitome of smooth, “shibui” R&B.
If you sing it at karaoke, its sweetness and depth are sure to catch the attention of the ladies, so give it a try!