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!
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- [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 to master (21–30)
Not Drunkbewitching goldfish
Yoen Kingyo is an R&B/hip-hop duo highly acclaimed by Japan’s core black-music aficionados.
Their songs evoke 1990s and 2000s Western R&B, and their refined style has earned support in the underground scene as well.
Their classic “Not Drunk” exemplifies quality R&B.
While it doesn’t showcase flashy technique, the song is difficult enough that you can’t really sing it without a solid command of R&B fundamentals.
If you can perform it flawlessly, it will undoubtedly leave a cool, sophisticated impression.
death anniversaryCHANMINA
This is a powerful song by Chanmina that vividly portrays the urgency toward passing time and the resolve to live fully in the present.
It was also used as the theme song for the drama “Hayabusa Fire Brigade.” By contrasting the striking title “Meinichi” (the anniversary of someone’s death) with the all-out intensity of the present, it underscores a determination to live desperately in the now.
The strong rhythm with hints of R&B and funk, layered with a surging, powerful vocal delivery, conveys unwavering conviction.
Paying attention to the treatment of line endings and the application of force to evoke a gritty feel is a key point in fully communicating the song’s world.
I can’t say it.Hiromi Go
Released in 1994 as Hiromi Go’s 66th single, this song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “Omiai no Tatsujin” and as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Kamioka Ryutaro ni wa Damasarenai zo!” It was issued as the second installment in a trilogy of ballads and is one of Hiromi Go’s most popular ballads.
AiMotohiro Hata
It was released in 2010 as Motohiro Hata’s ninth single.
The song was used as the ending theme for TV Miyazaki’s “UMK Super News” and debuted at No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.
Among Hata’s songs, it is particularly popular and is filled with the gentleness of a man.
After the FestivalKeisuke Kuwata
It was released in 1994 as Keisuke Kuwata’s fifth single.
The song was used as the theme for the Nippon TV drama “Shizukanaru Don,” marking the first time one of Kuwata’s solo songs was chosen as a TV drama theme.
With lyrics told from the perspective of a timid, unremarkable man—a viewpoint not often seen in his solo work—it has become a classic beloved by male listeners.
Lovely FreakASOUND
Right now, among Japan’s up-and-coming bands, ASOUND is rumored to have an especially fierce sense of style.
They’re known for a multifaceted sound that blends R&B, soul, neo-soul, and even Afrobeat, earning them high praise from music aficionados.
Their classic track “Lovely Freak” showcases the allure of Black music—jazz included—at every turn.
With frequent falsetto passages, it’s quite challenging, but if you can pull it off, you’ll definitely leave a cool, sophisticated impression.
My sincere heartAina the End
Aina the End is a female artist who continues to thrive on the front lines, wielding her exceptionally husky voice as a weapon.
Her singing ability is so remarkable that you’d never guess she used to be an idol, and in terms of expressiveness, she ranks among the very top of female artists in Japan.
Among her songs, the one that leaves an especially smoky, mature impression is “Watashi no Magokoro” (“My Sincere Heart”).
It’s a track that feels like a blend of Chara and UA’s musical sensibilities—chill, yet brimming with passion.