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 (51–60)
It's nothing good.Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, whose songs about burning manly passion are supported by men of his generation.
His track “Rokuna Mon Ja Nee,” released in 1987, became a major hit as the theme song for the drama Oyako Zigzag, in which Nagabuchi himself starred.
It’s a well-known song that many people have heard, not only those who remember the era but also thanks to its huge success.
It creates a rugged, cool vibe yet also gets everyone fired up as a karaoke song—by the chorus it turns into a big sing-along.
It’s a number I highly recommend to anyone who’s been feeling stressed out lately.
MPrincess Princess
For those looking for songs that showcase vocal power and high notes, M is highly recommended.
It’s a track by Princess Princess, a five-member all-female rock band.
The song vividly and emotionally portrays the sorrow of a woman after a breakup.
Incidentally, it’s been covered by many male artists, so checking out those versions can be helpful.
Some covers are sung softly, while others focus on lower registers.
Also, if you’re listening for the first time, I hope you’ll start by paying close attention to the lyrics.
North Wind ~May It Reach You~Noriyuki Makihara
It was released in 1992 as Noriyuki Makihara’s sixth single.
The song is a reworked version of “Kitakaze,” which originally appeared as the B-side to his second single, “ANSWER,” with Makihara himself adding new arrangements for its release as the sixth single.
Both the lyrics and composition were done by Makihara.
The song evokes a wintry scene with a cold north wind, and it’s a wonderful piece when sung well.
Listening to OliviaAnri
Anri is hugely popular both in Japan and abroad.
Among her songs, “Olivia o Kikinagara” is especially beloved as a karaoke staple.
Many of you may already know it, but it’s a ballad sung from a woman’s perspective about a love that has already ended.
Rather than looking up the words and names that appear in the lyrics, I think you’ll get more out of it by immersing yourself in its world.
Also, many male artists—such as Takeshi Tsuruno and Hideaki Tokunaga—have covered the song, and those versions are must-listens as well.
From Showa-era kayōkyoku to pop: cool songs that sound great when mastered (61–70)
Take It BackReiko
Born in 2002, REIKO—born in the Philippines and raised in Aichi Prefecture—is a promising young singer-songwriter who, despite narrowly missing out in SKY-HI’s audition program “THE FIRST,” was later recognized for his talent by SKY-HI himself and debuted as a solo artist.
Released in April 2025, the track “Take It Back” consciously channels New Jack Swing, reviving the style in a modern way and shaping it into a killer tune that fully showcases REIKO’s superb vocal ability and outstanding sense of rhythm.
Beyond the melody line that moves across a wide vocal range, songs like this demand a strong rhythmic feel while singing; simply hitting the notes as written will never capture the vibe.
Listen closely to the track and try singing with the song’s inherent groove in mind.
Tiger & DragonCRAZY KEN BAND
This is the fifth single by the 12-member band Crazy Ken Band, led by Ken Yokoyama—who calls himself the top sound creator in the East—and known for their popularity with a mixture sound that incorporates a variety of musical genres.
It’s a track that made a powerful impact, boasting multiple tie-ins with TV dramas, music shows, and variety programs.
The repeated hook in the final chorus is the kind of phrase that makes even listeners at karaoke want to sing along.
Beyond its catchy chorus, the entire song overflows with cool, mature flair—a rock number that would be undeniably cool to sing at karaoke.
LOVE ~I Want to Hold You~Kenji Sawada
After a heartbreak, some people may actually feel down but find it hard to show their true feelings.
LOVE ~Dakishimetai captures that kind of complicated love.
It’s a song released by Kenji Sawada in 1987, also known for being performed on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a slow-tempo ballad, almost like an acoustic solo, so beyond vocal ability, acting and expressive power are crucial.
Try singing as if you were the protagonist of the song.
It will surely stir the hearts of both listeners and the person singing.