I want to sing songs that use a lot of falsetto—tracks that are also good for practicing falsetto at karaoke.

Before our feelings overlap…NEW!Ken Hirai

Ken Hirai “Before Our Feelings Overlap…” MUSIC VIDEO

From the very beginning, Ken Hirai’s beautiful singing voice resonates in this song.

It’s a 2004 track that was used in a TOYOTA Corolla Fielder commercial and also served as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “The Truth of Tsugumi Kuzushi.” The lyrics make it a ballad that feels both like singing and like speaking to someone, so it’s a song you can really get into and sing calmly.

I often point out Ken Hirai’s singing characteristics to my students, so please use them as a reference! First, while it’s memorable that he sings with his eyes closed, in reality, closing your eyes can cause unnecessary tension and make it harder to stay on pitch.

However, Hirai raises his eyebrows and uses his hand to track the pitch while he sings.

He compensates in other ways so that singing becomes more natural and easier.

This gesture also makes it much easier to produce falsetto, so definitely give it a try!

Wherever you areNEW!ONE OK ROCK

Full ver. One Ok Rock Wherever You Are #oneokrock #ワンオク #whereveryouare

ONE OK ROCK’s signature song “Wherever you are.” Since it’s sung as a love song that vows eternity, you’ll want to use falsetto to really bring out the song’s appeal.

That said, the falsetto in “Wherever you are” appears mainly at the beginning.

The song builds toward the latter half, so about two-thirds is sung in chest voice.

If you sing the initial guitar-backed section firmly in falsetto to create contrast, it lands stylishly.

Many people who like rock and band music seem to want to sing ONE OK ROCK.

The high range can be a hurdle, but ballads let you cover the high notes with falsetto, so they’re recommended.

Open your throat and keep the breath flowing steadily!

W/X/YNEW!Tani Yuuki

W/X/Y – Tani Yuuki (Official Lyric Video)

W/X/Y, released in May 2021.

It’s a signature song by Tani Yuuki! It’s a recommended love song for those who want to practice falsetto naturally and without strain, and it makes it easy to move from chest voice → mixed voice → falsetto.

I’ve taught it a few times myself, but the melody line was more difficult than I expected… I recommend memorizing it well before singing.

In particular, the B-melody has a line that clearly sounds like falsetto even just by listening! In general, Tani Yuuki has a gentle vocal quality, so his singing has an airy, open feel.

To start, try imitating that: take a solid breath and sing with a gentle tone.

Since falsetto uses a lot of air, the key point is to “take in plenty of breath.”

Trace that dreamNEW!YOASOBI

YOASOBI “Tracing That Dream” Official Music Video

Ano Yume wo Nazotte has a very wide vocal range.

It’s written in a range from D#3 to E5, with the low notes extending more than in other YOASOBI songs.

Speaking of YOASOBI, you probably think of especially high choruses! They’re a perfect fit for this theme.

The A melody stays in the low range, but even there, keep your throat open and let your breath flow.

Making a surprised face helps open the throat—try to maintain that state as you head into the chorus.

In the chorus, you’ll encounter long sustained notes, so engage your lower abdomen to keep your body steady and send your voice straight out with confidence.

That way, your breath will flow well and you can sing smoothly without your voice catching.

Give it lots of tries!

Heralding springNEW!yama

yama – Harbinger of Spring (Official Video)

This song, Haru wo Tsugeru, is what suddenly brought yama into the spotlight.

Some of you might recognize the opening phrase.

That said, when you actually try singing it, it’s famous for being difficult because of the drastic ups and downs in pitch.

The rhythm is crucial and the tempo is on the faster side, so it’s best to learn it slowly, piece by piece, at first.

YouTube lets you change the playback speed, so I highly recommend using that! When you sing, try not to push on the high notes; if you stay relaxed, you’ll be able to make good use of your falsetto.

It might help to practice singing lightly, with a bouncy feel.

As you get a feel for the melody line, you’ll naturally figure out where to add accents and where to cut the sound.

Once you’re comfortable, try using a bit more breath; that should help you switch smoothly between chest voice and falsetto.

Just the two of usRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Futari-goto [Official Music Video]

RADWINPS’s third major-label single and their sixth single overall, released in May 2006.

The way falsetto is used in this song is to express “softness” and “gentleness” in the high register.

A breathy falsetto voice is employed very effectively in the first half of the track.

Thanks to this prelude, the dynamically belted high notes in chest voice from the latter half really shine within the song’s overall vocal expression.

When singing it at karaoke, it’s best to make a clear contrast between the first and second halves.

However, the vocals in the first half—which at first listen may sound relaxed—are actually quite difficult to sing stably.

If you try this approach, pay close attention to pitch and other details.

Happy Endingback number

back number – “Happy End” Music Video

It’s back number’s 16th single, released in November 2016.

It was used as the theme song for the film “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday.” As for the use of falsetto, it follows a typical approach commonly heard in male-vocal bands.

If you sing it at karaoke, just be careful not to make the register switch sound unnatural at the transition point, and you should be fine.