Recommended for women in their 50s! A curated selection of classic and popular karaoke hits that will get the crowd going

Swaying feelingsZARD

Swaying Feelings (What a beautiful memory 2007)

ZARD was a music unit that ended its activities following the sudden passing of vocalist Izumi Sakai.

Their 8th single, “Yureru Omoi,” used in Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Pocari Sweat commercial, became a million-seller and is widely known as one of ZARD’s signature songs.

The gentle vocals and clear, transparent ensemble offer a soothing experience just by listening.

It’s a refreshing pop tune that we especially hope people in their 50s—the generation that grew up with it—will sing at karaoke.

Carmen ’77Pink Lady

Carmen ’77

A 1977 hit song known for its choreography that dynamically shows off long, slender arms and legs, and its powerful sound.

The concept is that a pure-hearted girl is pretending to be “Carmen,” stretching just a bit beyond her years as she falls into a passionate, fiery love—when you listen now, it feels adorable, doesn’t it? She’s fallen for a slightly older man, and to make him notice her, she’s putting on the act of being a slightly sexy woman.

So please sing it with a playful touch, leaning into those prim and proper little “desu!” and “masu!”-like emphases that only a girl like her would make.

Summer MissIkue Sakakibara

Summer Girl - Ikue Sakakibara

A major hit released in July 1978 as Ikue Sakakibara’s seventh single.

On TBS’s “The Best Ten,” it debuted at No.

10, peaked at No.

5, and stayed on the chart for six consecutive weeks, showing how popular it was at the time.

Set against a refreshing summer seaside, the lyrics depicting youthful romance and the lively melody are a perfect match.

The song vividly captures the fun of days at the beach and the exhilaration of a season in love, evoking listeners’ own summer memories.

It’s also ideal for karaoke with friends—singing it together while reminiscing about youthful days will surely make for wonderful memories.

southpawPink Lady

southpaw

There was a segment on a TV show with the idea that “women in their fifties remember the choreography to Pink Lady’s songs.” When they went out into the streets to investigate, they found that women around that age could all sing and dance to Pink Lady—strange, isn’t it? I bet some people even consider Southpaw their signature number! This song, which stylishly spins a mostly impossible scenario—“a left-handed female pitcher facing off seriously against a male batter”—also proved that Pink Lady wasn’t just about being cute.

And of course, when you sing it, make sure to do the choreography too!

TouchYoshimi Iwasaki

Touch

This was Yoshimi Iwasaki’s 20th single, released in March 1985.

It was produced as the opening theme for the Fuji TV anime “Touch,” based on the original work by Mitsuru Adachi, and thanks to the synergy with the popularity of both the manga and the anime, it became a major hit that won a Gold Disc that same year.

Incidentally, the B-side track, “Kimi ga Inakereba,” was used as the ending theme for the same anime.

It’s an upbeat, lively song, and the vocal melody stays within a range that most people can sing comfortably, so feel free to pick it for karaoke and have fun.

Be sure to emphasize the contrast between the crisply articulated sections like the chorus and the more legato sections elsewhere.

Marilyn in 1986Minako Honda

Minako Honda – Marilyn in 1986

There’s no point in talking about what-ifs, but if Minako Honda were still with us today, she would surely be thrilling us as one of Japan’s leading divas and as one of the country’s top musical theater stars.

“Marilyn in 1986,” with its flamboyant costumes and seductive choreography, also became a hot topic and is a song I recommend to anyone feeling down.

Centered on a woman who “transforms like a butterfly in the night city,” the captivating lyrics were penned by the genius Yasushi Akimoto.

The chorus is one you’ll want to belt out with all your might!

Kiss me right nowLINDBERG

LINDBERG / Kiss Me Now

Everything was glitzy in the ’80s and ’90s.

On TV, so-called “trendy dramas” were at their peak.

Among them, the Monday 9 p.

m.

slot—“Getsuku”—was special and produced numerous classics.

This song, “Kiss Me Right Away,” was the theme for the drama “You’re the One I Love Most in the World,” and together with the show’s popularity, it became a mega-hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts and becoming one of LINDBERG’s signature tracks.

The lyrics, which feel like they bare a woman’s true feelings, are refreshing, and vocalist Ms.

Watase’s Kansai dialect sounded delightfully playful.

If you want to hype up the mood, this is a go-to track you’ll think, “Start with this one!”