Famous songs we’d like women in their 50s to sing (by age group)

The hottest summer in the worldNEW!PRINCESS PRINCESS

Princess Princess 'The Hottest Summer in the World'

PRINCESS PRINCESS opened the door for girls’ bands.

Many women in their 50s probably admired them.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is “The Hottest Summer in the World.” This track is notable for its extremely catchy vocal line.

While the range is relatively high at mid2A to hiD, it’s quite narrow.

Since there aren’t any difficult phrases in any section, if you can keep your pitch steady, it’s definitely possible to aim for a score in the 90s at karaoke.

Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE – Give Me a Gentle Kiss (from DWL 2015 Live Ver.)

This is the 31st single by the duo DREAMS COME TRUE, a soulful track featuring an extraordinary vocal that has captivated fans since their debut.

Written specifically as the theme song for the TV drama “Suna no Utsuwa” (The Castle of Sand), its lyrics portray a forbidden love, and the heartrending arrangement really tightens the chest.

When sung by a woman in her fifties—someone likely to have lived through many experiences—men might find themselves imagining their own private dramas.

With an outstandingly unsettling atmosphere in the outro, it’s a love song that perfectly suits an adult woman.

Message of RougeYumi Matsutoya

Yumi Matsutoya – Rouge no Dengon (Yumi Matsutoya Concert Tour The Universe Library 2016-2017)

A song by singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya, who took the top spot in album sales for ten consecutive releases across five decades—from the 1970s to the 2010s—and remains highly active today.

Originally released in 1972 as her fifth single under the name Yumi Arai, the track gained broader recognition when it was used as the opening theme for the 1989 Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Its brisk American pop feel contrasts with its sharp, biting message—something that might make male listeners’ hearts race when they hear it at karaoke.

It’s a karaoke favorite not only among people in their 50s, who were part of the original generation, but also among the anime generation.

Pure Love RhapsodyMariya Takeuchi

Pure Love Rhapsody – Mariya Takeuchi

In today’s music scene, where Japanese city pop is being reevaluated worldwide, renewed attention is being drawn to singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi’s 24th single.

The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Deatta Koro no Kimi de Ite” and as the commercial song for Nissan’s Cefiro, and it is also known as Takeuchi’s biggest hit.

Its arrangement, combining a light, buoyant feel with a comforting sense of float, and its bittersweet lyrics imbued with her own personality, create a more realistic image when sung by an adult woman.

With its stylish, gentle melody that soothes the heart, it’s a number that many men would surely love to hear sung by a woman in her 50s.

Second LoveAkina Nakamori

Akina Nakamori – Second Love

This is the third single by singer Akina Nakamori, whose commanding presence—even as a leading actress—and overwhelming vocal power and unique aura have earned her recognition beyond the realm of idols.

With an arrangement rooted in orthodox kayōkyoku and an expressive, wistful delivery, it became a major hit and is an indispensable number when discussing Nakamori’s early career.

Its poignant lyrics and melody resonate with men across generations, making it a popular choice for karaoke.

It’s a classic that colored the idol scene of the 1980s, one I especially hope women in their 50s—rich in life experience—will sing.

La La LaNEW!Maki Ohguro

La La La

Maki Ohguro is a female singer-songwriter whose husky yet solid, resonant voice leaves a strong impression.

For women in their 50s, she’s arguably quite a popular artist.

Among her songs, one I particularly recommend as easy to sing is “La La La.” While the range is slightly broad at mid2A to hiF#, the pitch movement isn’t at all drastic, so overall it’s a song that’s easy to sing.

From the C-melody into the final chorus, there are repeated high phrases, so it’s best to set your key with that section as the main reference.

10 yearsMisato Watanabe

Misato Watanabe 10 years

A 12th single by singer-songwriter Misato Watanabe that, thanks to its strong popularity—topping fan polls, for example—has become one of her signature songs.

Released as a double A-side with “Kimi no Yowasa,” it was also used as the campaign jingle for UCC Ueshima Coffee’s canned coffee commercials.

With lyrics that convey a message of striding powerfully through the ten years of both past and future, the song conjures an image of a cool, self-possessed woman—even from a male perspective.

Sung by a woman in her fifties with rich life experience, the lyrics gain added depth, making it a crowd-pleaser at karaoke as well.