[2025] Uplifting songs recommended for people in their 50s: A collection of nostalgic classics
When we think of people in their 50s today, many likely spent their formative years during Japan’s musical golden era: late-1970s to 1980s TV shows like “The Best Ten,” the late-80s band boom, and the early-90s J-POP and trendy drama boom.
In this article, we’ll introduce high-energy songs that 50-somethings can enjoy and feel nostalgic about.
In the midst of busy, demanding daily life, music can bring back memories you’d almost forgotten.
We hope this article can be that spark for you!
It can also serve as a helpful guide for younger generations when choosing songs for karaoke with people in their 50s.
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[2025] Uplifting Songs Recommended for People in Their 50s: Collection of Nostalgic Classics (101–110)
Cinderella SummerYuko Ishikawa
This is a single by singer-songwriter Yuko Ishikawa, released in March 1981, and it was used as a campaign song for JAL.
Notably, with this song Ishikawa entered the top ten of the Oricon Singles Chart for the first time.
That's important.Daiji MAN Brothers Band
A song by Dai-Ji MAN Brothers Band released in August 1991, their third single.
Thanks in part to securing tie-ins with several TV programs at the time, it became a massive hit, selling over 1.
6 million copies in total.
Perhaps reflecting the spirit of that era, the “let’s just do our best” type of lyrics might feel a bit out of step with today’s trends, but let’s not sweat the small stuff—just enjoy this upbeat melody and catchy rhythm to the fullest!
The Future Projection IIDREAMS COME TRUE
Released in 1989, this work is one of DREAMS COME TRUE’s most iconic songs.
For women in their 50s who spent their student years with it, it’s surely a track filled with special memories.
Its lyrics, portraying deep affection, never fade despite the passage of time.
Listening to this song will bring back nostalgic scenes from the past.
Beloved at karaoke as well, its conversational melody continues to comfort many and is still sung today.
It also saw wide media use, including being featured as a SONY commercial song in 1993.
You were mineToshinobu Kubota
This song, themed around heartbreak, stands out for its passionate vocals and rich musicality.
Toshinobu Kubota’s soul-stirring voice vividly portrays the pain of love.
Released in February 1988 and chosen as the theme song for a Fuji TV drama, it became a major hit—his first entry into the Top 3 on the Oricon charts—and ranked 10th on the year-end singles chart.
Blending R&B elements with lyrics that resonate deeply, this track is perfect for moments when you want to reminisce about love or find the strength to move on from a cherished goodbye.
Embracing SummerTUBE
With a sound that evokes clear blue skies and a shining sun, this is a quintessential summer song from TUBE.
It conveys a love so intense it keeps you awake at night, expressed through passionate lyrics and melody.
The protagonist’s once-in-a-lifetime feelings are sure to stir memories of bittersweet love that many have experienced.
Released in May 1994, this smash hit topped the Oricon charts and sold 940,000 copies.
It was also featured in a Toyota Corolla Ceres commercial and has become a karaoke staple loved by many.
It’s the perfect track to share with close friends or colleagues as you reminisce and look back together on life’s milestones.
[2025] Uplifting Songs Recommended for People in Their 50s: A Collection of Nostalgic Classics (111–120)
BoyhoodYosui Inoue
The timeless classic “Shonen Jidai,” beloved across generations, is a song released by Yosui Inoue in 1990 as the theme for a film of the same name.
Commissioned directly by Fujiko Fujio A, the author of the original work, “Shonen Jidai” features a simple yet moving piano tone, along with a melody and lyrics that evoke a deep sense of Japanese nostalgia.
It’s truly remarkable, and its fame and popularity are such that it would be no exaggeration to call it a national song—indeed, it has even been included in junior high and high school music textbooks.
For those in their 50s as of 2023, 1990 would have been their late teens to twenties.
True to its title, it’s a song you’ll want to sing while recalling your own boyhood days—perhaps at a gathering with your elementary or junior high school classmates.
Girl AAkina Nakamori
Akina Nakamori’s second single, which brought a fresh breeze to the idol scene of the 1980s.
Portraying the inner world of a defiant girl, this song played a crucial role in establishing her rebellious image.
Released in July 1982, it became Nakamori’s first hit and a turning point in her career.
The lyrics, themed around adolescent conflict and self-discovery, resonated with many young listeners and are vividly conveyed through Nakamori’s distinctive vocal timbre and expressive delivery.
This track evokes the complex emotions of youth along with a sense of nostalgia, and it’s a great choice when you want to get everyone energized at karaoke.