[For Women in Their 40s] A Collection of Songs That Score High at Karaoke [2025]

secret base ~What You Gave Me~ZONE

ZONE “secret base ~What You Gave Me~” MUSIC VIDEO

The moment that somewhat melancholy intro phrase starts playing, you can’t help but get teary-eyed… there must be people who feel that way.

ZONE’s 2001 single “secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~” is their biggest hit, and some of you may remember that a cover of the song was used as the theme for the anime “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day,” which aired ten years later, leading to a revival hit.

It was hugely popular at karaoke back then and still is now, and its straightforward, unfolding melody makes it easy to try even if you’re not confident in your singing—and you might even score high at karaoke.

Since all the members sing in the original, it’s also a great choice to sing together with friends from your school days!

Like when we first metEvery Little Thing

"Like When We First Met" MUSIC VIDEO / Every Little Thing

For many women now in their 40s who spent their teenage years to early twenties in the mid-to-late 1990s, Every Little Thing holds a special place.

Back then, plenty of people imitated Kaori Mochida’s fashion and hairstyles.

ELT’s classic songs are still hugely popular at karaoke even in the Reiwa era, but if you’re aiming for a high score, we recommend the 1997 hit “Deatta Koro no You ni.” Its quintessential late-’90s Avex-style sound and melody make it very easy to sing, and since there aren’t any tricky sections, it’s less likely you’ll go off-pitch.

The overall key is on the higher side, so if you have a lower voice, try adjusting the key to suit you before singing.

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

Yorushika was formed in 2017 by n-buna, who had been active as a Vocaloid producer, together with vocalist suis.

Their music—woven from n-buna’s exceptional skill as a composer in neatly organizing and channeling a wealth of information into songs, and suis’s captivating, slightly husky voice that handles a wide range of styles—has become indispensable to the J-pop scene in the Reiwa era.

Released in 2018, “Just a Sunny Day for You” surpassed 230 million views on YouTube as of March 2025, making it one of Yorushika’s signature early tracks.

Some women in their 40s might be inclined to shy away, thinking, “Songs these days are kind of complicated, and I’m not sure about singing them at karaoke…,” but “Just a Sunny Day for You” doesn’t have the dense, lyric-packed melody often heard in recent hits.

Each note is enunciated clearly, and the vocal range is very narrow, so it should feel easy to sing.

However, the pitch is high, so those with lower voices may want to adjust the key.

TOMORROWMayo Okamoto

Mayo Okamoto “TOMORROW” Music Video

It’s one of the iconic cheer-up songs of the 1990s, and surely there are many women who, even after turning 40, still find strength in it.

Released in 1995 as Mayu Okamoto’s debut single, “TOMORROW” was a massive hit, selling over two million copies.

Even in the Reiwa era, it remains a universally beloved anthem.

The melody, delivered with Okamoto’s straightforward and clear voice, is very easy to sing, and it doesn’t include the high-note sections typical of many hits from that time, so even those with lower voices can feel at ease.

Since the song overall has a bouncy rhythm, it’s good to sing it with crisp articulation while paying attention to the dynamics of the melodic accents.

Lila LilhaNEW!Kaela Kimura

Kaela Kimura “Rirura Riruha” (Official Music Video)

Kaela Kimura’s third single, “Rirura Riruha.” True to her early work, the song has an overall rock feel, but the vocal line isn’t particularly intense.

In fact, while the range is mid2C to hiC#—so on the higher side—it stays within a narrow span.

The melodic movement is very gentle, and since the average pitch is mid2E, only two semitones above the lowest note, even those who struggle with high notes should find it easy to sing.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

Hello, my friendYumi Matsutoya

Yumi Matsutoya – Hello, my friend

As one of the most important artists in Japanese music history, Yuming—Yumi Matsutoya—is a name that invariably comes up.

Each generation has songs by Yuming that hold special meaning, but many women in their 40s today will likely think of her hits from the 1990s.

From the standpoint of being easy to sing at karaoke, I recommend Hello, my friend.

Released in 1994 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Kimi to Ita Natsu (A Summer with You), it was a massive hit that sold over a million copies.

While it’s packed with that quintessential Yuming flavor, the melody unfolds very straightforwardly and is easy to sing.

There are no particularly challenging high notes or sustained long notes, so with a bit of practice, you can probably expect a high score at karaoke.

LOVE LOVE LOVENEW!DREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE – LOVE LOVE LOVE (from THE DREAM QUEST TOUR 2017 Live Ver.)

LOVE LOVE LOVE, a famous song by DREAMS COME TRUE released in 1995.

If you’re a woman in your 40s, you’ve probably heard it at least once.

The song’s vocal range is mid1 F# to hi C#, which is relatively narrow for a DCT track.

The tempo is very relaxed, and the melodic movement is gentle, so as long as you’ve memorized the vocal line well, you’re unlikely to go off pitch.

However, because the slow tempo leads to more long notes, it’s advisable to master diaphragmatic breathing to maintain stable vocal production.