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

PledgeNEW!Angela Aki

Angela Aki “Pledge” Recording Documentary Movie

Angela Aki is a female singer-songwriter who is also active as a musical theater composer.

Released in 2025, her song “Pledge” centers on the theme of accepting oneself as they are, and an emotional atmosphere permeates the entire piece.

The song features a lot of low-register passages and a relatively narrow vocal range overall.

While this means you need to sing it with emotional nuance, it is still, fundamentally, a song that’s easy to perform.

for a long timeKiroro

Kiroro “Nagaimono” Official Music Video

Woven with a timeless, universal melody, a heartfelt vocal performance, and gentle piano tones, this song “Nagaimo” was released in 1998 as Kiroro’s major-label debut and became a million-selling hit.

It’s of course familiar to many women in their 40s, but even in the Reiwa era you still hear it often—one could even say it holds a place similar to “Minna no Uta.” You might associate it with skilled singers, but its straightforward melodic progression makes it very easy to sing, so even those who aren’t confident singers should give it a try at karaoke.

The overall pitch is on the higher side, but if you have a lower voice, adjusting the key will make it perfectly manageable.

appearsAyumi Hamasaki

Ayumi Hamasaki / appears

If you came of age in the late 1990s to early 2000s, there’s a good chance you looked up to Ayumi Hamasaki as a role model.

In Japan’s music scene, she ranks first among female solo artists in total CD sales, and with her charismatic presence—including her fashion—she sparked the “Ayu” boom.

Many of her songs feature soaring high tones one after another, which might make some people feel hesitant about singing them.

For those people, we recommend “appears,” released in 1999.

Compared to her other tracks, its melody has fewer wide interval jumps, so even those with lower voices will find it easier to sing at karaoke if they adjust the key.

GoodbyeGAO

GAO – Sayonara [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

GAO is a singer with a memorable husky voice and an androgynous presence.

After the 2000s, she made a surprising shift to gangsta rap and even released a full-fledged hip-hop album, and she continues to be active in music under the name GAO today.

Many people probably think of her 1992 smash hit “Sayonara” when they hear her name.

The song has since been covered by many singers and remains a classic of early Heisei-era J-pop that continues to be sung today.

Featuring a very singable melody built on a simple chord progression with restrained leaps in pitch, it’s also a great choice for those aiming for a high karaoke score.

For the high notes in the chorus, be sure to project strongly from your diaphragm so you can deliver them with power.

Things that have formKo Shibasaki

Ko Shibasaki – Something That Has Form

Ko Shibasaki captivates people not only as an actress but also as a singer with her expressive performances.

Her sixth single, released in August 2004, is a moving ballad that strikes a deep emotional chord.

Even when something precious is lost, the warm feelings that remain in the heart and the value of invisible bonds are poignantly woven together by Shibasaki’s voice, which blends clarity with strength.

The song became etched in many people’s memories as the theme for the drama “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” a social phenomenon at the time, and it debuted at No.

2 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

Many listeners surely carry this piece in their hearts along with the drama’s emotion.

As you reminisce about those days and sing along with the bittersweet melody, you’re sure to have a special time.

A gentle feelingChara

Chara “Yasashii Kimochi” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Chara, a female singer-songwriter who gained popularity for her distinctive musicality.

Many women in their 40s might have been fans of hers, right? Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is Yasashii Kimochi.

It’s a track that balances both a gothic feel and cuteness.

The vocal range is on the higher side at mid2 A# to hi D#, but the overall span is relatively narrow.

Using breath-based techniques such as hiccups can instantly elevate the quality, so try singing while referencing her breathing style.

Love againglobe

globe / Love again

People in their 40s are the generation that matched perfectly with the Komuro Sound, right? globe, in particular, was incredibly popular.

However, many of globe’s songs are quite high, and as we get older, a lot of their famous tracks can feel harder to sing.

That’s why I recommend Love again.

While it does have some high notes, its range is slightly narrower for a female song—roughly from mid1F to hiC.

Because of that, you can lower the key by a wider margin, making it easier to find your ideal key, and the pitch movement is relatively simple compared to other globe songs.