Recommended for women in their 40s! Easy-to-sing songs for karaoke

Yellow Yellow HappyPocket Biscuits

Yellow Yellow Happy (Colorful Version)

Pocket Biscuits is a musical unit that originated from the 1990s hit TV show “Ucchan Nanchan no Urinari!!”.

Unusually for a project-born unit, they were active for five years, and at their peak even headlined a solo concert at the Budokan.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is “Yellow Yellow Happy.” It has a powerful, upbeat melody, but the vocal line itself is simple and repeats similar phrases.

On top of that, the range is relatively narrow, so a woman in her 40s should be able to sing it without any trouble.

Time goes byEvery Little Thing

Every Little Thing / Time goes by（from「ELT 15th Anniversary Concert Tour “ORDINARY”」）

For those who struggle with fast-tempo songs, Every Little Thing’s signature track “Time goes by” is also recommended.

Released in 1998, it was the theme song for the TV drama “Amai Kekkon” that aired at the time, so people who heard it back then will likely feel a strong sense of nostalgia.

The lyrics are deeply moving, so the trick is to sing each word carefully and clearly.

In the chorus, let your voice ring out fully and expansively.

Overall, adding a touch of fragility will bring out the song’s appeal even more.

Thank youIkimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

Since the late 2000s, Ikimonogakari has boasted top-tier sales and popularity in the J-pop scene, enjoying exceptional name recognition across all ages.

Their songs span a wide variety of genres, yet the melodies—anchored by simple, classic chord progressions—are incredibly pleasant and universally appealing.

It’s impressive how they consistently release “good songs” that don’t alienate any listeners.

Released in 2010, “Arigatou” served as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Gegege no Nyobo and is one of Ikimonogakari’s signature tracks, highly popular at karaoke.

While the chorus reaches slightly higher notes, it stays within a range manageable in chest voice, and there aren’t any large interval jumps, making it very singable and a strong candidate for a high karaoke score.

threadMiyuki Nakajima

Thread – Miyuki Nakajima (Full)

A ballad that combines strength and gentleness, with a vocal range and melody that make it easy for both women and men to sing, it’s a popular choice at karaoke.

Released in 1998 as Miyuki Nakajima’s 35th single, it came out as a double A-side under the title “Inochi no Betsumei / Ito,” featuring two songs that served as the theme for the TBS drama Seija no Koshin.

Although it peaked at No.

12 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and narrowly missed the Top 10, it became a long-selling hit and ultimately went million-seller.

It remains a beloved classic frequently heard in commercials and beyond.

I can't stay a daydreaming girlNanae Aikawa

Nanase Aikawa - I Can’t Be a Dreaming Girl

This is the debut single by female singer Nanase Aikawa, who made her major-label debut in 1995 under the production of singer-songwriter Tetsuro Oda.

With its hard rock vibe and striking lyrics, the song made a big splash—many women in their 40s today likely remember being blown away in real time.

Its distinctly rock, gritty vocal style makes it perfect for singing at karaoke when you’re feeling stressed.

It’s a nostalgic number that’s highly recommended for those times when you want to let it all out and feel refreshed.

To the futureKiroro

Kiroro “To the Future” Official Music Video

Kiroro’s classic song “Mirai e” (“To the Future”) was written by Chiharu Tamashiro when she was in her third year of junior high school, and its lyrics carry a warm message about moving toward the future and growing.

The gentle, tender harmonies woven by the two artists from Okinawa soothe the listener’s heart and inspire hope for tomorrow.

For those in their forties, it’s also recommended to sing this song while reminiscing about your younger days and holding love for someone dear in your heart.

The vocal range isn’t very wide, so it’s also exceptionally easy to sing.

Surely more than anyone else in the worldNEW!Miho Nakayama & WANDS

Surely more than anyone else in the world

This is a very famous song and one of Miho Nakayama’s signature tracks.

I imagine many people sing it.

The collaboration with the rock band WANDS is also very special.

The overall vocal range is F#3–B4, and since the chorus uses the top note B4 frequently, it’s an easy key for those who are good with high notes.

If you feel it’s “too high” while singing, don’t force it—try lowering the key by one or two steps.

If belting in chest voice is difficult for you, adding clear accents in the high parts will help the sound come out more easily.

You can probably sense where the high sections are as you sing, so try aiming for those spots and pronouncing just “ah” there to target them precisely at first.

Also, for pronunciations with the vowel “i,” pulling the sound too wide horizontally creates tension.

Try to keep some space inside your mouth and avoid overemphasizing the “ee” sound.