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

The Maiden with Flaxen HairHitomi Shimatani

Hitomi Shimatani / "A Maiden with Flaxen Hair" [OFFICIAL MV FULL SIZE]

Released by Hitomi Shimatani in May 2002, this song is a celebrated piece that portrays a refreshing romance.

It expresses a young girl’s feelings of love through dreamlike imagery, beautifully harmonizing with scenes of landscape and nature.

The lyrics, imbued with youth and purity, are complemented by her clear, translucent vocals, capturing the brilliance of innocent love in full.

Featured in a commercial for Kao Essential Damage Care Shampoo, it became a major hit, peaking at No.

4 on the Oricon Weekly Chart.

With its broad, expansive melody and an elegant tone that sways like hair in the wind, it carries a familiar charm that invites everyone to hum along.

Best FriendKiroro

Kiroro ｢Best Friend｣ Official Music Video

This song features a warm melody that gently envelops heartfelt gratitude toward a dear friend and lyrics that resonate with honest emotion.

The straightforward words conveying affection for one’s companions harmonize beautifully with the tender piano tones that let feelings flow naturally.

Released by Kiroro in June 2001, it warmed the hearts of many viewers as the theme song for the NHK morning drama “Churasan.” Often sung at life’s milestones such as graduation and weddings, it is widely recognized across generations.

When everyone sings it together, it’s sure to fill the room with a happy atmosphere.

On the day of departure…Ai Kawashima

Ai Kawashima / On the Day of Departure (Lyrics)

A beautiful ballad by Ai Kawashima set in a spring classroom where cherry blossoms dance, depicting an eternal farewell and a promise to meet again.

Carried by gentle piano tones, memories with friends, hopes for the future, and feelings of gratitude are woven together with a clear, translucent voice.

Upon its release in February 2006, the song was featured on TV programs and commercials, becoming a staple for graduation ceremonies.

It’s a track that, along with nostalgic memories of classrooms and schoolyards, gives you the courage to step onto a new path.

Why not sing it while reflecting on your student days?

Love is overOuyang Feifei

JUJU “Love Is Over” Music Video (Short Ver.)

Love Is Over, Fifi Ou-yang’s signature song that has been beloved since its 1979 release, portrays an adult breakup through the psychology of a woman who is both romantic and resilient.

In particular, the image of a woman who decisively lets go of love from a nondependent stance must have been innovative even for its time.

The delicate shifts of emotion that emerge from Kaoru Ito’s sensitive songwriting evoke deep empathy in listeners.

Humming this song may bring back memories of youth and give you the courage to live strongly once again.

Tokyo at 7 p.m.Pizzicato Five

PIZZICATO FIVE / 7 p.m. in Tokyo

Pizzicato Five, often called the pioneers of the Shibuya-kei scene.

Their signature is dance pop infused with house, delivering a stylish sound that pairs catchy hooks with an edgy flair.

Among their tracks, the one I especially recommend is Tokyo wa Yoru no Shichiji (Tokyo at 7 p.

m.

).

Since it’s dance music, you might think the rhythm is tricky, but house is based on a four-on-the-floor beat—the easiest kind to follow—so there’s no need to worry.

The vocal line rises and falls gently, and the overall range is quite narrow, meaning anyone, regardless of their voice type, can sing it lightly and confidently.

MarigoldAimyon

Aimyon – Marigold [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Aimyong’s songs have a timeless appeal that’s independent of trends, making them popular across generations.

“Marigold,” released in 2018, marked her major breakthrough.

Its somewhat nostalgic melody evokes the early Heisei era, making it very pleasant to listen to and a classic that resonates with people of all ages.

For women in their 40s who say, “I mostly listen to the J-pop from my youth, but I want to try singing something more recent…,” I highly recommend Aimyong’s songs.

“Marigold” sits on the lower side pitch-wise and doesn’t have an extreme vocal range, so even those with lower voices or who feel insecure about singing should give it a try!

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.