Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended classics and standard hits
No matter how many years go by or how many times you listen, the songs you loved in your youth always stir something warm in your heart, don’t they?
In this article, we’ll introduce popular Japanese songs that colored the teenage years of women in their 40s.
We’ve gathered a trove of classics perfect for anyone thinking, “I want to hear that song again,” or “I want to sing the songs I sang as a student at karaoke.”
You’re sure to rediscover the tracks you loved back then!
Even if you’re busy every day with work and household chores, why not take a little break and bask in the memories of your youth?
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Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended masterpieces and classic tracks (21–30)
A Cruel Angel's ThesisYoko Takahashi
It’s a song created as the theme for the 1995 anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, and even now it remains one of the most iconic anime songs.
Since both the anime and the song were huge hits at the time, many people probably heard it often.
It’s also been a karaoke staple for years, and I imagine many of you have actually sung it yourselves.
There may be no other anime song that can bring people together across generations quite like this one.
CAN YOU CELEBRATE?Namie Amuro
People in their early 40s are from the so-called “Amura” generation, and many of them probably admired Namie Amuro back then.
Not only her songs, but also her fashion and hairstyles were hugely popular and even became a social phenomenon.
When it comes to her signature tracks, this song is indispensable.
Since its release in 1997, it has long been loved by many women as a classic wedding song.
There may even be women in their 40s who used this song at their own weddings!
A gentle feelingChara
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.
PIECE OF MY WISHMiki Imai
PIECE OF MY WISH, sung by Miki Imai, whose gentle yet dignified voice leaves a lasting impression.
Released in 1991 as her seventh single, it served as the theme song for the drama Ashita ga Aru Kara, in which she starred.
I think many people find healing in this song.
In particular, the lyrics convey a powerful message that resonates deeply: even though everyone has days when their heart breaks, believe in yourself.
The melody and Miki Imai’s vocals also soothe the soul, bringing you to tears.
Let the song heal you as you reminisce about the past and immerse yourself in the feelings and memories of that time.
Dancing Hero (Eat You Up)Yoko Oginome
Yoko Oginome, an actress and singer, released “Dancing Hero (Eat You Up)” as her seventh single in 1985.
The 1980s saw a disco boom, and the original song “Eat You Up,” sung by British singer Angie Gold, was a quintessential disco track that became a massive hit worldwide.
In recent years, it drew renewed attention in 2017 when it was used by the dance club of Osaka Prefectural Tomioka High School in a competition medley.
This punchy tune instantly brings back memories of that energetic era just by listening.
It’s definitely a song you’ll want to sing at karaoke to relive those days.
Love againglobe
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.
LAT,43˚ N 〜Forty-three degrees north latitude〜DREAMS COME TRUE
One of the most popular musical units among women in their 40s is DREAMS COME TRUE.
Although they’ve produced many classic songs, they’re also known for having many high-difficulty tracks, which might make it hard to add them to your repertoire.
That’s why we recommend “LAT, 43˚ N — Forty-three Degrees North Latitude.” For a DCT song, the vocal range is quite narrow, and there aren’t any complex vocal lines.
There are relatively few breathing points, so just be mindful of that when you sing.