[2025] Recommended for Your 40s! A Roundup of Perfect Karaoke Songs for Christmas
Those of you in your 40s today are the generation who spent your youth during the golden age of J-POP, from the 1990s to the early 2000s, when CDs sold the most.
It was an era that produced many timeless hits still sung in the Reiwa era, with countless songs that people of all ages perform at karaoke.
In this article, I—the author, currently in my 40s—have put together a list of winter songs perfect for Christmas, focusing mainly on tracks released from the ’90s through the mid-’00s.
Of course, younger music fans who are interested in Japanese music from that era are also encouraged to check it out!
- Recommended for people in their 50s! Best Christmas karaoke songs
- [2025] Sing at Karaoke! A Roundup of Popular Christmas Songs by Female Artists
- [Women in Their 40s] Even If You’re Tone-Deaf, You Can Sing! Karaoke Songs That Fit a Woman’s Vocal Range
- For Men: No-Fail Classics! Christmas Songs You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke [2025]
- [40s] Karaoke Popularity Rankings by Generation [2025]
- [By Scene] Christmas Karaoke Song Catalog: From Classics to the Newest Hits
- [For men in their 40s] That nostalgic song you can enjoy at karaoke!
- Recommended Japanese pop songs for karaoke for men in their 40s
- [For people in their 90s] Recommended Christmas songs: from nostalgic school songs and hymns to timeless classics
- Recommended for women in their 40s! Easy-to-sing songs for karaoke
- Recommended Christmas songs for people in their 70s: A collection of classic winter hits from the Showa era
- [40s] Karaoke Crowd-Pleasers Ranking [2025]
- Karaoke Songs to Sing in December: Perfect for Year-End Parties! Winter and Christmas Songs
[2025] Recommended for Your 40s! A Roundup of Perfect Christmas Karaoke Songs (21–30)
The Holy Night When You Were ThereNEW!Sepia’n Roses
A winter ballad brimming with heartbreak, where memories of a former lover return with the falling snow.
Released as Sepia’n Roses’ fourth single in November 1992, the song features lyrics by Masao Urino and music by Takashi Toshimi.
It was used as the ending theme for Fuji TV’s “Ucchan Nanchan no Yaru Nara Yaranee!” and peaked at No.
29 on the Oricon charts.
The lyrics meticulously portray feelings of regret, while the dramatic arrangement and strings heighten the emotion.
It’s the perfect number for when you want to reminisce about the past or enjoy a reflective mood at karaoke.
A Lonely Christmas ~ Alone at X’masNEW!THE Toraba-ryu & Clarence Clemons
This is a collaborative track released in February 1997 by THE Toraidora and American saxophonist Clarence Clemons.
Set in New York, the song portrays feelings for a lover far away, with striking imagery of city lights and church bells.
Alongside the band’s sound, Clemons’s wistful saxophone heightens the emotion.
Unlike their massive hit “Road,” this one follows a romantic ballad style, and the music video was reportedly filmed in New York at the time.
It delicately depicts the protagonist’s determination to convey their feelings despite the ache of not being able to meet at Christmas.
It’s a perfect choice for those thinking of a partner far away or for anyone who wants to sing a gentle Christmas song at karaoke.
CHRISTMAS TIME FOREVERNEW!Southern All Stars
A Christmas ballad by Southern All Stars enveloped in quiet majesty and prayer-like purity.
Included on the September 1992 album “Yonimanyo no Hana ga Saku Nari,” the song was never released as a single, yet it was used for Marui’s Christmas campaign.
It features the clear voices of a children’s choir and a calm, keyboard-centered arrangement.
The lyrics, which weave in images like stars in the night sky and fleeting life, depict a profound worldview that evokes longing and prayer amid the sparkle of Christmas.
It’s a song we especially recommend to those who cherish quiet moments with loved ones or are seeking a Christmas song with a deeply resonant message.
Christmas TimeNEW!Nona Reeves
A winter classic by Nona Reeves that swept through the late ’90s and 2000s, where a pop-meets-mellow sound blends perfectly with sweet, wistful melodies.
Released in November 2005 and included on the album “3×3,” the song was created by the duo of lyricist Junji Ishiwatari and Gota Nishidera.
Its lyrics, depicting the sparkle of city lights and the ebb and flow of feelings, evoke scenes that bring back memories of Christmas spent with a lover.
The midtempo rhythm and children’s chorus add warmth, making it a karaoke pick that sets a refined, not-too-sweet, adult Christmas mood.
It’s a heartfelt Christmas song recommended for anyone who loved that era of J-pop.
I want to say Merry ChristmasNEW!Masaki Inoue
Ms.
Shoko Inoue, whose crystal-clear vocals have captivated many fans.
Released in 1991 as her ninth single, this song is a mature Christmas tune that gently portrays a special time spent together on a quiet night.
Images like the silence after emptying a glass, the lights of a Ferris wheel, and white roses linger in the mind.
Composed by Inoue herself and also included on the mini-album “Balancin’ Love,” the piece exquisitely matches lyrics that tenderly capture a sweet, bittersweet love with a calm arrangement.
It’s the perfect karaoke choice when you want to set a soft, romantic mood with a lover or someone special.
Merry X’mas of Love and CourageNEW!Daiji MAN Brothers Band
Released in November 1992 as the Daiji MAN Brothers Band’s sixth single, this song was featured as the ending theme for the TV Asahi program “Kimi to I-tsu-ma-de-mo” and used in a FamilyMart commercial.
While sprinkled with Christmas motifs, its lyrics—expressing gratitude and a forward-looking resolve to “stand up again from today, despite everything that’s happened”—resonate deeply with the feelings of adults at a turning point in life, rather than merely capturing a seasonal party mood.
With an upbeat groove reminiscent of WHAM!’s “Last Christmas” and the band’s characteristically emotive melody blending perfectly, it’s a Christmas number that’s easy to sing at karaoke.
An ideal song for sharing the warm feelings of year’s end while reminiscing about the days of youth.
Merry-Go-Round in DecemberNEW!Yohito Teraoka
Yohito Teraoka, who began his career as the former bassist of JUN SKY WALKER(S).
His fourth single, released in November 1995, is a notable track with lyrics by Kanako Nakayama of Princess Princess and music co-composed with Kazutoshi Sakurai of Mr.
Children.
Set beneath the Christmas city illuminations, it portrays a poignant scene in which memories of a past love begin to swirl, resulting in a sweet, nostalgic ballad.
The production story is also memorable: Teraoka and Sakurai alternated in crafting the melody at Teraoka’s home.
It’s a perfect karaoke choice for those moments when the glamour of Christmas leaves you feeling a little bittersweet.