Lovely karaoke song

Songs popular among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories.

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I started playing guitar in middle school and focused on band activities during my student years. I’ve been a hobbyist Vocaloid producer for over 15 years. After entering the workforce, I gained experience in various roles, including event sound engineering and videography/photography. As a writer, I’ve contributed introduction articles for music and manga websites, and in 2022 I had the opportunity to write the bonus liner notes for IA SUPER BEST. My specialties are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

As a man in your 40s, what kind of music do you usually listen to?

Of course, you probably hear a lot of the latest hits, but chances are you still love the songs that were with you during your youth.

In fact, when it comes to songs popular among men in their 40s today, many of them are tracks that made waves around the 1990s.

In this article, we’ll introduce a generous selection of Japanese songs—focusing on hits from that era—that are especially recommended for men in their 40s.

They’re full of classics perfect for karaoke or for listening to in the car, so definitely give them a listen.

They might just bring back memories from those days.

Songs popular among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories (61–70)

runnerBakufū Slump

runner

Runner Bakufu Slump

“Runner” is a famous song by the rock band Bakufu Slump, who debuted in 1984.

Around the time of their debut, they were known for provocative performances and, together with Seikima-II and Kome Kome Club, were referred to as one of the “three major novelty bands.”

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SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA

[MV] SAY YES / CHAGE and ASKA

SAY YESCHAGE and ASKA

This was CHAGE and ASKA’s 27th single, released on July 24, 1991—a mega-hit that became their first Oricon No.

1 and a million seller.

It’s also widely known for being tied in as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “101st Proposal.” Many people of that generation likely remember it together with the drama’s iconic scenes.

The lyrics express a man’s wish to be “together forever” with a woman, but the song as a whole conveys a love so vast it can’t be fully captured by words—an elegant, medium-tempo love ballad.

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WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes You Gotta Make a MovementH Jungle with T

WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes Start a Movement~ (Two Million Mix)

WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes Start a Movement H Jungle with T

H Jungle with t is a musical unit by Masatoshi Hamada of Downtown and Tetsuya Komuro.

The unit was born from the popular TV show “HEY! HEY! HEY! MUSIC CHAMP,” and their track “WOW WAR TONIGHT ~Sometimes You’ve Gotta Make a Move~” became explosively popular.

Classified in the genre known as jungle, this work is arranged with a reggae flavor throughout.

Although it features some somewhat loud sections, the overall vocal range isn’t wide, making it easy to sing and perfect for getting everyone hyped at karaoke.

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Pockets full of rainbowsYellow Magic Orchestra

Pocketful Of Rainbows – YMO

My pockets are full of rainbows — Yellow Magic Orchestra

Yellow Magic Orchestra is a music group recognized worldwide.

Needless to say, they are the pioneers who laid the foundation for Japanese techno.

They have many classic tracks, but the one I especially recommend is Pocket ni Niji ga Ippai (Pockets Full of Rainbows).

As you might expect from a group with strong instrumental roots, even though this piece has many vocal parts, the vocals themselves are very understated.

There are no complex vocal lines, and the range is extremely narrow, making it an excellent song in terms of singability.

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My Dear EllieSouthern All Stars

Southern All Stars – Itoshi no Ellie [Live at Southern All Stars Kickoff Live 2018 “A Slightly Naughty La-La Old Man”, 2018]

My Beloved Ellie - Southern All Stars

This song is the Southern All Stars’ third single, released in 1979.

It was a hit in Japan, and after being covered by Ray Charles in 1989, it became famous worldwide, so many people of that generation are likely very familiar with it.

There’s an anecdote that Keisuke Kuwata even sang it at his own wedding, which helped make it popular as a perfect fit for wedding scenes.

However, it’s said that before their marriage, Kuwata wrote the song to express an apology to Yuko Hara.

Be sure to listen closely to the lyrics.

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Kiss me right nowLINDBERG

LINDBERG / Kiss Me Now

Kiss me now, LINDBERG

“Kiss Me Now.” It’s LINDBERG’s big hit number.

For those in their 40s, I think it’s a very nostalgic song.

The image of the petite, short-haired female vocalist singing powerfully was so cool.

It’s a powerful song that always gave me energy whenever I listened to it.

If you sing it at karaoke, it’s guaranteed to relieve stress.

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Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS

TRUE LOVE / Fumiya Fujii

Linda Linda THE BLUE HEARTS

They are THE BLUE HEARTS, a leading Japanese punk rock band.

Many men in their 40s may find themselves reminiscing about their youth.

The impact THE BLUE HEARTS had afterward was tremendous, influencing not only the music scene but also a wide range of prominent figures.

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