Songs popular among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories.
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.
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- [40s] Karaoke Crowd-Pleasers Ranking [2025]
- Karaoke songs in Japanese that are easy for men in their 40s to sing
- [For People in Their 40s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2025]
- [Nostalgic Hits] Japanese dance music that resonates with people in their 40s.
- [For Men in Their 40s] A Collection of Songs That Score High at Karaoke [2025]
- Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended classics and standard hits
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- Nostalgic Japanese Pop Hits That Get 40-Something Men and Women Excited
- Songs that men in their 20s should sing [Popular & Classic Hits]
- Famous songs we’d like women in their 40s to sing, by age group
Popular songs among men in their 40s: classic tracks that bring back memories (21–30)
Tomorrow never knowsMr.Children
Just the opening intro is enough to make anyone of that generation burst into tears.
Released in 1994 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Wakamono no Subete,” this classic Mr.
Children ballad became an explosive hit.
If you belt this out at karaoke, you’ll definitely earn some serious respect.
JAMTHE YELLOW MONKEY
For rock fans in their 40s, many of you may have admired THE YELLOW MONKEY, right? Yemon has produced countless classics, but the song I especially recommend as being easy to sing is JAM.
While it gives off an energetic vibe, its overall vocal range is quite narrow, from mid1C to mid2F.
In terms of singability, it’s a perfect choice.
However, because the range is narrow, it can be hard to create moments of excitement, so you’ll need to be mindful of rhythm and dynamics as you sing.
Popular songs among men in their 40s. Timeless tracks that bring back memories (31–40)
Just by you being hereKome Kome Club
When you have someone who believes in you, it gives you confidence, doesn’t it? I think everyone lives supported by others, and we each probably support someone without even realizing it.
For many people of a certain generation, this song may come to mind as Kome Kome Club’s signature track.
Released as their 13th single in 1992, it became their biggest hit, selling 900,000 copies at the time.
Until this breakthrough, Kome Kome Club had an image as a band with an underground vibe, but this song quickly raised their profile.
Until My Babe-kun falls asleepSharam Q
Sharan Q is a band that gained popularity for its original musicality, combining the essence of kayōkyoku with rock.
They’re well-regarded for their ballads, and among them, “My Babe Kimi ga Nemuru made” is especially recommended as an easy song to sing.
The vocal range is quite narrow, from mid1 C# to mid2 G#.
They frequently use a technique called ‘hiccup’ at the start of each phrase, so mastering this will quickly elevate the overall quality.
Give it a try for reference.
POISON ~A world where you can’t even say what you want to say~Takashi Sorimachi
Takashi Sorimachi has not only been active as an actor but also as a singer.
Many women in their 40s have likely been captivated by his allure.
Speaking of his signature songs, it has to be “POISON ~I can’t even say what I want to say in a world like this~.” The track gained nationwide popularity, partly because it was used as the theme song for the hit drama GTO.
While the song features a lot of low notes, its range is quite narrow at mid1 B to mid2 E, so there’s plenty of room to raise the key.
If you sing it in the right key, there’s nothing particularly difficult about it, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
I LOVE YOUYutaka Ozaki
It was released in 1991 as Yutaka Ozaki’s 11th single overall.
The song originally appeared on Ozaki’s first album, Seventeen’s Map, released in 1983, and was issued as a single eight years later.
He performed it at nearly every concert during his lifetime, and after his death it has been covered by many artists, remaining a beloved classic among classics.
It’s a timeless ballad that evokes memories of the era—not only for dedicated fans but for anyone of that generation.
Love and a Machine GunFlipper’s Guitar
Flipper’s Guitar was a band that gained popularity for its inventive sound, which distilled neo-acoustic and Shibuya-kei into indie pop.
Many of you may know them as the group that produced two renowned musicians: Cornelius and Kenji Ozawa.
Their song “Love and Machine Gun” is one of their signature tracks.
While it has a jazz flavor, the vocals aren’t particularly jazzy.
Rather, the vocal line is subdued and ennui-laden with little dynamic variation, making it far easier to sing than a lot of typical J-pop.