Songs that make you sound good at karaoke

Heralding springNEW!yama

yama – Harbinger of Spring (Official Video)

This song, Haru wo Tsugeru, is what suddenly brought yama into the spotlight.

Some of you might recognize the opening phrase.

That said, when you actually try singing it, it’s famous for being difficult because of the drastic ups and downs in pitch.

The rhythm is crucial and the tempo is on the faster side, so it’s best to learn it slowly, piece by piece, at first.

YouTube lets you change the playback speed, so I highly recommend using that! When you sing, try not to push on the high notes; if you stay relaxed, you’ll be able to make good use of your falsetto.

It might help to practice singing lightly, with a bouncy feel.

As you get a feel for the melody line, you’ll naturally figure out where to add accents and where to cut the sound.

Once you’re comfortable, try using a bit more breath; that should help you switch smoothly between chest voice and falsetto.

Fu re te Fu re ruNEW!TK from Ling tosite sigure

furetefureru – TK from Ling Tosite Sigure – Live – egomaniac feedback tour 2021

The B-side to “unravel,” which could be called TK’s signature song, is actually “Fu re te Fu re ru.” It explodes even more with high notes and falsetto than “unravel,” and it’s one of my absolute favorites to sing at karaoke.

Rather than a clean falsetto, TK’s falsetto pierces like a cry, so unless you can normally hit high notes, it’s a tough song to pull off… That said, it’s a super cool track, so if you think of it as a way to practice falsetto, I definitely recommend it for rock lovers! It’s fine to start with a weak falsetto.

Just keep practicing using a lot of breath over and over, and gradually build your explosiveness—that’s the idea!

Bunny GirlAKASAKI

【AKASAKI】Bunny Girl – Natural（Music Video）

As one of the songs that went viral in 2024, many people will surely remember “Bunny Girl.” The talent of AKASAKI, who created this track at the young age of a high school student, is truly remarkable, and I’m sure there are people practicing it to add this masterpiece by a young artist to their karaoke repertoire.

The use of 7th chords that pops up throughout is stylish, and while it may sound understated at first, the melody line is actually very catchy and easy to remember, with no extreme high notes—so even those who struggle with high pitches should find it easy to sing.

Try approaching it at karaoke with a slightly cool, playfully suave vibe, and you’ll do great!

Before our feelings overlap…NEW!Ken Hirai

Ken Hirai “Before Our Feelings Overlap…” MUSIC VIDEO

From the very beginning, Ken Hirai’s beautiful singing voice resonates in this song.

It’s a 2004 track that was used in a TOYOTA Corolla Fielder commercial and also served as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “The Truth of Tsugumi Kuzushi.” The lyrics make it a ballad that feels both like singing and like speaking to someone, so it’s a song you can really get into and sing calmly.

I often point out Ken Hirai’s singing characteristics to my students, so please use them as a reference! First, while it’s memorable that he sings with his eyes closed, in reality, closing your eyes can cause unnecessary tension and make it harder to stay on pitch.

However, Hirai raises his eyebrows and uses his hand to track the pitch while he sings.

He compensates in other ways so that singing becomes more natural and easier.

This gesture also makes it much easier to produce falsetto, so definitely give it a try!

LemonKenshi Yonezu

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

Kenshi Yonezu’s smash hit “Lemon.” If you’re in your teens to thirties, chances are you’ve heard it.

It’s a song that tends to sound especially good at karaoke.

The reason, above all, is the wide range of vocal expression.

The opening is set in the mid-to-low to low range, giving a slightly cool impression.

When the chorus hits, the voltage spikes and you catch a glimpse of intensity.

On top of that, a falsetto appears midway through the chorus, so the song lets you showcase a variety of vocal expressions in just one track.

Deceptive Lovetuki.

tuki. “Deceptive Love” Official Audio (Theme song for TBS Sunday Theater ‘Caster’)

With the smash hit Ban-san-ka (“Banquet Song”) breaking various records, tuki.

, who cemented her status as a popular singer-songwriter at the young age of 15, has become one of those contemporary artists who keep their real face out of the public eye.

That very choice makes you feel the power of her work—her music and voice alone are more than enough to stand out.

Released in April 2025, her song Damashi Ai (“Deceptive Love”) drew attention as her first-ever TV drama theme.

Its progression from a subdued A-melody into a hook that lingers in your ears is classic J-pop.

While the vocal range is relatively wide, the melody line isn’t complicated, so listeners in their 30s and 40s should find it familiar and easy to sing.

Try singing it with crisp articulation while keeping a buoyant, syncopated rhythm in mind!

FlowerNEW!Kousuke Atari

Koji Nakamura “Hana” Music Video 2016 ver.

Takao Nakashima, known for his distinctive musical style that blends island-music elements with pop, has a unique sound.

It’s said that “Hana” was written by Naotaro Moriyama with Nakashima’s vocal timbre and worldview in mind.

My students practice this song too, and every time I listen, I think, “What a beautiful piece!” Nakashima’s voice has an airy openness, and his transitions into falsetto are completely seamless—so beautiful.

The overall range of Hana is E3 to B4, which is quite singable even in chest voice, but since we have the chance, let’s also use falsetto to bring out the bittersweet emotion.

If falsetto is difficult for you, start by singing gently without tensing up.

Take a full breath and sing with the image of projecting your voice right in front of you.

To make the switch to falsetto in the chorus smoother, it also helps to keep your facial muscles lifted throughout.