[Harmony Songs for Duets] Songs that feel great to harmonize

almost all for nothingRingo Sheena and peaches

Ringo Sheena and Momo – Almost Bubbles of Water

The musical duo Charan-Po-Rantan, known for their circus-inspired sound that blends various genres, has gained popularity.

This collaborative piece by member Momo and Ringo Sheena is “Hobo Mizu no Awa” (“Almost Bubbles”).

Composed with the theme of classic Japanese jazz, the work maintains a mature atmosphere throughout.

The vocal lines may feel a bit unfamiliar due to the jazz influence, but since the harmonies are clearly separated, it can be considered a relatively easy song to sing.

Miracle of BondsMAN WITH A MISSION×milet

MAN WITH A MISSION × milet “Kizuna no Kiseki” Music Video

The popular band MAN WITH A MISSION, which enjoys overwhelming support from young men, and the female singer-songwriter milet, known for her Western-style vocal delivery, collaborated on the song “Kizuna no Kiseki.” It’s famous as the theme song for the hit anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

In this piece, the harmony parts are basically sung by milet, but since she sings the line below the main vocal, the song is very easy in terms of vocal range.

The instrumentals are a bit loud, so you might find it hard to pick out the harmony parts, but the parts themselves aren’t difficult—so definitely give it a try.

COLORSFLOW

FLOW “COLORS” Music Video (MBS/TBS Network Anime “Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” First Cour Opening Theme)

I think FLOW is also famous for having twin vocals with lots of harmonies.

They do a lot of anime songs—are there any you all know? In this song, COLORS, KEIGO basically sings the main melody and KOHSHI sings the harmony parts.

From the B-melody they sing in unison an octave apart, then from the chorus there’s a lower harmony—going back and forth like that feels great to sing and really makes the song build up! This applies to any song, but if the lower harmony ends up louder than the main vocal, the balance gets thrown off and it sounds odd, so I recommend singing lightly with the image of supporting the lead.

It’s one of FLOW’s staple tracks, so definitely give it a try!

＝ (feat. YO_CO)NEW!BAK

BAK『＝ (feat. YO_CO)』Official Music Video

Released in June 2022, this song is performed as a duet by BAK and YO_CO.

It beautifully showcases their call-and-response and overlapping vocals.

Since both singers primarily use head voice, it’s perfect for those who want to sing head-voice songs.

Because the range is on the higher side, be careful not to strain your throat.

When practicing, try singing with “h”-sounds to naturally release breath; this will make it easier to sing.

A particularly recommended method is to sing all the lyrics using “hi.” The “hi” sound makes humming easier and resonates in the head.

Start by pronouncing it lightly so that it resonates in your head rather than your throat.

Your breath will flow more naturally, and producing head voice will become easier.

Azusa No. 2hunter

Azusa No. 2 / Kariudo

This is a signature song by a male duo from the Showa era.

I love folk songs from this period! In “Azusa No.

2,” the A and B sections are relatively quiet, but once the chorus hits and the harmonies come in, it suddenly soars! It’s incredibly cool and feels so good to sing! The harmony is basically a third below, but since the main melody’s chorus sits around G4 and has that belting quality, the harmony should come in firmly so it doesn’t get overshadowed.

When entering the chorus, listen carefully to the backing track and breathe together so you both come in at the same time! The unison at the end of the chorus after all that harmonizing is wonderful, too.

It might be a somewhat wistful song, but when the harmonies lock in, it’ll give you goosebumps—so definitely find a partner and give it a try!

Ah, what a relief.Hana*Hana

Hana*Hana “Ah, I’m glad (Setagaya Mix)”

This was Hana*Hana’s major debut single, released in 2000.

Hana*Hana is a female duo whose vocal abilities are highly acclaimed.

Even on this debut single, they showcase wonderfully crafted choral work.

The chorus arrangement is a relatively simple two-part harmony, so it should be fairly approachable and enjoyable for everyone to try harmonizing at karaoke.

For the song we’re introducing this time, “Aa Yokatta,” the part you need to pay the most attention to when singing it at karaoke isn’t the chorus, but rather the sections where the two singers trade lines like a call-and-response.

Pay close attention to the sense of rhythm and groove, and aim to sing it with style!

Open the doorSayaka Kanda, Eisuke Tsuda

Sayaka Kanda, Eisuke Tsuda – Love Is an Open Door (From “Frozen”)

The globally successful hit film Frozen.

This duet version of Love Is an Open Door by Sayaka Kanda and Eisuke Tsuda is one of the popular songs featured in Frozen.

As is common in musical films, this piece is characterized by clear, easy-to-follow harmony parts.

Neither the lead nor the harmony lines are particularly difficult, and since it’s a male–female duet, there’s less risk of being thrown off by your partner’s voice.

Give it a try!