Aim for a high score! A collection of easy-to-sing karaoke songs recommended for high school students

Hide-and-seekYuri

Yuuri “Kakurenbo” Official Music Video

Contrary to what you might expect, Kakurenbo actually has a fairly narrow vocal range; it’s sung gently between E3 and F#4.

It’s popular across generations, and many of my students chose to sing it! Since it’s a song where it’s easy to add dynamics, it should be relatively straightforward to pick up extra points for expressiveness.

In the A verse, keep the volume restrained and gentle; in the B verse, some higher notes appear, so focus on the rhythm and make sure to hit the pitch bar accurately.

The C section in the latter half is where the most emotion comes through, so it’s okay to sing with more volume than you think.

A surprisingly tricky part is the quiet section of the final chorus.

After the big build-up in the C section, the chorus enters with restrained emotion, so if you reset your feelings right before the chorus and create a clear break, you’ll be able to sing more calmly and stay on pitch more easily.

sceneHatsuboshi Academy Hiro Shinozawa

Hatsuboshi Academy “Scenery” Official Music Video (HATSUBOSHI GAKUEN – Koukei)

This is a song where the pauses are very important, and you should sing each phrase carefully, almost as if savoring it.

One of my students who’s really into First Star Academy loves this character and practiced a lot.

The key is not to rush—sing each word of the lyrics with intention.

When you sing, using a head-voice base brings out the right vibe.

The pitch right before the last chorus is slightly low, so be careful not to let your pitch drop.

Since the song is generally head-voice based, keeping that mindset and sending a steady stream of air forward will make the low notes easier to produce.

Rather than changing your singing style, focus on engaging the vocal folds and using your breath well.

For those not used to singing, the relaxed melody makes it easier to practice because you can take slower breaths!

pedestrian overpassNogizaka46

Nogizaka46 “Footbridge”

Among the Sakamichi Series groups, Nogizaka46 boasts overwhelming popularity.

While the lineup now differs greatly from the early days due to graduations, their appeal remains strong, and they’re a top choice for karaoke as well.

Of all Nogizaka46’s songs, the one I especially recommend is Hodōkyō (Pedestrian Bridge).

True to Nogizaka’s signature catchiness, it features a vocal line that’s easy to sing throughout.

Be sure to add it to your repertoire.

It's love, right?wacci

wacci 'Koi Daro' Music Video

This is the 21st digital-only single by the Japanese pop-rock band wacci, released in April 2022.

It was written specifically as an insert song for Fuji TV’s Thursday drama series “A Chronicle of the Aristocratic Family” (Yangotonaki Ichizoku) and was reportedly released for streaming the day after the drama’s first broadcast.

Incidentally, it won an Excellence Award at the 64th Japan Record Awards.

The song has a relaxed, medium tempo, and the vocal melody doesn’t span a very wide range, so it should be easy for anyone to sing and makes it easier to aim for a high score.

The rhythm has a slight bounce to it, so be careful not to let it become too flat.

greatest common divisorRADWIMPS

Saidai Kouyakusuu

Among RADWIMPS’ songs, this one doesn’t sit too high in range, so you don’t need to belt.

As long as you stay mindful of the rhythmic timing, you can aim for a high score! In particular, the A verse stays mostly in the mid–low (mid1) range, so it’s good to sing gently, as if speaking.

The range gradually rises from the B verse, but there’s no need to push your voice.

If you keep the breath flowing and imagine resonating in the head, your head voice will take on a chesty quality, and once you find your comfortable spot, it becomes much easier to sing.

Also, some may find the rhythm tricky where the melody gets fast, but since the range isn’t too high, you’ll be fine if you place the notes carefully and sing with precision.

As the pitch climbs, imagine resonating in the head and try keeping it light!

mirageNogizaka46

Nogizaka46 'Nigemizu' (Fleeting Water)

Produced by Yasushi Akimoto, this is a song released in the summer of 2017 by the idol group Nogizaka46, which began activities in 2011.

As an idol group, there are many singers, but it works great whether one person sings all the parts or everyone splits the parts—either way, it’s sure to get the crowd going.

With its four-on-the-floor beat and the chorus’s big sing-along feel, it’s an upbeat track that’s really satisfying to sing.

Cosmic TreatPerfume

[Official Music Video] Perfume 「Cosmic Treat」

Perfume’s new song “Cosmic Treat.” Perfume has always been known for their distinctive techno sound, but lately they’ve started challenging themselves with new styles.

This track is one such work, incorporating the synthwave genre that boomed in the 1980s.

The genre emphasizes overall groove and smoothness more than vocal lines, and this song follows suit, keeping the vocals understated.

In particular, the scarcity of high notes might make it perfect for aiming for a high score, don’t you think?