[High-pitched warning!] Songs with high notes that are hard to sing
The Japanese music scene is known for having a relatively low emphasis on groove, but an unusually large number of high-pitched songs.
In particular, since Japan has finally started earnestly incorporating overseas music in recent years, the overall level of songs has risen dramatically.
With that in mind, this time we’ve picked out Japanese songs that are on the higher side.
From songs with a wide vocal range, to tracks that have pinpoint high parts, to songs that stay in the high register throughout, we selected from a broad set of perspectives—so be sure to find the tracks that suit you!
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- [Karaoke] Songs That Make It Easy to Score High | From Classics to the Newest Hits
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[High Notes Warning!] Difficult High-Pitched Songs to Sing (101–110)
Under the same skyAyaka
Ayaka burst onto the scene as a high school DIVA.
“Minna Sora no Shita” is her 10th single, released in 2009, and it became her last single before taking a break for treatment of Graves’ disease.
Because Ayaka has solid fundamental skills as a singer, simply attempting her songs just because “the notes are high” can often lead to real challenges.
It’s not only about singing high; try aiming to produce as deep a tone as possible as well.
To develop this sense of “depth,” it might be a good idea to attend a vocal training school for a while.
HeroNamie Amuro
Namie Amuro, a singer who displayed such charisma from her debut that she became a social phenomenon, retired in 2018 to much regret.
Her 45th single “Hero,” used as the broadcast theme song for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Paralympics, likely lifted the spirits of many with its almost divine melody and ensemble.
Because of its distinctive arrangement, in which the beat changes between the first and second halves, it’s important to vary your delivery when singing it at karaoke.
Since the song features a wide vocal range throughout, if you find it difficult to sing, be sure to adjust the key to one that suits you.
The world is falling in loveCHiCO with HoneyWorks
CHiCO with HoneyWorks is a unit consisting of a female singer and a creator team.
Their debut single, “The World Is Falling in Love,” used as the opening theme for the TV anime Blue Spring Ride (Ao Haru Ride), is a pleasant track featuring a clear, piano-focused sound.
The melody rapidly rises and falls with few places to breathe, and the chorus makes heavy use of falsetto, making it difficult to maintain accurate pitch—so even women who are confident with high notes shouldn’t let their guard down.
With its catchy melody and cute lyrics, it’s a pop tune that, if you can pull it off, will draw attention from both men and women.
flameLiSA
This is LiSA’s 17th single, released in October 2020.
It might be clearer to say it’s the theme song for the hugely popular anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train.
She freely switches between a cute, girlish tone, powerful high notes using chest and mixed voice, and a beautiful falsetto, so singing this at karaoke might be a bit challenging even for women who are good with high notes.
But that’s exactly why it’s worth the challenge, isn’t it? It’s a gentle, ballad-style song, so it’s by no means easy to sing, but I’d love for you to master it!
LuluAdo
Ado’s recently released hit song “Lulu” is a piece that portrays defiance against society, crafted with an intensely aggressive sound that matches its lyrics.
Packed with Ado’s unique appeal, the track is highly challenging to perform.
The chorus, in particular, embodies that difficulty: the latter part alternates rapidly between high head voice and chest voice, demanding exceptional control of the throat.
The song also makes natural use of shouts, so if you’re confident in your vocal abilities, be sure to check it out.
[High Notes Warning!] Very High Songs That Are Hard to Sing (111–120)
VoiceSuperfly
Superfly made her debut on April 4, 2007.
The song Voice, which I’m introducing here, was released digitally on April 4, 2022 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of her debut.
Shiho Ochi has been widely praised for her vocal ability since her debut, and that prowess remains undiminished 15 years on.
In this track, she masterfully employs a range of vocal colors—from powerful, resonant high notes with a solid core to gentle highs with a soft timbre—delivering a superb performance.
Because this song is performed by a singer with exceptionally high expressive ability, it may be difficult to sing if you are simply good at hitting high notes.
Still, for women confident in their upper register, it’s a must-try piece to tackle with a powerful, soaring high tone that approaches the original.
Stand on the stageYOASOBI
YOASOBI’s song “Butai ni Tatte,” released as a support anthem for the Paris Olympics, features uplifting lyrics that seem to speak on behalf of the athletes.
That said, it’s still very much a YOASOBI track: there are numerous high-register parts, and the melody largely stays in the upper-mid to high range throughout.
It’s not just about hitting high notes—because they continue across the whole song, it’s a challenging piece that also demands vocal endurance.
If you’re someone who can belt high notes with ease, why not test your stamina with this track?