[A Must-See for Rock Beginners] KiYoshiro Imawano's Easy-to-Sing Songs

You know me.RC Succession

Kimiga Bokuwo Shitteru

When RC Succession’s “Ame-agari no Yozora ni” (In the Midnight After the Rain), one of their signature songs, was released as a single, this track “Kimi ga Boku o Shitteru” (“You Know Me”) appeared as the B-side.

It’s said to symbolize the relationship between Kiyoshiro Imawano and Reichi Nakaido, and in a sense it’s a very important song, as it would always be performed whenever they appeared together even after RC Succession went on hiatus.

The lustrous ring of the guitar and the tone of the organ, along with Kiyoshiro’s slightly wistful voice and the melody, are truly moving.

While it’s hard to imitate Kiyoshiro’s idiosyncratic vocal phrasing, singing the melody yourself reveals how simply catchy and approachable it is.

This song is exactly that kind of classic—there are no extremely high notes, and it feels great to sing.

By all means, try singing it with a dear friend who can handle the backing vocals!

Theme from THE TIMERSThe Timers

Theme From The Timers

Among Kiyoshiro Imawano’s towering discography—where he never flinched from releasing works sometimes labeled “problematic” to challenge the world—the group that stirred the most controversy was The Timers.

At the same time, you can’t overlook their playful covers and lyrical flair.

This “Timers no Theme ~ Theme from THE TIMERS” is a track modeled on The Monkees’ “(Theme From) The Monkees.” The melody, which many will find familiar, is very easy to sing.

The lyrics might startle listeners who don’t know the backstory, but the rhythm of the words is so catchy that you can’t help humming along.

It’s perfect for lighting up a karaoke session among friends who are in on the joke!

JUMPKiyoshiro Imawano

Jump

With its light guitar riffs and sparkling piano, a soulful horn section, and Kiyoshiro’s signature full-throttle vocals and lyrics, this is a quintessential, no-questions-asked Kiyoshiro Imawano classic! Released as a single in 2004, “JUMP” was also used in the Acecook Super Cup 1.

5 commercial, so many people have probably heard it.

The chorus, where the title is shouted with gusto, is easy to remember, and the lyrics—packed with Kiyoshiro’s biting message yet delivered in a fun, uplifting way—make it a song you’ll want to sing at karaoke.

The pitch may feel a bit high for lower-voiced men, but the melody line is straightforward, and you can sing it without trouble by adjusting to your own vocal range.

Oh! RADIOKiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano – Oh! RADIO

The wistful sound of the harmonica and the nostalgic melody, along with the laid-back vibe, reveal a different side of Kiyoshiro from his rock ’n’ roll persona.

The song was originally created as a campaign tune to commemorate a radio station’s 20th anniversary and was provided to a group of popular musicians.

However, there exists a demo recording on which Kiyoshiro himself performed all the parts, and this posthumous work was released as a single in June 2009, one month after his passing in May of the same year.

The melody, sung in a relaxed, flowing style over a so-called 8-beat shuffle rhythm, sits generally on the higher side of the range, so men with lower voices might find it somewhat high.

That said, the pitch stays fairly consistent, so if you adjust it to fit your vocal range, you should have no trouble singing it at karaoke.

ROCK ME BABYKiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano – ROCK ME BABY

Opening his fifth solo album, GOD, released in 2005, is the breezy, R&R-flavored track ROCK ME BABY, just as its title suggests.

Even within its characteristically simple lyrics—so typical of Kiyoshiro, who never forgot the heart of a kid who loves rock ’n’ roll—there’s a subtle yet important message that showcases his impeccable sensibility.

It’s a perfect karaoke song with a catchy melody you can memorize after just a few listens, though you might find the pitch range a bit demanding.

Since this is the kind of song where the groove matters most, start by going all-in with the energy—try imitating Kiyoshiro’s style, including the final shout.

Daddy’s SongKiyoshiro Imawano

Papa No Uta

Even people who aren’t particularly interested in the artist Kiyoshiro Imawano probably know this song.

Released in 1991 as his sixth single, Papa no Uta became widely known and popular after being featured in a Shimizu Corporation TV commercial.

With Shigesato Itoi’s lyrics that exude humorous affection and Kiyoshiro’s moving melody and vocals, the song likely gave confidence to working dads across Japan.

Despite its simplicity, it’s surprisingly difficult to sing: the range is wide and the pitch moves up and down quite a bit, so you may find it harder to perform than expected.

Since the mood shifts between the verse and the chorus, it’s a good idea to practice each section separately.

Heavy rainKiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano – Hard Rain

With lively drums, a bright horn section, and a catchy melody, this classic by Kiyoshiro will make your body and soul start dancing! This “Hageshii Ame” isn’t a cover of THE MODS, but rather a track included on Kiyoshiro’s sixth solo album, Yumesuke, released in 2006.

It also drew attention for featuring Kiyoshiro’s longtime ally from the RC Succession days, Reiichi Nakaido, in the songwriting.

It has that quintessential Kiyoshiro vibe, and while the surprising chorus that even mentions “RC Succession” sits a bit on the higher side of the range, the jumps aren’t too extreme.

If you relax into the upbeat groove and sing along, the rhythm comes naturally, making it easy to perform.