Lovely karaoke song

Moving masterpieces and popular songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

Have you ever been moved by a song you heard someone sing at karaoke?

From bittersweet love songs to anthems that cheer you on in life, to tracks that tell stories that resonate deeply—many songs can leave a lasting impression.

Of course, sometimes it’s the singer’s skill that makes it moving, but in this article, we’ll introduce a wealth of timeless songs that can move listeners no matter who’s singing them.

It’s a flood of emotionally powerful songs—so moving you might cry—when you think about the messages in the lyrics and the stories behind them!

Be sure to try singing them yourself and move everyone around you.

Moving songs and popular hits you’ll want to sing at karaoke (61–70)

Thank youOKAMOTO’S

OKAMOTO’S “Arigatou” Official Music Video

Thank you, OKAMOTO'S

A heartwarming birthday song filled with gratitude.

It’s the lead track from the album “4EVER,” released in January 2025, and it’s been crafted as a special piece to commemorate OKAMOTO’S 15th debut anniversary.

While rooted in rock, the sound weaves in elements of soul and funk, gently enveloping the feelings toward those who have supported them so far.

This song is perfect for expressing thanks to someone special on their birthday, and if you sing it at karaoke, your love is sure to come through loud and clear.

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Black Boots ~oh my friend~SOPHIA

Black Boots ~oh my friend~.mpg

Black Boots ~oh my friend~ SOPHIA

A requiem sung by vocalist Mitsuru Matsuoka for his late friend.

It’s a pop song that weaves through the friend’s traits one by one, and the remembrance and respect embedded in its bright tone really strike a chord.

At concerts, it’s a moving staple where fans join in doing the monkey dance during the chorus.

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single bedSharam Q

Sharam Q “Single Bed” (Music Video)

Single Bed Sharam Q

Released in 1994 as Sharam Q’s sixth single, this song enjoyed a long-running hit and became the group’s first million seller.

It was used as the ending theme for the Nippon TV anime “D·N·A²: They Were Missed Somewhere,” and it remains a popular choice for karaoke.

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OrangeSMAP

Lefty Hand Cream - Full Cover of SMAP 'Orange'

Orange SMAP

A famous SMAP song that likens the colors of twilight to “orange” and sings of a heartbreaking farewell.

It’s deeply sad in the way it portrays the kindness of someone who, despite being in love, chooses to think of the other person and gently initiate the breakup.

Yet it’s a moving song that conveys a tender feeling, parting with a heartfelt “thank you.”

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Thank youIkimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Arigatou' Music Video

Thank you, Ikimono-gakari

It’s one of Ikimono-gakari’s signature songs and is extremely well-known, partly because it was used as the theme song for the NHK morning drama series “Gegege no Nyobo.” This masterpiece pairs a gentle, ballad-like melody with lyrics filled with heartfelt gratitude.

Combined with a clear, straight-reaching vocal performance, it’s a song that moves listeners as the feeling of thankfulness shines through.

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era; age; time; periodMiyuki Nakajima

Era - Live 2010–11 (from Tokyo International Forum Hall A)

Era – Miyuki Nakajima

It was released in 1975 as Miyuki Nakajima’s second single.

It’s a song that has been sung across generations—performed at graduation ceremonies and included in music textbooks.

Well-known among a wide range of age groups and popular at karaoke as a song that anyone, regardless of gender, can sing.

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Letter ~To You at Fifteen~Angela Aki

Angela Aki “Letter: To You, Fifteen” Music Video (HD)

Letter: To You, Fifteen Years Old — Angela Aki

Speaking of being 15, that’s the age when you graduate from junior high school and move on to a new path.

Many people probably sang at their junior high graduation ceremony or in a chorus competition.

This piece contains a letter from your 15-year-old self to your future self, and a message from your future self back to your 15-year-old self.

You’ll surely be moved by the message from your future self—who has gone through many experiences—to your 15-year-old self, who lives with a pure heart despite carrying struggles.

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