Love songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended classics and popular hits

KanadeSukima Switch

Sukima Switch – “Kanade” Music Video : SUKIMASWITCH / KANADE Music Video

It’s a beautiful, piano-driven, mellow ballad that’s also very easy to sing passionately.

And when you read the lyrics, at first glance it seems like it might be about a long-distance relationship.

The truth is, of course, unclear, so it could be interesting to sing it while reading the lyrics and come up with your own interpretation.

Close your eyesKen Hirai

Hitomi wo Tojite – Ken Hirai (Full)

It was also used as the theme song for a very moving film.

Just listening to this song is enough to make many people remember the movie and feel like crying.

It’s a slightly bittersweet tearjerker, but it also evokes elements of romance, and it became a massive hit.

Because of its high notes, it’s a song you’ll want to practice repeatedly.

tobacco / cigarette(s)Koresawa

Koresawa “Tobacco” [Music Video]

It’s a painfully honest story song that realistically portrays heartbreak.

Over more than six minutes, post-breakup emotions are carefully traced alongside the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar.

A pack of cigarettes left behind by an ex becomes the trigger for recalling the time they spent together, and looking back, only regret remains—such a bittersweet inner landscape is woven through Koresawa’s delicate vocals.

Released in March 2017, just before her major-label debut, this piece can be considered a culmination of her work.

It’s also included on the album “Korekara,” where it continues to be loved.

The melodious, straightforward lyrics are sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.

On nights when you want to face your own feelings, try singing it at karaoke.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYback number

back number - “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” Music Video (Theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love”)

An emotionally moving medium-tempo ballad that portrays the complex feelings of unrequited love—from the faint expectations on the eve of a birthday to the ache of emotions that never reach their destination.

In contrast to the happiness of a birthday, the loneliness and the sorrow of being unable to express one’s feelings straightforwardly resonate with a delicate melodic line.

Released in February 2019, the song was featured as the theme for the TBS drama “A Story to Read When You First Fall in Love,” and was also included on the album “MAGIC.” With vocals that gently embrace the bittersweet emotions of love that everyone has experienced, it’s a song well-suited for karaoke, where it can be performed in a calm, composed manner.

cotton candyback number

back number – Watagashi (full)

A heartwarming love song that gently embraces the bittersweet feelings of a summer festival.

It delicately portrays the fluttering excitement in your chest, the frustration of wanting to hold hands but not being able to take that step, and the emotions stirred by the other person’s casual gestures, all set to a calm melody.

Released in July 2012, it was chosen as the opening theme for TBS’s “COUNT DOWN TV,” capturing the hearts of many.

The song resonates with listeners’ own summer memories, making it perfect for karaoke, where you can fully immerse yourself in its world.

With a softly accompanying melody and few sudden pitch changes, it’s an easy, enjoyable choice for karaoke.

I just want to see you.EXILE

EXILE / I Just... Want to See You - Short version -

It’s a heartfelt ballad that perfectly suits EXILE’s signature beautiful vocals.

As the title suggests, it expresses feelings directly—you can sense the longing to meet, yet the pain and sorrow as well.

It’s a song you’ll especially want to listen to in winter.

366 daysHY

HY 366 Days LIVE

It’s a grand love song that also became the theme for a movie that was a huge hit in 2009.

Because the song itself is a bit long, you can sing it very dynamically.

The lyrics are heartrending, yet highly relatable, and the song consistently shines at the top of karaoke rankings.