For those confident in their singing ability: Challenging songs to try at karaoke!
How do people practice songs that are hard to sing at karaoke? Not being able to hit the high notes, running out of breath, not keeping the rhythm… Even with those worries, don’t you ever think, “It would be so cool if I could nail that difficult song perfectly!”? The truth is, the tougher the song, the more likely it is that you can sing it surprisingly well once you get the hang of a few tricks.
In this article, we’ll introduce the traits of challenging songs you’ll want to try at karaoke, along with techniques to help you sing them well.
Let’s master that song you admire—together!
- S-Rank Difficulty!? A Compilation of Songs with Wide Vocal Ranges
- [High-pitched warning!] Songs with high notes that are hard to sing
- [For Men] Cool, Popular Songs That Impress at Karaoke
- [For Men] Tough Karaoke Songs: A collection of tracks that look cool if you can sing them!
- [If You Can Sing These, You're Amazing!] Cool Karaoke Songs for Women
- Recommended for great singers! A collection of impressive songs if you can sing them
- [Sing this and you’ll steal the spotlight!] Difficult Songs to Sing at Karaoke [Women’s Edition]
- [Challenge] A compilation of Vocaloid songs that are difficult to sing
- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
- [Karaoke] Songs That Make It Easy to Score High | From Classics to the Newest Hits
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
- [I want to sing out loud] Songs that feel great to belt and are fun for karaoke
- Recommended karaoke songs for male vocalists with high voices
For those confident in their singing ability: Difficult songs to tackle at karaoke! (81–90)
OrangeSPYAIR
SPYAIR is a rock band that’s gained popularity for its wide musical range, from sharp, edgy rock to catchy ballads.
They’re especially beloved by people in their teens and twenties.
Among their songs, the one I particularly recommend is Orange.
It was a nationwide hit, so you may already know it.
The tricky part of this track is definitely the chorus.
While the range isn’t extremely wide, you have to sustain long tones in a part that reaches close to a mixed voice, so solid foundational vocal technique is essential.
Happy EnderTHE BEAT GARDEN
THE BEAT GARDEN is a music unit known for its rare lineup of four vocalists and one DJ.
Their new song “Happy Ender” spans a very wide vocal range.
The most striking feature is the mixed voice.
Mixed voice appears throughout the track, and because it’s the type that requires powerful, belted delivery, the piece is quite selective in terms of who can even produce the necessary vocals.
On top of that, the vocal line has dramatic rises and falls, making this undeniably an S-tier difficulty song.
The Spider’s ThreadTohru
Singer-songwriter TOMEI, who gained nationwide popularity for performing the theme song of the film “Suzume,” is, somewhat unexpectedly, an artist with a sharp-edged musical style.
She has repeatedly released sensibility-driven tracks that ignore market trends.
One such example is ‘Kumo no Ito’ (Spider’s Thread).
While the piece is rooted in Showa-era kayōkyoku, it features frequent use of falsetto.
Its overall vocal range is wide, and the rhythm is relaxed, making it a high-difficulty song where there’s little room to hide any shortcomings.
PretenderOfficial HIGE DANDism
The second single by the Japanese rock band Official Hige Dandism, released in May 2019.
This song also lets you fully enjoy high-tone vocals that skillfully use mixed voice, which has become a hallmark of many recent hits.
So, what exactly is “mixed voice”? Simply put, it’s a blend of falsetto and chest voice.
By controlling how you engage your throat and the accompanying breathiness, you adjust the proportions of chest and falsetto while you sing.
It’s one of the essential techniques for performing modern songs, though it can be hard to master on your own.
For now, try finding a comfortable key and give it a go.
a gap in the skyAdo
Ado, a singer who enjoys overwhelming support from young people.
She’s practically the epitome of a high-vocal-skill artist, drawing attention every time with highly challenging songs.
Among her works, the one I particularly recommend is Nuke Sora.
The tricky point in this piece is, above all, the falsetto.
There are sections where you switch repeatedly between chest voice and falsetto, which demands a high level of pitch control.
Rather than raw power, this song calls for delicacy, so it’s recommended for those who want to train that aspect.
QUEENLiSA
One of the most popular anisong singers in Japan, LiSA.
She has dropped many iconic tracks, but the one I especially recommend is QUEEN.
True to LiSA’s style, it’s a song where delicacy shines within intensity, and it’s arranged predominantly in the higher register throughout.
It’s not just high, though—the sections that repeatedly switch between falsetto and chest voice, as well as the parts that belt powerful high notes, make the high-range passages quite challenging.
Definitely give it a try.
[For those confident in their vocal abilities] Difficult songs to tackle at karaoke! (91–100)
livelihoodCreepy Nuts
The song Nariwai, often hailed as Creepy Nuts’ greatest masterpiece, stands out from their usual work with lyrics that are intensely aggressive throughout.
That aggression isn’t confined to the words; the flow showcases overwhelming skill at every turn.
Rather than mere fast rap, it features uniquely distinctive flows at a staggering frequency, making it far more difficult to perform than it seems when you’re just listening.
Give it a try.