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!
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- [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 challenge at karaoke! (101–110)
migratory bird[Alexandros]
![Wataridori [Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O_DLtVuiqhI/sddefault.jpg)
Released in March 2015 as [Alexandros]’s 10th single overall.
It’s an upbeat, lively rock number—very snappy and pleasant to listen to—but when it comes to singing it at karaoke, it’s quite a challenge: the melody stays in a high range throughout, and the lyrics are delivered at a fairly fast pace, packed tightly into the uptempo track.
The high notes at the start of the chorus, in particular, will lose the song’s power if you default to falsetto, so it’s best to aim for a bright, metallic high tone with minimal breathiness to keep the energy intact.
No.5LANA
LANA, the young queen of the Japanese R&B scene.
Her older brother is rapper LEX, and together the siblings attract massive support from heads and gals alike with their high-level musicality.
Among LANA’s tracks, the one I especially recommend is No.
5.
It’s a rare flex-centered piece for her, with more rap-leaning sections as a result.
That said, the core is still R&B.
Advanced vocal techniques like melisma and falls appear throughout, making it undeniably a difficult song to perform.
#NAME?ONE OK ROCK
ONE OK ROCK is a rock band that enjoys immense popularity not only in Japan but also overseas.
Their authentic sound and songwriting, which can stand shoulder to shoulder with international bands, are truly impressive.
Among their tracks, the one I especially recommend is their new song, +Matter.
The most challenging part of this piece is, without a doubt, the chorus.
Because it requires repeatedly switching between falsetto and high chest voice, it demands a high level of pitch control.
On top of that, as is common in rock music, the vocals call for loud, shout-like delivery, so a powerful presence is also essential.
ParadisePSYCHIC FEVER
PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE is a group gaining popularity with their high-level dance and vocal performances.
They’re still a relatively new boy group, but they’ve already dropped several impressive hits.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is Paradise.
It features a lot of high notes and is sung by multiple members, so there aren’t many moments to catch your breath.
With strong K-pop elements, it also requires advanced vocal techniques such as ad-libs and falls.
For these reasons, it’s safe to say this track is quite challenging.
FallSuperfly
Shiho Ochi of Superfly is known for her incredible vocal power.
A highly challenging song that really showcases her vocal ability is Fall.
Rooted in jazz, the piece carries a decadent, desolate atmosphere throughout.
It’s not merely a downbeat track, though—the chorus demands overwhelming volume and expressive power.
Maintaining a thick, full-bodied tone while delivering shouts, among other techniques, makes this a song that requires exceptionally high-level technique and solid fundamentals.
[For those confident in their singing ability] Difficult songs to tackle at karaoke! (111–120)
BE CLASSICJO1
JO1 is a hugely popular group that can rightfully be called one of the driving forces of the music scene for Japanese boy groups from the 2020s onward.
Riding even more momentum with successful appearances at major festivals like SUMMER SONIC 2024 and overseas shows, they’re also known for their exceptional vocal and dance skills.
The title track of their best-of album released in 2025, “BE CLASSIC,” shocked listeners with its bold arrangement that quotes Beethoven’s Symphony No.
5, “Fate.” In recent years, there’s been a noticeable push to fuse classical music with pop, and this song blends elements of K-pop and hip-hop into a cool dance number that’s distinctly JO1.
It’s clearly very challenging to sing at karaoke—the rapid shifts between rap and melody make it hard for one person to cover—so we recommend trying it with multiple singers!
AwA AwALimited Express
Right now, the hottest boy group is Cho-Tokkyu (BULLET TRAIN).
Rather than a conventional boy group, their slightly unique musical style really stands out.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is AwA AwA.
It’s a track that frequently appears on TV, so I think many of you already know it.
The challenging part of this piece is the falsetto in the chorus.
You fill the chorus using a tone somewhere between mixed voice and falsetto, and that’s where pitch control and stamina become the real hurdles.