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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- [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
- [For Men] Cool, Popular Songs That Impress at Karaoke
- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
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- 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! (111–120)
Exploding Brain GirlHatsune Miku / GUMI
Since these songs are intended to be sung by Vocaloids, many of them aren’t really suited for human singers, and this one might be the prime example.
The melody is so fast and packed with lyrics that my mouth can’t keep up.
Sachiko Kobayashi delivering a flawless performance of it was truly magnificent.
For those confident in their vocal skills: Difficult karaoke songs to challenge yourself with! (121–130)
On the edge (chop)B’z
Among B’z songs, “Giri Giri Chop” is quite difficult.
First of all, the fast tempo will be a major hurdle.
And it’s not just fast—it’s a swung shuffle rhythm—so you can’t sing it without solid rhythm sense.
The key is also very high, which makes it virtually impossible for most people.
New WorldBUMP OF CHICKEN
A 2019 release by the Japanese rock band Bump of Chicken.
It was written and produced specifically for Lotte’s 70th Anniversary Special Animation “Baby I Love You Daze.” I’m introducing it here as a “song that’s hard to sing at karaoke,” but the song itself is a catchy medium-to-up-tempo track with a simple, easy-to-follow melody, so if you’re just singing it casually, it might not actually be that difficult.
For the high notes in the chorus, try choosing a key that lets you sing without switching to falsetto if possible.
Also, you’ll be fine as long as you sing it while feeling the fun and the power!
I need your loveBeverly
It’s a track included on Beverly’s first original album, “AWESOME,” released in 2017.
Chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama CRISIS: Public Security Mobile Investigation Unit Special Investigation Team, it showcases Beverly’s unparalleled, piercing high notes and extraordinary vocal power—making it a very difficult song to sing.
INCONVENIENT IDEALDIR EN GREY
DIR EN GREY’s masterpiece “INCONVENIENT IDEAL.” This song does not feature their hallmark death growls.
Because of that, it’s a track that singers of various vocal timbres can attempt.
However, its difficulty is staggering—among the songs introduced here, it’s near the top by a wide margin.
The main reason is the vast range between the low and high registers.
Very low and very high notes are interwoven, and you also have to sing with power, so it demands considerable vocal ability.
a fact of lifeFACT
Representing Japan’s post-hardcore scene, FACT’s songs set complex emotions to a rhythmic sound that leaves a lasting impression on listeners.
Released in April 2009, this track particularly resonates when reflecting on the passage of time or reexamining one’s own truth.
The lyrics, as if piecing together fragments of the past, convey tightly wound emotions.
Tackling the rapid-fire sections is part of the fun.
With themes that many can relate to, it’s a work I can recommend to a wide audience.
star performerKing Gnu
This is the sixth single by the Japanese mix-genre band King Gnu, released in December 2020.
This may apply to all their songs, not just this one, but the first hurdle when singing it is probably the A-melody, which sits somewhere between rap and vocals.
First, it’s delivered at a fast pace, so you need to keep up with the rhythm and avoid tripping over your tongue.
Also, if you sing it too melodically—meaning, if you trace the original melody line too literally—you might end up ruining what makes the song special.
It’s hard to convey in words, but I think it’s best to sing it with a nuance that’s halfway between rapping and singing.
Doing so also highlights the contrast with the more melodic chorus.
You can tell the song is crafted with that kind of calculation in mind—truly impressive!