Bittersweet songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended masterpieces and popular tracks
While it’s great fun to sing crowd-pleasers that get everyone hyped at karaoke, it can be just as nice to connect over a poignant, melancholic ballad.
So this time, we’ll introduce a selection of bittersweet songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke all at once!
Unlike upbeat tracks that amp up the energy, melancholic ballads tend to be slower in tempo and feature lots of long sustained notes.
That’s why they feel so good to sing!
And above all, many of these songs invite you to empathize with the lyrics and pour your emotions into them, so you’re sure to bond and get excited with the people you’re with through that shared connection to the music.
Let’s dive in.
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Bittersweet songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and popular tracks (21–30)
wedgeHanako Oku
A signature ballad by Hanako Oku that depicts undying feelings for someone you can’t forget.
The delicate piano tones express the unfillable hollow and sense of loss after parting from a lover.
Hanako Oku’s crystal-clear voice gently sinks into the heart, doesn’t it? Sung since her indie days, this piece was released as a 10th-anniversary single in July 2015 and is also included on the album Prism.
Despite having no tie-ins, it resonated online and became a hidden gem, amassing a total of 15 million video views.
It’s a heartbreak song, but perfect for creating a moving, mellow atmosphere.
With few key changes and easy emotional delivery, why not choose it as a song to touch the heart of someone you care about?
balladKetsumeishi
A love ballad from Ketsumeishi that offers a different flavor from their usual cheerful image.
It’s a tear-jerker that gently yet poignantly sings of unfulfilled feelings for someone special, carried by a tender, aching melody.
With rap kept to a minimum and piano and strings that seep into the heart, this piece also surprised longtime fans as a bold departure.
Released in January 2011 as one half of a double A-side single and included on the classic album Ketsunopolis 7, it was also used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s information program Sukkiri!!.
If you sing it softly at karaoke—where upbeat tracks usually steal the show—its contrast will draw everyone in.
Why not showcase a new side of yourself with this hidden gem?
cherry blossomKetsumeishi
This iconic song that symbolizes the spring season is also extremely popular at karaoke.
It’s a bittersweet yet heartwarming track that sings of past love, revived alongside scenes of cherry blossoms.
The contrast between the rap-driven storytelling and the catchy chorus that anyone can sing along to is truly moving.
Released as a single in February 2005, it became the group’s biggest hit despite having no tie-in.
Sing it with friends at karaoke, and the emotional atmosphere is sure to deepen.
When the chorus comes, join in together for a rousing sing-along and enjoy the sense of unity!
FateOfficial HIGE DANDism
This is a rousing cheer song filled with passion that makes anyone feel empowered to face forward.
The lyrics, which capture an indescribable page of youth, carry a message that pushes all challengers onward.
The beautiful melodies and powerful brass sound woven by Official HIGE DANDism inspire listeners’ hearts like cheers from the stands.
Released in July 2019, this track was chosen as the “2019 ABC Summer High School Baseball Cheer Song” and the theme song for TV Asahi’s Nettou Koshien.
It reached No.
3 on the Billboard JAPAN HOT 100 weekly chart and became a major hit, earning Platinum certification.
It’s a song we’d love to send to everyone striving toward their dreams and goals.
It’s also perfect for karaoke when you want to sing your heart out and boost your spirits.
The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi
A gem of a ballad that gracefully portrays rainy scenery and the ache of parting.
Yasushi Nakanishi’s transparent vocals exquisitely capture lingering feelings for a lover and a passion verging on madness.
The dramatic piano melody and strings weave an achingly poignant world.
Released in August 1992, the song peaked at No.
16 on the Oricon chart.
It drew attention as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Hitachi Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” and had sold a cumulative total of about 900,000 copies by 1998.
Featured on the album “Yasushi Nakanishi,” among many other releases, it has inspired numerous covers by prominent artists, including Kumi Koda.
A sophisticated track best enjoyed while quietly sipping a drink in a lounge.
On nights when you want to soothe the pain of a broken heart, its soulful voice will gently stay by your side.
The summer you gave meLeo Ieiri
Released in 2015, this is a song by Leo Ieiri that was also used as the theme for the drama ‘Koinaka.
‘ The expressions unique to a singer-songwriter really tug at the heartstrings.
Although it’s a bittersweet song, it has a good tempo, so it should be easy to sing at karaoke.
A Naked HeartAimyon
This song is striking for its honest emotional shifts.
Released in June 2020 as Aimyon’s 10th single, it was created as the theme song for the TBS drama “My Housekeeper Nagisa-san.” Its gentle melody, centered on piano and melodica, closely accompanies the protagonist’s feelings as they face their own heart.
The track portrays a down-to-earth struggle with self-esteem through love, and its unadorned lyrics have resonated with many listeners.
While expressing anxiety and inner conflict in romance, it also carries a resolve to move forward, making it a perfect pick for stress-relieving karaoke time.