[Karaoke] Guaranteed to get the crowd going! A collection of up-tempo Japanese songs
There are plenty of chances to go to karaoke with school friends or coworkers, right?
What often trips people up at times like that is, of course, picking songs.
A lot of people probably feel like, “If I’m going to sing, I want a crowd-pleaser, but I don’t know what to choose.”
There are all kinds of hype songs, but in this article we’ll focus on up-tempo tracks and recommend lots of great picks!
They’re all guaranteed crowd-pleasers for karaoke, so if you’re ever stuck choosing, definitely use this as a reference.
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- This is a sure hit! Hype songs men will want to sing as the first track at karaoke
- Karaoke songs everyone can sing: Japanese tracks that are easy to enjoy with a group.
- [I want to sing out loud] Songs that feel great to belt and are fun for karaoke
- [For Men] This song is perfect for hyping up the crowd at karaoke!
- [For Men] Want to Hype Up the Karaoke? A Roundup of Recommended High-Energy J-Pop/Rock
- Get the Laughs! Funny Karaoke Songs That Hype Up the Crowd
- [2025 Edition] Songs You Can Scream at Karaoke: Recommended Japanese Tracks for Stress Relief
- Hype Level Maxed! Party Anthems Recommended for the Yutori Generation
- Cool songs that will go over well at karaoke
- [For Women] Easy-to-Sing and Crowd-Pleasing Karaoke Songs
- Recommended for high school students! Fun, crowd-pleasing songs for karaoke
- Perfect for karaoke song choices too! Hype tracks recommended for Gen Z.
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Upbeat J-Pop Songs (1–10)
New EraAdo
If you want to hype up karaoke with something poppy, cute, and powerful, Ado’s “New Genesis” is the perfect pick.
Released in 2022, this song is the theme for the anime film ONE PIECE FILM RED, performed by Ado as the in-movie character Uta.
Produced by Yasutaka Nakata, the track truly feels like a soundtrack to a “new era,” just as the title suggests.
The explosive chorus rushes in with a sparkling melody that makes your heart pound with excitement the moment it hits.
It’s also a great choice to sing with friends and get the whole room going.
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
This song by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE is a moving piece that portrays the transience and beauty of life.
Released in April 2024, it was also chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime “Oblivion Battery.” With its energetic, refreshing rock sound and catchy melody, it brilliantly captures the complex emotions of youth.
The lyrics, themed around self-acceptance and growth, will deeply resonate with listeners.
It’s perfect for livening up a karaoke session: the up-tempo rhythm and relatable lyrics make it a great song to sing and enjoy with friends or coworkers.
Why not add it to your karaoke selection list?
RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
The rock band ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.
The song that helped them break into the global scene is Rewrite.
It’s also well known as the opening theme for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist, and depending on the karaoke machine, the anime footage will play, too.
A good way to sing it is to keep the A and B sections relatively unemotional and then explode in the chorus.
The arrangement builds more and more toward the end, so keep that in mind when you sing.
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Upbeat Japanese Songs (11–20)
NINE LIVESLimited Express
This is a dance number by Choutokkyuu released on September 24, 2025.
The song’s theme is the proverb “A cat has nine lives,” and it features lots of cat-related words.
Choutokkyuu often has songs with high vocals, but NINE LIVES isn’t one that keeps pushing into ultra-high notes, so once you lock into the rhythm, it should be pretty singable! Since it’s a twin-vocal track, there may be spots where singing solo is tricky timing-wise, but the song’s vibe is super cool, so definitely use it to hype up the karaoke room! In general, you can get a strong, steady tone if you resonate in both your head and chest; try placing a hand on your chest to feel that chest resonance as you sing.
By the way, TAKASHI, Choutokkyuu’s vocalist, raises his eyebrows quite a lot when he sings.
It also makes it easier to hit the right pitches, so give it a try!
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Golden Bomber
It’s really handy to have a go-to song everyone can dance to.
With that in mind, I recommend “Memeshikute.” It’s performed by Golden Bomber, known as a visual kei air band.
You’ve probably seen that move where everyone dances together during the chorus at least once.
The choreography is simple and comical, so even copying it on the fly will get the crowd going.
In contrast, the lyrics are quite serious, which is another fun point—so try singing it with feeling.
mixed nutsOfficial HIGE DANDism
This is a song by Official HIGE DANDism written specifically as the theme song for the anime SPY×FAMILY.
Since some members were originally fans of the manga, they volunteered to handle the theme song when they heard it was being adapted into an anime, which led to their selection.
The title “Mixed Nuts” was inspired by the protagonist Anya’s favorite snack, and the lyrics are packed with the anime’s worldview and the characters’ emotions—truly a song made for SPY×FAMILY.
It’s an irresistible track for anime fans.
Zankyo SankaAimer
There are people who want to get hyped with anime songs, right? In that case, I recommend Zankyo Sanka.
It’s the opening theme for the Entertainment District Arc of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
The lyrics that capture the anime’s world and the intense melody are its big draws.
When trying to imitate Aimer’s vocals on this track, you might find yourself slipping into falsetto.
However, using falsetto can make the lower-voice parts harder to sing, so be careful.
Keep practicing and try to find a well-balanced pitch that works for you.