The Appeal of Solo: Easy-to-Sing Songs by Keisuke Kuwata. Perfect for Karaoke!
Since debuting with the group on “Katte ni Sindbad,” Keisuke Kuwata has bridged kayōkyoku and Japanese pop music.
Of course, the Southern All Stars are iconic, but even as a solo singer, Kuwata’s ability to fully express his own style while creating songs beloved nationwide is truly compelling.
Many people are familiar with Southern All Stars’ tracks at karaoke, but here we’ll introduce recommended songs for those who want to sing Keisuke Kuwata’s solo numbers!
Surprisingly, many of his songs span a wide range of pitches and vocal ranges, and some require technical singing, making them challenging.
Still, their catchy melodies are irresistible and make you want to hum along.
In addition to title tracks, we’ve also featured songs that are easier to try, so please find ones that suit you and are comfortable to sing.
- A roundup of easy-to-sing Southern All Stars songs for karaoke
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
- Karaoke songs recommended for men with low voices or who are good at singing in a low register
- Songs that are easy to sing at karaoke even for people who think, “I might be tone-deaf...” or aren’t good at singing
- [Karaoke] A roundup of easy-to-sing Mr.Children songs
- [In Their 50s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2025]
- A collection of easy-to-sing Takuro Yoshida songs: recommended tracks to try at karaoke
- A must-see for low-voiced women! Popular songs that are easy to sing at karaoke
- Even for those not confident in their singing! Easy-to-sing karaoke songs released in the Reiwa era
- Masaki Suda songs that are easy to sing: tracks even people who aren’t confident singers can try at karaoke.
- [Karaoke] Recommended easy-to-sing songs by Kazuyoshi Saito.
- Easy-to-sing recommended songs by back number [for karaoke song selection]
- No worries if you're tone-deaf! Easy-to-sing J-pop songs for karaoke
The Appeal of Solo: Keisuke Kuwata’s easy-to-sing songs for karaoke! (11–20)
Keisuke KuwataMidnight Dandy
Songs by Keisuke Kuwata and Southern All Stars are popular across a wide range of age groups, so I have a lot of students in their 20s who choose to sing them! This time’s “Mayonaka no Dandy” was apparently first released as a solo single in 1993.
The vocal range is generally around B3 on average, and the melody line is simple, making it easy to remember and sing.
Precisely because the melody is simple, small pitch discrepancies can stand out when matching the pitch bar, but if you sing carefully, your score will definitely go up! When moving from the A and B sections into the chorus, the pitch rises a bit, so try to keep your facial muscles lifted and sing lightly throughout so you don’t tense up.
Once you’re comfortable, you could try adding a slight shout like Kuwata does, but if your score isn’t improving, it might strain your throat, so better not do it (lol).
Wandering RiderKeisuke Kuwata
This is a song that sings, with a dandy atmosphere, about a man’s wistfulness and the inner aesthetics he conceals.
It’s included on the mini-album released in 2021, “Rice, Miso Soup, Nori, Pickles, and Tamagoyaki feat.
Umeboshi.” While it carries a calm mood you can feel, the strength of the instrumental tones also evokes a powerful presence.
The gentle, conversational style of singing makes it easy to perform—try singing while staying relaxed, valuing both the mood and the words.
The moments when the lyrics are densely packed are also an important element that conveys the song’s atmosphere, so it’s recommended to pay special attention when singing those parts.
TokyoKeisuke Kuwata
A heart-stirring ballad that delicately portrays loneliness and a sense of loss against the backdrop of a rain-soaked city nightscape.
With Keisuke Kuwata’s signature deep vocals and melodies, it gently envelops the bittersweet emotions of people living in the city.
Exuding a suspense-drama atmosphere, the song topped the Oricon Weekly Chart for two consecutive weeks immediately after its June 2002 release.
Featured on the album “ROCK AND ROLL HERO,” it drew widespread attention and received high acclaim, including Song of the Year at the 17th Japan Gold Disc Awards.
It’s a gem of a masterpiece that reflects the mature heart—one you’ll want to listen to quietly on a solitary rainy night.
Sakura, flutterSouthern All Stars
The new song by Southern All Stars features a heartwarming melody that evokes the arrival of spring.
With cherry blossoms as its motif, it carries a message of hope and renewal, and it’s truly wonderful.
Released as a lead single from the album “THANK YOU SO MUCH” on January 1, 2025, the track coincided with the first anniversary of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
Keisuke Kuwata’s warm vocals are accompanied by an acoustic guitar that feels like a spring breeze.
It’s a moving song you’ll want to hear during graduation and school entrance season.
I hope elementary school students will listen to it, too.
In conclusion
I introduced some easy-to-sing recommended songs by Keisuke Kuwata.
As expected, their strength lies in the familiar, catchy melodies, and the title tracks in particular feel especially approachable to sing.
That said, many songs are quite challenging, so I recommend expanding to B-sides and album tracks as well.
Kuwata’s singing style is really cool, so it’s nice to keep that vibe in mind as you sing.
Be sure to find songs that suit you and have fun!