A special feature on love songs and ballads you want girls to sing at karaoke

First love is cryingAimyon

Aimyon – First Love Is Crying [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Aimyong’s 13th single features a simple melody line and an impressively easy-to-remember chorus.

As the theme song for the TV drama “What’s Wrong with Being Serious About Love?”, it sings straightforwardly about “love,” yet it feels light—refreshing and cute above all.

Still, those sweet-and-sour, aching emotions definitely come through.

Listening to it, you can’t help but think, “I want to fall in love like this,” and that might be the power of her songwriting.

Try singing the unique, personified-LOVE lyrics in a cute way.

Flower of loveAimyon

Aimyon – Flower of Love [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

A singer-songwriter who has won popularity for acoustic sounds that resonate across generations and lyrics written from a uniquely original perspective, Aimyon.

Her 14th single “Ai no Hana,” used as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Ranman, features a delicate sound centered on piano and acoustic guitar that feels so pleasant.

Many men may sense a distinctly feminine maternal warmth from its lyrics depicting a great love.

It’s a beautiful pop tune marked by an upbeat rhythm in triple meter with a shuffle beat.

The snow is piercingly coldbeautiful night

Atarayo – Snow Pierces the Chill (Music Video)

Aratayo’s “Yuki Sayuru” is a song that seems like it could capture men’s hearts if a woman sang it at karaoke.

By the way, the band name Aratayo is said to mean “a night so beautiful you don’t want it to end,” which sounds like a fun tidbit to use as karaoke banter.

The band also appeared on THE FIRST TAKE, YouTube’s one-take performance channel, in 2021 with two songs: “October, I Forget Your Silence” and “Summer Haze.” Not everyone knows them, but music aficionados do—this kind of song choice might just grab the attention of the guys!

YELLIkimonogakari

Ikimono-gakari “YELL” Music Video

Songs everyone knows always get the crowd going, don’t they? This song, “YELL,” was even chosen as a required piece for NHK’s music competition, so many people probably sang it back in their school days.

It’s a gentle ballad for female singers, so there are surely lots of men who, out of nostalgia, are thinking “I want to hear this!!” The lyrics, which depict the meetings and partings in life like an anthem of encouragement, are wonderful too.

The C-melody after the second chorus is especially the tear-jerker! Be sure to sing it yourself before someone else does.

seasonIkimonogakari

season

Ikimonogakari, with Kiyoe Yoshioka on vocals—who has also been active as a solo artist, including creating the official song for the Rugby World Cup 2019—are known for their lively, powerful singing.

At the same time, the gentle vocals in songs like this are also incredibly appealing.

The lyrics are perfect for this time of year when many people are at a turning point, such as graduation or job transfers—moving and beautiful.

I think there are quite a few men who would love to hear women sing such a tender song.

It’s a relaxed tune and, being slower, it’s also easier to sing than fast songs—highly recommended!

Before the cherry blossoms bloomMushroom Empire

Kinoko Teikoku – Before the Cherry Blossoms Bloom

This is a cherry blossom song by Kinoko Teikoku with a beautiful piano intro.

It’s a song for setting out to welcome a new spring, so it’s one I’d love to have sung at farewell or thank-you parties.

When people think of Kinoko Teikoku, many probably imagine upbeat, poppy tunes, but this song, “Sakura ga Saku Mae ni,” is a moving ballad meant to be listened to quietly.

If you feel a bit shy singing solo, it would work well as a duet or trio.

A slightly delicate, feminine voice suits this track perfectly.

Kinoko Teikoku went on hiatus in 2019—here’s hoping they resume activities soon.

Azure SwimNishina

Nishina – Seiran Yūei [Official Video]

In 2021, singer-songwriter Nishina, a newcomer highlighted by Spotify and selected for its playlists, delivered a message that poignantly conveys how life is full of meetings and partings—overlapping, separating, and each person moving along their own path.

Her voice has a beautiful clarity, and the simple melody feels like something anyone could slip into without discomfort.

As a pure-hearted woman who accepts farewells and new beginnings, I’d love to sing it with dignified grace.