[For Men] Tough Karaoke Songs: A collection of tracks that look cool if you can sing them!

playing humanRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Playing Human [Official Music Video]

This is RADWIMPS’s 10th digital-only single, released in July 2022.

It was written as the theme song for the drama “Ishiko and Haneo: You’d Sue Over That?” When singing this song at karaoke, the key is likely how you create contrast between the slightly mechanical delivery in the non-chorus sections and the more organic-sounding delivery in the chorus.

In fact, the A-melody and other parts are processed as if a strong pitch-correction effect was intentionally applied.

It might be fun to lean into that inorganic feel and imitate it, too.

C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y. feat. Paledusk and CHICO CARLITOONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK – C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y. feat. Paledusk and CHICO CARLITO [Official Music Video]

Speaking of Taka, the vocalist of ONE OK ROCK who continues to work globally not only in Japan but around the world, he’s also known for his powerful singing ability, effortlessly handling everything from a wide vocal range to shouts.

Many people admire Taka, but this time I’d like to introduce C.

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as a song with a high level of difficulty for karaoke.

It’s a track from the album DETOX, released in February 2025, and it’s shaped into an aggressive loud rock number featuring CHICO CARLITO, a rapper from Okinawa, and Paledusk, a band popular for their hybrid metalcore sound.

With all-English lyrics, the song busily jumps between restrained sections, high-pitched shouts, and melodic parts, and even requires rapping and growls.

So if Taka’s parts alone feel too tough, I recommend tackling it at karaoke with a few friends—especially those who are good at rap and growls!

Synchrome (with suis from Yorushika)TK from Ling tosite sigure

TK from Ling tosite sigure 'Synchrome (with suis from Yorushika)'

When you think of TK from Ling Tosite Sigure, you think of that instantly recognizable, ultra-distinctive high-tone voice, right? Released in April 2025, Synchrome is another new masterpiece where TK’s searing high notes explode, fusing headlong velocity with both beauty and aggression.

Even though it’s a male–female duet featuring suis from Yorushika as a guest, it’s amazing that the male melody line sits in almost the same range as the female’s.

Even singers who can hit relatively high notes will find it challenging: the melody jumps up and down dramatically, and if you misjudge your breathing points, you’ll quickly find it impossible to keep singing.

Start by practicing each part little by little, and work on getting used to the song’s sense of speed.

Oni BanquetSora Tomonari

Tomonari Sora – “Demons’ Banquet” [Music Video]

The famous song “Oni no Utage” by Sora Tomonari, which frequently appears on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, features a standout challenge: the vocal runs.

Vocal runs are an advanced technique commonly used in R&B and soul music, but in this piece, they’re infused with an enka-style kobushi flavor.

As a result, while it’s not as difficult as authentic R&B-style runs, the vocal line is still extremely challenging for the average singer.

J.O.K.E.R.MAZZEL

MAZZEL / J.O.K.E.R. -Music Video-

MAZZEL is one of the groups supporting Japan’s current boy group boom.

Among their works—renowned for performances that rival K-pop—my top recommendation is J.

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The chorus features falsetto throughout.

It’s not just about hitting high notes; the rapid, repeated switches between chest voice and falsetto make it exceptionally challenging.

Breath control is also crucial, so if you can sing this song with ease, your vocal ability is at a professional level.

BE CLASSICJO1

JO1 | ‘BE CLASSIC’ Official MV

JO1 is a hugely popular group that can rightfully be called one of the driving forces of the music scene for Japanese boy groups from the 2020s onward.

Riding even more momentum with successful appearances at major festivals like SUMMER SONIC 2024 and overseas shows, they’re also known for their exceptional vocal and dance skills.

The title track of their best-of album released in 2025, “BE CLASSIC,” shocked listeners with its bold arrangement that quotes Beethoven’s Symphony No.

5, “Fate.” In recent years, there’s been a noticeable push to fuse classical music with pop, and this song blends elements of K-pop and hip-hop into a cool dance number that’s distinctly JO1.

It’s clearly very challenging to sing at karaoke—the rapid shifts between rap and melody make it hard for one person to cover—so we recommend trying it with multiple singers!

BOW AND ARROWKenshi Yonezu

Kenshi Yonezu – BOW AND ARROW

Kenshi Yonezu’s song “BOW AND ARROW,” whose music video featuring Yuzuru Hanyu drew huge attention, also serves as the opening theme for the TV anime Medalist.

The drum’n’bass-inspired track, which creates a sleek, skating-like sense of speed, feels very contemporary, and Yonezu’s superb songwriting really stands out.

The melody line makes full use of Yonezu’s high vocals, spans a wide range, and features large interval jumps, making it fairly challenging.

On top of that, listeners unfamiliar with this kind of track may find the rhythm tricky to grasp.

Start by listening to the song repeatedly, and once you understand how the rhythm, melody, and lyrics are structured, give practicing a try.