Lovely karaoke song

[For Men] Songs to Get Better at Singing: Practice Tracks for Improving at Karaoke

Former vocal coach specializing in Western musicRyo
Under the theme of “vocal skills that stand up on the world stage,” I have experience teaching as an online vocal coach specializing in Western music, and I usually listen to genres like nuevo flamenco, bolero, canzone, and R&B. In my teens, I questioned the idea that “foreign music equals English,” and started exploring songs from around the world. My commentary is characterized by a unique perspective shaped by listening to music of every genre, in every language, from every country. I mainly cover world music, so be sure to check it out!
Music producer, composer, vocal coach, keyboard playerKei Takahata
From around 1995 to 2000, I built experience with a major label as a composer and producer. I then moved to the United States and studied voice and singing under Elizabeth Sabine, one of Los Angeles’s top vocal coaches, mastering the so-called Hollywood vocal technique advocated by Sabine. After returning to Japan, I have been involved in training and producing a variety of singers. My direction, which brings out the full appeal of both the music and the vocalist, is highly regarded. In the collaboration video with Vo. ryuichi of the band Guild below, I handled keyboards, vocal direction, and sound production. For inquiries and requests regarding voice training and music production, please contact me via the website below. SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-402518821

What are the conditions for becoming a better singer?

Of course, taking proper vocal training lessons to learn correct vocal production and turning your body into a “well-resonating instrument” is both fundamental and the most important point.

But after acquiring those “foundational singing techniques,” it’s also crucial to choose songs that match your level and goals, actually sing them, and build your expressive abilities through real-world practice.

In this feature, we’ve selected recommended practice songs for men who want to improve their singing.

For each song, we explain key points to watch out for when singing it and why we chose it.

Please use this article to suit your own aims.

[For Men] Songs That Make You a Better Singer: Practice Tracks for Improving at Karaoke (111–120)

Only HumanK

K　『Only Human』

Only HumanK

This is the fourth single released in Japan by Korean singer K, released in November 2005.

It was also used as the theme song for the drama “1 Litre of Tears.” The most important aspect of mastering this song is the skillful use of mixed voice and middle voice.

Even in sections that are comfortable range-wise, singing in full chest voice can risk losing softness, so aim for as gentle a tone as possible, and be careful not to tighten the throat or belt in the high parts.

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[For Men] Songs That Help You Sing Better: Practice Tracks for Improving at Karaoke (121–130)

A Little Love SongMONGOL800

MONGOL800 / A Small Love Song

A Small Love Song MONGOL800

A signature song by MONGOL800, released in September 2001.

Even more than 15 years after its release, it’s reportedly still popular among student bands.

The melody and rhythm are very simple, easy to understand, and easy to memorize, and since it uses a lot of sustained notes, it’s also ideal as a practice piece for developing stable long tones.

It’s also great material for physically grasping a rock-style groove.

In the opening A-melody section, even the original singer seems to find the low notes a bit tough, so if it’s hard to sing, raising the key slightly might make it easier.

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WhyNovelbright

Novelbright – Why [Official Music Video]

Why Novelbright?

This is Novelbright’s 10th digital-only single, released in August 2022.

Right from the very beginning, vocalist Yudai Takenaka’s gorgeous falsetto bursts in, and just hearing this part alone gives you a sense that this will be quite a formidable karaoke practice song! In fact, throughout the track, the singing expression switches skillfully among chest voice, mixed voice, and falsetto, delivering a variety of high tones.

If you can sing this in the original key, you’ll likely be able to handle most songs that demand high tones.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an ideal song for mastering high-tone vocals.

Try studying the vowels and consonants used in the lyrics of each section, as well as pronunciation and vocal production techniques.

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Perfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK "The Totally Sensational Dreamer"

Perfect Sense Dreamer ONE OK ROCK

This is ONE OK ROCK’s 4th single, released in February 2010.

As a karaoke pick, it’s on the advanced side because the key is quite high.

In the chorus’s high notes, it can sound at first like he’s just belting or shouting, but if you squeeze your throat and yell, it turns into a harsh, ugly sound.

You need to maintain power while using a breath-efficient falsetto—what’s commonly called head voice or mixed voice—skillfully.

It may be tricky to produce this sound without formal vocal training, but try supporting firmly with your abs, keeping your throat as relaxed as possible, and practicing hitting high notes without constriction.

The “metallic” sheen in the high tones can be adjusted by moving the placement of the voice appropriately within the oral cavity and controlling the amount of higher overtones in the sound.

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BuddhaRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Oshakashama [Official Music Video]

Oshakashama RADWIMPS

A single by RADWIMPS released as a digital-only track in January 2009.

The key point when singing this song is, above all, whether you can keep up with the rhythm of the lyrics as they unfold in a rapid-fire barrage.

The A-melody and other sections are delivered with a slightly rap-like flavor, and this kind of expression is one of the most important techniques for singing modern songs.

That makes it an ideal practice piece for learning this style.

If your rhythm or articulation lags, the performance will come off as very clumsy, so be sure to pay close attention to that when you sing.

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playing humanRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Playing Human [Audio]

Pretending to Be Human RADWIMPS

This is RADWIMPS’ 10th single overall, released digitally in July 2022.

As for karaoke practice points for this song, first and foremost you’ll want to really master the murmuring, whisper-like singing that’s used frequently throughout.

Just because you sing with a low volume and gently doesn’t mean you should mumble in a tiny voice—if you do, nothing will come across to the listener.

This is a basic principle of the “Hollywood-style vocal technique” that I usually recommend in my lessons: even in the gentle parts, tighten your abdominal muscles around your navel and sing with the image of supporting your upper body from there.

If you do that, you’ll be able to sing with a tone that never loses its core, no matter the volume or expression!

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Size of the kaijuback number

back number – The Size of the Monster

Kaiju size back number

This is back number’s seventh overall digital-only single, released in August 2023.

Its lightly bouncing, up-tempo beat makes for a refreshing and pleasant track.

It’s also an ideal practice song for learning to smoothly switch between chest voice and falsetto within a performance, serving as a great example of how to differentiate vocal expression between the two.

In addition, it should be especially useful—particularly for many Japanese singers who find it challenging—as a practice piece to get accustomed to a bouncy beat.

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