[Eternal Idol] A roundup of Seiko Matsuda’s easy-to-sing songs
Since her debut in 1980 with the classic hit “Hadashi no Kisetsu,” Seiko Matsuda—an eternal idol whose outstanding vocal ability and instantly recognizable, soaring high notes have been her signature—has continued to influence Japanese women’s fashion and lifestyle.
It’s amazing not only that she released a string of masterpieces during her 1980s heyday, but that she has also continued to produce hits as a singer-songwriter from the 1990s onward.
Seiko-chan’s songs are perennial favorites at karaoke, but as mentioned at the start, many people struggle with those expansive high notes.
This time, we’ve picked out some relatively easy-to-sing tracks and included tips for performing them at karaoke—so don’t miss it!
- Easy-to-sing Japanese karaoke songs recommended for women in their 50s
- [In Their 50s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2025]
- Seiko Matsuda’s Most Popular Karaoke Songs Ranking [2025]
- A must-see for low-voiced women! Popular songs that are easy to sing at karaoke
- Karaoke songs that are easy to sing even if you’re not confident in your pitch (for women in their 50s)
- [Karaoke] A roundup of easy-to-sing songs by Shizuka Kudo
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for women in their 20s with low voices | Also great for getting a good reaction at karaoke!
- [Women in Their 40s] Even If You’re Tone-Deaf, You Can Sing! Karaoke Songs That Fit a Woman’s Vocal Range
- [For People in Their 40s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2025]
- [Karaoke] A roundup of songs that are easy for women to sing!
- [For Women in Their 40s] A Collection of Songs That Score High at Karaoke [2025]
- [For Teenage Girls] A Collection of Songs That Score High at Karaoke [2025]
- Karaoke songs that are easy to sing for women, even for those who are tone-deaf
[Eternal Idol] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Seiko Matsuda Songs (1–10)
Hold me...Seiko Matsuda
Embracing…,” included on Seiko Matsuda’s 15th album Citron, released in 1988 with top American producer David Foster, is known among fans as a popular track even though it was never released as a single.
It was also used in a commercial, so many people beyond her fanbase have likely heard it.
While it’s hard to fully recreate Matsuda’s commanding vocals as she grew from idol to singer, the melody itself is very straightforward and easy to sing.
In the chorus where the emotion bursts forth, pour in all your feelings and sing it freely in your own way!
SWEET MEMORIESSeiko Matsuda
Among the many wonderful ballads sung by Seiko Matsuda, this one stands out for its exceptional popularity and recognition.
It is a timeless masterpiece that has been loved across generations as one of the most iconic ballads in J-POP history.
Released in August 1983 as the B-side to “Glass no Ringo” (Glass Apple), it gained significant attention after being featured in a Suntory CAN Beer commercial known for its penguin character.
This led to an interesting turn of events where it was re-released that October as a double A-side single.
As an unfading classic continually covered by many artists, it’s a song that people of all ages want to try singing at karaoke.
For a Seiko Matsuda song, the vocal range is fairly average, and the English lyrics in the second verse aren’t difficult, so men should definitely give it a try too!
My dear youSeiko Matsuda
Speaking of Seiko Matsuda in the 1990s, many people probably think of the mega-hit “Anata ni Aitakute ~Missing You~” or this song, “Taisetsu na Anata.” Released as a single in 1993, “Taisetsu na Anata” was used as a TV drama’s theme song and remains popular as a bright pop tune that only Seiko Matsuda could deliver—combining the charm of an eternal idol with the skill of an experienced singer-songwriter.
If you try singing it, you’ll notice her characteristically soaring high notes do appear, but the range isn’t excessively high overall, and the melody is easy to grasp, making it very singable.
If you find her high tones from the ’80s a bit tough, this might be a great song to start with!
[Eternal Idol] A Collection of Easy-to-Sing Songs by Seiko Matsuda (11–20)
I Want to See You ~Missing You~Seiko Matsuda
For those who didn’t grow up knowing Seiko Matsuda at the height of her idol career in the 1980s, many likely first discovered her through “Anata ni Aitakute ~Missing You~.” This signature ballad of her 1990s era is also one of the best-selling songs of her entire career.
With lyrics written by Matsuda herself and composition co-written with Ryo Ogura, the song also showcases her abilities as a songwriter.
Hugely popular at karaoke when it was released, it remains a beloved song that people still sing even in the Reiwa era.
While expressing the emotions of a ballad can be challenging, the melody line is very straightforward and the pitch is easy to follow, so why not focus on singing it with heartfelt feeling?
Lapis-Lazuli EarthSeiko Matsuda
Ruri-iro no Chikyuu (Lapis-Lazuli Earth) is a song included on the album SUPREME, which was released while Seiko Matsuda was on hiatus due to pregnancy and childbirth.
Despite not being released as a single, it remains highly popular among fans.
It has also been included in music textbooks used in education, so many people—not just fans—have likely heard it or even found themselves humming along.
It’s also fresh in our memory that Matsuda performed it as Ruri-iro no Chikyuu 2020 at the 71st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2020.
As a simple ballad, it’s relatively easy to sing: the pitch is easy to follow, and there aren’t many of Matsuda’s signature high tones.
white parasolSeiko Matsuda
Shiroi Parasol, for which Takashi Matsumoto—who wrote most of Seiko Matsuda’s signature and hit songs—was invited for the first time to write lyrics for a single, is her sixth single overall, released in 1981.
The composer is Kazuo Zaitsu, who also worked on the previous single, Natsu no Tobira.
It has the feel of a medium-tempo pop song that isn’t overly uptempo, and Masao Ōmura’s spot-on arrangement—he supported Matsuda’s golden era—is excellent as well.
The song features a succession of soaring high notes characteristic of Matsuda’s early style, so if you find it tough, try lowering the key when you sing it.
The melody itself is fairly straightforward and not difficult to pitch, so I recommend singing it in a way that feels good for you.
uniformSeiko Matsuda
“Seifuku” is the B-side to the classic song “Red Sweet Pea,” but it’s extremely popular among fans, and lyricist Takashi Matsumoto is said to have been more confident in “Seifuku” than in “Red Sweet Pea.” Despite being a light, upbeat pop song, “Seifuku” features an elegant melody and heartrending lyrics that are truly wonderful.
As for singing tips, the section that builds from the pre-chorus into the chorus gradually rises in pitch and is surprisingly tricky when you actually sing it.
Pay attention to your breathing points and practice so the line connects smoothly into those clear, sustained high notes.