Karaoke songs you can enjoy singing in your natural voice without changing the key

SmileNEW!Nana Mori

Nana Mori - Smile (Music Video)

Mori Nana’s debut song “Smile” is actually a cover of a classic by HOF DYNAMITE from 1996.

I didn’t know this myself until a student told me when they said they wanted to sing “Smile.” We watched the original PV together and really felt the era! “Smile” has a relatively narrow vocal range, but it suddenly jumps up in pitch in the C section.

If you’re not comfortable with high notes in chest voice, use your head voice skillfully in that part.

My student practiced that section a lot—raising the facial muscles and aiming the voice straight up in a narrow, focused way.

Also, if you lock into the rhythm where the words flow continuously, it helps you place accents more consciously and makes them easier to produce.

Try singing it carefully with that in mind.

Marunouchi SadisticNEW!Ringo Sheena

Marunouchi Sadistic

It’s a stylish, quirky sound with jazz and blues elements, isn’t it? In fact, one of my students who had a limited range and couldn’t hit very high notes practiced this song many times in vocal training.

The overall range isn’t wide and it’s sung mainly in the mid register, but there are a few higher spots in the chorus.

As long as you catch the rhythm and nail the timing there, you’ll be able to sing them smoothly! Since the song is all about rhythm, it’s important to mark the beats clearly—even a bit exaggerated.

If you move with the groove while singing, it helps you relax and keeps you from pushing your voice, so I really want you to lean into the cool vibe.

Also, you’ll probably notice this once you’re in the groove, but be sure to cut off the notes cleanly where needed and give space its due as you sing.

Only for you, clear skiesYorushika

Yorushika – Just Clear Skies for You (MUSIC VIDEO)

In vocal lessons, my students and I often referred to Yorushika’s “Sunny” series! Among them, Just a Sunny Day for You doesn’t sit too high in range, but the rhythm in the first verse (A-melo) is distinctive, so where you cut off and where you stop are key points.

I think it’s easier to get if you listen closely to the drums and try singing while clapping along.

Also, make sure to resonate through your body so you don’t end up singing too loudly.

A human body resonates like an instrument—your head and chest vibrate.

For this song, there are spots with head voice, so it’s good to resonate in your head.

Try humming gently and check where you feel the vibration.

If it’s buzzing around your brow/forehead area, that’s great! If you then turn that gentle sensation into your singing voice, it will become a head-voice-based tone and make it easier to stay on pitch.

The key is not to tense up!

DystopiaONE OK ROCK

ONE OK ROCK – Dystopia [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

The 2024 release “Dystopia.” Its vocal range is mid2A to hiD, which is quite high for male singers, but likely just right for female singers.

Since the lowest note is mid2A, there’s ample room to lower the key, so men should adjust the key with a focus on ease of producing the highest notes.

There’s a shouted long note near the end of the chorus, so be careful not to cough or let your voice get too thin at that point.

Yume YumeONE OK ROCK

Yume-yume

Among ONE OK ROCK’s songs, the masterpiece “Yume Yume” stands out with a highly unorthodox melody.

Lately, it’s been drawing renewed attention after politician Shinji Ishimaru openly stated that he likes the track.

The song is a rap-rock piece with a slightly jazzy vibe and stays within a narrow vocal range throughout.

The flow in the rap sections is simple, and the chorus is also straightforward; as a result, it can come across as somewhat mechanical.

For that reason, especially for female vocalists, it’s important to consciously add solid shouts in the mid-to-high register.

CITRUSDa-iCE

Da-iCE / “CITRUS” (Theme song for the Nippon TV Sunday drama “The Way of the Househusband”) Music Video

Da-iCE’s “CITRUS” shot to fame as a high-tone song! I bet many of you, regardless of gender, have tried singing it.

The overall range of the song is F3–D5, which makes it a more comfortable key for women.

Da-iCE singing in such a high register is something many men look up to! The verses (A and B sections) sit in a relatively calm range, but the tricky part is how the chorus suddenly jumps up into the high notes.

When you’re hitting tones this high, if you can’t switch cleanly into head voice, you’ll strain your throat.

Keep the resonance focused in your head at all times—doing so naturally lifts your facial muscles, so don’t forget to stay mindful of that! You’ll also need explosive power, so project your voice as if you’re aiming far into the distance.

The final chorus modulates and goes even higher, so it’s okay to sing out more than you think you need!

Angel in my heartSIZUKU

[MV] SIZUKU / Angel in My Heart

A song by singer and actress SIZUKU, digitally released in July 2023.

It is the theme song for the TV drama “I Used to Be an Idol, Now I’m a Delivery Person,” starring Yuma Teranishi and with SIZUKU herself as the heroine, which begins airing on BS Fuji on July 2.

The track unfolds quite dramatically—starting with a ballad-style opening, shifting to an up-tempo section, and returning to a ballad feel toward the end.

However, the vocal melody remains consistently very singable throughout, and the vocal range used isn’t very wide, so as long as you keep up with the song’s development, it should be very easy for anyone to sing.