Easy-to-sing songs recommended for women in their 90s: A roundup of tracks to try at karaoke

soap bubblenursery rhyme

Soap bubble

This song is one of Japan’s most iconic children’s songs that everyone has hummed at least once.

Beneath its simple lyrics and melody lies a profound meaning.

Through the image of soap bubbles that vanish in an instant, it symbolically expresses the fragility of a child’s life that ends soon after birth.

Released in 1922, the song is said to reflect the personal sorrow of its lyricist, Ujo Noguchi.

With its simple, singable tune, it’s perfect even for people in their 90s—an ideal song for everyone to sing and enjoy together.

Why not sing it while basking in nostalgic memories?

Because the moon is so very blueTsutoko Sugawara

Highest Sound Quality! ~ Because the Moon Is So Very Blue (Sung by: Totoko Sugawara)

Totoko Sugawara, known for her distinctive, wistful vibrato, was called the Queen of Elegy and is also famous as the very first singer to perform on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen, which everyone knows.

She moved to Tokyo at the age of nine for an audition, where her talent blossomed, and together with her father, the composer Akira Mutsu, she released numerous masterpieces.

Her signature song, “Tsuki ga Tottemo Aoi Kara” (Because the Moon Is So Very Blue), became a million-selling hit in an era when the music market was much smaller than it is today, making her a household name across Japan.

For many seniors, it’s a song right at the heart of their youthful days, so it could be a great choice for recreational activities or background music in senior care facilities.

Apple SongMichiko Namiki

Apple Song - Michiko Namiki - Showa-era song

A gentle, warm song that likens the object of one’s affection to an apple.

Released in January 1946, it became a classic that drew a major response for the first time in the postwar era.

As the theme song of the film “Soyokaze,” it was performed as a duet by Michiko Namiki and Noboru Kirishima.

Under the blue sky, the way the singer longs for the charming apple is portrayed alongside a refreshing melody.

In the turmoil of the time, it became a ray of hope.

For older listeners, it’s a nostalgic piece that brings back memories of the good old days.

Setting aside time to sing it together in a care facility may well spark lively conversations about happy times gone by.

Always keep your dreamsYukio Hashi / Sayuri Yoshinaga

Yukio Hashi & Sayuri Yoshinaga / Itsudemo Yume o (Always Dream)

Because it’s used as an insert song in NHK’s morning drama series “Amachan,” in SoftBank commercials, and in various other contexts, it hardly feels like an old tune.

Of course, for older listeners it’s famous as a duet by Yukio Hashi and Sayuri Yoshinaga.

It even won the Japan Record Award, was performed on the Red and White Song Battle, and inspired a film—what we’d now call a mega-viral hit! Just hearing the intro will bring back fond memories of days gone by.

It’s also a great choice for karaoke with someone special!

My Pure LadyAmi Ozaki

My Pure Lady / Ami OzakiOfficial Lyric Video

This is a memorable track with a refreshing bossa nova-style melody that evokes the arrival of spring.

Its gentle, soft atmosphere, which tenderly wraps around feelings of a faint crush and affection for someone, will warm your heart before you know it.

Ami Ozaki’s clear, translucent vocals blend beautifully with lyrics that depict the small joys of everyday life.

Released in February 1977, the song was also used in a Shiseido cosmetics commercial and reached No.

4 on the Oricon charts.

The arrangement by Masataka Matsutoya and the performance by members of Tin Pan Alley are among its many charms.

It’s a lovely piece you’ll want to listen to with the windows open, feeling the pleasant breeze under the calm spring sunlight.

Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Teng

Leave oneself to the flow of time / Teresa Teng (with lyrics)

Teresa Teng, the Asian diva who conveyed life’s deepest emotions through moving melodies.

This song tells of how meeting a beloved person dramatically changed her life, and of her resolve to devote herself completely.

Set to a gentle, warm major-key arrangement, her clear, translucent voice resonates in the heart.

Released as a single in February 1986 and included on the album “Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase,” it won the Grand Prix at the 19th Japan Cable Radio Awards that same year.

With its beautiful, easy-to-remember melody, it’s perfect for everyone to hum along to while sharing fond memories.

I'm falling in love with you againFuyumi Sakamoto

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Falling in Love with You Again (with lyrics)

A gem by Fuyumi Sakamoto that gently sings of a deepening bond with a loved one.

Also known as the CM song for Sanwa Shurui’s barley shochu iichiko, it conveys the newfound affection that can blossom between longtime spouses through a calm, soothing melody.

From everyday moments—the morning light, the breathing of someone sleeping by your side—the lyrics unfold tender feelings toward a cherished person, enhanced by a voice that pierces the heart.

Released in January 2009 as the coupling track to “Asia no Kaizoku,” it was included that October on the album “Love Songs ~ Mata Kimi ni Koishiteru ~,” garnering widespread media attention.

It’s a wonderful song to hum together as a couple or to sing with thoughts of someone dear.

A beautiful piece that lets you feel love growing deeper with time.