A roundup of easy-to-sing Yutaka Ozaki songs: passionate tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke
When you think of singer-songwriter Yutaka Ozaki, he’s one of Japan’s most iconic artists, who has moved countless listeners.
Even after he passed away at the young age of 26, his popularity hasn’t waned—in fact, his music continues to be loved across generations.
In this article, I’ll introduce some of his songs that are relatively easy to sing at karaoke.
While many of his tracks sit in a range that’s comfortable for the average male singer, I’ve especially picked songs with easy-to-follow melodies and lyrics that aren’t too fast.
I hope this helps you choose your next karaoke setlist.
A roundup of easy-to-sing Yutaka Ozaki songs: passionate tracks you’ll want to sing at karaoke (1–10)
For me to be myselfYutaka Ozaki
It’s a song that conveys a powerful determination to live true to oneself and to keep moving forward.
Included on the 1983 album “Seventeen’s Map,” it has remained beloved over the years, even being chosen as the theme song for the 1997 drama “Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni.” The refreshing sound paired with the passionate vocals is striking, evoking positive feelings about the future.
While the emotional delivery in the chorus may seem challenging, the melody is fundamentally straightforward, so once you get a solid grasp of the rhythm, it should be quite singable.
GraduationYutaka Ozaki
It’s a song with a refreshing vibe that portrays youthful defiance against adults and the feeling of sprinting full speed through adolescence.
Released as a lead single ahead of the 1985 album “Kaikisen,” it’s one of Yutaka Ozaki’s signature tracks.
The piano-centered sound meshes with lyrics depicting scenes at school, powerfully evoking images of youth.
The conversational singing style, which conveys a sense of nostalgia for days spent with a rebellious spirit, also makes it easy to sing.
Since the melodic rises and falls are gentle, focus on expressing the emotions embedded in the lyrics as you sing.
Forget-me-notYutaka Ozaki
This is a warm, gentle song themed around the forget-me-not, evoking the importance of human connections.
After being included on the 1985 album “Kowareta Tobira kara” (“From the Broken Door”), it was released as a single in 2001.
Chosen as the theme song for the film “LOVE SONG,” which led to its single release, and covered by various musicians, it’s a piece that has been loved for many years.
The piano-centered sound seems to highlight the warmth of the lyrics, conveying a straightforward, sincere affection.
It’s important to sing it with the image of speaking gently to the listener while feeling the calm rhythm in your body.
SherryYutaka Ozaki
It’s a song that looks back on the painful path I’ve walked while contemplating an uncertain future.
It’s included on the album Kaikisen, released in 1985.
It’s said to be a song that frankly portrays the weakness in Yutaka Ozaki’s own heart as he felt it.
The explosive, emotional vocals over a simple acoustic guitar sound make it a deeply moving piece.
While the rapid-fire sections and bursts of emotion may seem challenging, the melody is basically simple, so I think the pitches are relatively easy to follow.
dance hallYutaka Ozaki
This song paints a scene in a dance hall and the diverse backgrounds of the people there.
It was included on the 1985 album “Kaikisen” and later released in 1991 as the B-side to “I LOVE YOU.” It’s said to be themed around an incident that occurred at a disco, and the vocals, which convey a gentle nostalgia and sadness, are particularly striking.
The straightforward melody and conversational singing style make it easy to perform; honor the lyrical world of the song and articulate each word clearly as you sing.
A Cat in the CrowdYutaka Ozaki
This song portrays the feeling of making oneself small and the anguish of being crushed by a powerful current.
It was included on the 1985 album “Kaikirouku” (Record of Return).
The title was inspired by an episode involving Yutaka Ozaki and a stray cat, which lends the piece a notable warmth.
It’s a song that speaks carefully through its words, with gentle sounds that highlight the powerful vocals.
Since the melodic rises and falls are gradual, imagining it as if you’re speaking to someone can make it easier to sing.
Rules of the RoadYutaka Ozaki
This is the opening track featured as the first song on the 1985 album “Through the Broken Door.” Its driving band sound and densely packed lyrics are striking, conveying a strong sense of urgency.
It’s said to draw on Yutaka Ozaki’s experiences in New York, embedding themes of racial discrimination and economic inequality.
You can feel a determination to overcome suffering in both the sound and the vocals.
The melodic range rises and falls gently, so once you lock into the rhythm, it should be a relatively easy song to sing.