[In Their 50s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2025]

threadMiyuki Nakajima36rank/position

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“Ito” is a song sung by every generation.

It was released in 1992, but it’s often used at weddings and in TV dramas, making it a ballad loved across generations.

The vocal range isn’t very wide—F3 to A#4—centered in the midrange, with the low notes being key.

If you sing it in a speaking voice, you’ll end up straining your throat, so aim to sing with a proper singing voice.

The tempo is very slow, so stay calm and take a breath at the end of each phrase.

Instead of “pushing out your voice,” focus on “using your breath” to project forward.

In fact, every consonant in the Japanese ha-row (ha, hi, fu, he, ho) uses breath in its articulation.

If you try singing everything with the “ha” sound for clarity, you might grasp the feeling of “Oh, so this is what it means to use breath!” Give it a try as a reference.

Playback Part 2Momoe Yamaguchi37rank/position

Momoe Yamaguchi Playback Part 2

Momoe Yamaguchi’s classic “Playback Part 2,” which gained nationwide popularity with its novel setting at a traffic accident scene.

While the song features a somewhat unconventional structure, including bold break points, it boasts exceptional singability thanks to its very narrow range of mid2 A# to Hi A#.

The tricky part is the section that enters the chorus after the late-stage break point, so be sure to count the beats carefully before you come in.

It’s a huge hit at karaoke, so definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

Listening to OliviaAnri38rank/position

Anri / Listening to Olivia [Official Video]

This was Anri’s debut single, released on November 5, 1978.

The songwriter and composer is Ami Ozaki.

It’s a slow ballad with a very beautiful melody.

While I think it takes a fair amount of vocal ability to truly do it justice, it’s also the kind of song that still works even if you simply hum along, lightly tracing the melody and lyrics.

For that reason, I think it’s an excellent choice for women in their 50s who don’t often have many chances to sing and are selecting a song for karaoke.

If possible, I hope you’ll understand the worldview of the lyrics and sing in a way that brings it to life.

era; age; time; periodMiyuki Nakajima39rank/position

Era - Live 2010–11 (from Tokyo International Forum Hall A)

It has a melancholy melody but cheerful lyrics.

I recommend it when you want to sing a gentle, soothing song.

Miyuki Nakajima’s songs are quite hard to master, but this one is easy to remember.

Since it doesn’t require much vocal power, if you choose this song as a short break while singing various songs at karaoke, you can rest your throat.

Lingering Snowdolphin40rank/position

Nagori-yuki – Iruka

Although it’s widely recognized as the signature song of the Japanese singer Iruka, it actually originated as a track on the 1974 album “Sankaidate no Uta” by Kaguyahime.

Iruka’s cover, released the following year in 1975, became a huge hit.

It’s a classic that seems to embody all the elements of 1970s folk songs—easy to sing, easy to remember, with a clear structure and rhythm—so it’s fair to say it’s one of the top picks for karaoke even for those who aren’t confident singers.

Many women in their 50s may remember singing this song at middle school choir competitions.

We hope you’ll enjoy singing it, along with those nostalgic memories!

PRIDEMiki Imai41rank/position

PRIDE

This is Miki Imai’s 12th single, released in November 1996.

At the time, it was also used as a TV drama theme song and became a big hit, so as of 2021, many people in their 50s may find it familiar.

Like many hit songs from the ’90s, it has a very easy-to-remember, simple melody, and its structure is straightforward—A-B-A (with a chorus-like section)—making it very easy to sing at karaoke.

Rather than trying too hard to “sing well,” if you just enjoy singing the melody simply, it will likely sound quite nice.

Just remember to sing gently overall.

A Good Day to Set Out on a JourneyMomoe Yamaguchi42rank/position

Momoe Yamaguchi - Good Day to Set Out on a Journey

Momoe Yamaguchi’s 24th single, released in November 1978.

It drew attention for bringing in Shinji Tanimura of the then red‑hot band Alice as producer, and for being used as a Japanese National Railways travel promotion song.

It became Yamaguchi’s biggest hit.

The song structure feels like A–B–A’, embodying classic Showa-era kayōkyoku and the New Music techniques of the time, and each section’s melody is very clear and easy to remember.

The vocal range used also sits comfortably for most singers, so even those who aren’t confident in their singing will likely find this song approachable.

Precisely because of that, if you sing it too flatly, the performance can lose focus, so be sure to draw a sharp contrast between the A and B sections.

Singing the B section with strength yet tinged with sorrow is the key to performing this song well.