[For People in Their 40s] Ranking of Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs [2025]

frustrated lipsMariko Takahashi8rank/position

frustrated lips

Mariko Takahashi has remained popular since the 1970s.

She’s an exceptionally long-running artist who stayed at the forefront into the 1990s.

Because of that, I think even women in their 40s are quite familiar with her songs.

Among her works, the one I especially recommend is Hagayui Kuchibiru (“Frustrated Lips”).

It’s a striking piece featuring vocals influenced by Showa-era kayōkyoku and the distinctive synth sounds of the early ’90s.

In this song, the chorus reaches the highest notes, but it stays within the mid-to-high range overall, and the long sustained notes only appear in the lower register.

As a result, it’s a very singable tune for women with lower voices.

That's important.Daiji MAN Brothers Band9rank/position

That's Important (30th Anniversary)

DaijiMAN Brothers Band, a group that gained popularity for their catchy musicality.

They’re known as a so-called one-hit wonder, but the fact that they left behind even a single classic like “Sore ga Daiji” is remarkable.

The song is a straightforward cheer anthem, and its melody matches the lyrics perfectly—simple and direct, without relying on intricate techniques.

That’s why even women in their 40s who may find it harder to project their voices should be able to sing it without any trouble.

It’s also a song of its generation, so it should really liven up the room at karaoke!

TOMORROWMayo Okamoto10rank/position

Mayo Okamoto “TOMORROW” Music Video

Mayo Okamoto is a female singer-songwriter known for her strikingly expansive vocals.

Although she has a beautiful falsetto, her natural speaking and singing range tends to be quite low, and many of her songs are excellent choices for women with lower voices.

Among them, the one I especially recommend is “TOMORROW,” a well-known classic.

While the vocal line is uplifting and powerful, the range is quite narrow, and even the sections with long sustained notes stay within the midrange, making it a very easy song to sing for women in their 40s with lower voices.

dogwood (flowering dogwood)Yo Hitoto11rank/position

Hitoto Yo – Hanamizuki

The song, which sings of prayers for peace and the preciousness of love, is characterized by heartfelt lyrics and a gentle melody.

Released in February 2004, it remained on the Oricon charts for over 136 weeks, becoming a popular hit.

It was also used in Nippon TV’s Tuesday Suspense Theater and in commercials, reaching a wide audience.

It has long been a favorite in karaoke and is known as one of the most frequently sung songs of the Heisei era.

With its soft vocals and approachable melody line, it’s a safe choice even for karaoke beginners.

Why not sing it with feelings for someone special?

La La LaMaki Ohguro12rank/position

La La La

Maki Ohguro’s classic “La La La.” Among her works, this track especially harmonizes J-pop and pop rock, presenting an overall upbeat, powerful, yet refreshing melody.

In this song’s vocal lines, the pre-chorus (B section) is the most powerful, followed by the verse (A section), while the chorus is arranged with a lighter, more straightforward vocal line.

The tricky part is the pre-chorus, but it doesn’t require a wide vocal range; you just need to focus on crisp articulation at the start of the lines, so even women in their 40s with lower voices should be able to sing it without any problem.

cherrySpitz13rank/position

Spitz / Cherry

This is Spitz’s 13th single, released in April 1996.

Even though it had no tie-in at the time of release, it sold over 1.

6 million copies—truly another iconic J-pop song of the Heisei era! The melody is very easy to remember and sing, so be sure to learn it and enjoy singing it.

Just take care not to make your singing feel too heavy.

Not just this song, but many tracks released from the late ’90s to the early 2000s were made with karaoke in mind, making that era a treasure trove of karaoke-friendly songs.

It’s highly recommended to search for songs from that angle!

for a long timeKiroro14rank/position

Kiroro “Nagaimono” Official Music Video

Kiroro’s classic song “Nagaimai.” Many women in their 40s probably listened to this a lot in their 20s, don’t you think? Among Kiroro’s songs, this one is especially easy to sing.

Three points make it beginner-friendly: it doesn’t require vibrato, the melodic rises and falls are gentle, and there are no high notes.

Since Chiharu Tamashiro herself doesn’t use much vibrato, it’s very approachable even for those who feel uneasy about vibrato.

The overall vocal range is also narrow, so if it feels a bit high for you, don’t hesitate to lower the key.