[40s] Karaoke Popularity Rankings by Generation [2025]

The Last RainYasushi Nakanishi71rank/position

The Last Rain

Yasushi Nakanishi’s classic, filled with gentle yet heartrending emotion, is a ballad about parting with a lover.

The breakup scene, overlaid with imagery of rain, along with the portrayal of deep affection, possessiveness, and the acceptance of being unable to make the other person happy, leaves a strong impression.

The beautiful arrangement of piano and strings further highlights the crystalline quality of his vocals.

Released in August 1992, it was later used as the theme song for Hitachi’s “Ashita P-KAN Kibun!” and gradually gained support, ultimately becoming a massive hit with total sales of 900,000 copies.

In karaoke, its relaxed tempo and relatively narrow vocal range make it easy to sing calmly.

Why not sing it while carefully unfolding its story-like lyrics, together with your cherished memories?

Longing, poignancy, and strength of heartRyoko Shinohara with Tetsuya Komuro72rank/position

Ryoko Shinohara with Tetsuya Komuro 'Longing, Heartache, and Strength' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Ryoko Shinohara’s classic hit “Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokorozuyosa to.” Since Tetsuya Komuro composed it, you can hear that signature Komuro sound throughout the track.

It was also the theme song for the legendary game Street Fighter, so it probably left a strong impression, didn’t it? While the song is characterized by its soaring vocals, the range itself isn’t very wide—roughly mid2B to hiD—so it’s surprisingly easy to sing.

There’s no use of falsetto, and the melody is fairly simple, so as long as you set the key right, you should be able to sing it without any trouble.

First LoveHikaru Utada73rank/position

Hikaru Utada – First Love

Hikaru Utada is a singer who delivers her own unique music to listeners, unbound by genre.

The title track of her 1999 album “First Love” became such a massive hit that it turned into a social phenomenon.

Those in their 40s may recall the music scene of the late 1990s.

It carries the mature atmosphere characteristic of R&B, and its chorus, with its rich expansiveness, can bring you to tears.

It’s a perfect song for showcasing a smooth vocal style that blends Japanese and English.

Why not try singing this ballad, which can also spark conversations about memories from back then?

Snow BlossomMika Nakashima74rank/position

Mika Nakashima “Yuki no Hana” MUSIC VIDEO

A poignant ballad about a winter romance themed around snow, its aching emotions resonate deeply.

Released in November 2003, it is one of Mika Nakashima’s signature songs, with lyrics by Satomi and composition by Ryoki Matsumoto.

Included on the million-selling album “LOVE,” it was also used in a Meiji Seika commercial.

The lyrics portray the joy of spending time with a lover amid snowy scenery, along with a premonition of a farewell that may come someday.

It’s perfect for a quiet winter night shared with someone special, and is also recommended for those looking to enhance the Christmas atmosphere.

SakurazakaMasaharu Fukuyama75rank/position

Masaharu Fukuyama – Sakurazaka (Full ver.)

Masaharu Fukuyama is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most iconic figures, both as a singer-songwriter and as an actor.

It’s truly remarkable that he has continued to release hit songs from the 1990s through the Reiwa era.

While each generation likely has its own “Fukuyama songs,” Sakura-zaka, released in 2000, is a quintessential Heisei-era classic that achieved a record-breaking double million in sales.

Some may find ballads challenging, but the simply crafted melody line makes it easy to sing, and the relatively low key makes it approachable for those with lower voices.

If you carefully follow the scale, you can definitely aim for a high karaoke score; at the same time, the song’s charm lies in its lower register, so if you’re not confident with low melodies, this is a great piece to practice with.

This is my way of life.PUFFY76rank/position

PUFFY 'That's the Way I Live' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

PUFFY made a striking debut on the music scene in 1996.

When it comes to their signature song, it has to be that fresh, pop number written and composed by Tamio Okuda.

It was also featured in commercials and quickly became a nationwide hit.

The lyrics carry a powerful message about facing the anxieties and joys of everyday life head-on and moving forward.

Sprinkled throughout are homages to The Beatles, making it a track that music aficionados can enjoy as well.

It has been used in anime such as “KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops” and “Atashin’chi,” and is loved across generations.

When singing it at karaoke, try to channel PUFFY’s characteristically light and breezy vocal style.

I LOVE YOUYutaka Ozaki77rank/position

I LOVE YOU – Yutaka Ozaki (Full)

It’s one of Yutaka Ozaki’s signature songs, released in 1983! I imagine many people in their 50s listened to it in real time back then.

It’s a ballad about the bittersweet love of young men and women, with a piano melody that really resonates.

Ozaki’s husky voice beautifully captures the loneliness and restlessness of youth.

After being included on the album “Seventeen’s Map,” it was released as a single in 1991 and was also used in a JR Tokai commercial.

It’s a song that everyone can get excited about at karaoke, so why not sing it together with people of all ages?