Karaoke Crowd-Pleasers: Men's Ranking [2025]

A long nightChiharu Matsuyama22rank/position

A long night

Chiharu Matsuyama’s song “Nagai Yoru” (A Long Night) is loved by many fans for its deep emotional expression and poetic lyrics.

Released in 1981, it is one of his signature works.

Known as a major hit that marked a dramatic shift from his previous folk style to a rock-influenced sound, the song passionately conveys the turmoil of love.

It has sold over 860,000 copies in total and is perfect for livening up gatherings with friends or workplace socials.

Sneaker BluesMasahiko Kondo23rank/position

Sneaker Blues - Masahiko Kondo

A classic song that strikingly combines poignancy and strength, depicting the breakup of lovers who raced through the season of youth.

With fond memories of time spent together in matching sneakers held close to their hearts, the pure emotions of young love overflow in a stirring melody and vocals that many listeners will find relatable.

Released in December 1980 as Masahiko Kondo’s debut single and used as the theme song for the film “Youth Graffiti: Sneaker Blues,” it debuted at No.

1 on the Oricon chart.

It’s a track that resonates even more deeply now with nostalgic memories as the years have passed.

Perfect for reliving past romances and getting fired up at karaoke with friends.

RewriteASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION24rank/position

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION “Rewrite” (M-1 Grand Prix 2024 Promotion Video Theme Song)

People in their late 20s to early 30s are the generation that lived through the golden age of Japanese rock.

Among those bands, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION was especially popular with men.

Of all their songs, the one I particularly recommend is Rewrite.

It stays in a low register for much of the track, which makes the chorus feel explosively open by contrast, and the almost roar-like phrases really fire up the crowd.

Because the verses sit so low, it’s tempting to raise the key, but if you match it to that, the chorus will be tough—so find a comfortable middle ground and sing in a moderately adjusted key.

Heart Dancingnobobyknows̟+25rank/position

nobodyknows+ “Kokoro Odoru” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

A signature song by nobodyknows+ known for expressing the power of music and the thrill of the heart.

The lyrics, which embrace individuality and differences while depicting unity and euphoria, leave a strong impression.

Released in May 2004, it exploded in popularity after being performed on that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Included on the album “Do You Know?,” it topped the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks.

Its sound, which fuses hip-hop and J-pop, has captured the hearts of people across generations.

It’s also perfect for karaoke or as background music at events—an ideal track when you want everyone to get hyped together.

Shanghai HoneyORANGE RANGE26rank/position

ORANGE RANGE “Shanghai Honey” MV

A track featuring a distinctive fusion of mixture rock and J-pop that captures a man’s emotions as he enjoys the push-and-pull of summer seaside romance.

It opens with bright, sunlit imagery and conveys a complex mix of excitement, anticipation, insecurity, and frustration.

Released in July 2003, it became a hit, selling over 200,000 copies despite having no tie-in.

Live performances feature staging that heightens the sense of unity with the audience.

It’s a perfect song to amp up a karaoke session or to use as BGM for summer events.

Brimming with the appeal of ORANGE RANGE, this exhilarating track is one for everyone to enjoy.

Water lily flowerShonan no Kaze27rank/position

Shonan no Kaze “Suirenka” MUSIC VIDEO

Men born in the late ’80s to early ’90s might feel a strong sense of nostalgia—this was the go-to song whenever you wanted to hype things up at karaoke, right? “Suirenka” has plenty of moments to get everyone going, like the chorus parts and the towel-spinning! If you’ve got both the main vocalist and the rapper covered, you can enjoy the song with a nice balance.

HAN-KUN, the main vocalist, sings in a relatively high key, so if you’re comfortable with high notes, definitely give it a try.

If you’re not used to high notes but still want to sing it, start by focusing on resonating in your head.

Practicing falsetto and airy tones uses a lot of breath.

It also helps to sing all the lyrics as “hi,” which makes head resonance easier.

Master those high notes and give it a shot!

Bitter VacationMrs. GREEN APPLE28rank/position

Mrs. GREEN APPLE “Bitter Vacation” Official Music Video

Mrs.

GREEN APPLE is known for having many high tones.

When asked to name an artist with a high voice, many people probably picture the vocalist, Motoki Omori.

Although Mrs.

GREEN APPLE is strongly associated with high notes, there are no high-pitched parts in Bitter Vacation.

Compared to typical songs, it’s about average, but for a Mrs.

track, the vocal range is quite narrow.

In particular, there is no use of mixed voice or falsetto at all, so even men who can’t sing high notes can perform it without any problem.