[2025] A roundup of crowd-pleasing gag/novelty songs for performances and skits

U.S.A.DA PUMP

DA PUMP / U.S.A. (short ver.)

Unfading? The final anthem of the Heisei era.

If you’re going to use it as BGM anyway, you’d want to make it an American-style performance, right? I mean, it literally says “USA”.

.

.

I don’t think the usual ‘ii ne’ dance will be forgiven by the audience anymore.

If you’re doing a skit themed around something American, this song will work really well as BGM.

Hot dog eating contest?

Classic otaku thingREAL AKIBA BOYZ

I tried turning otaku clichés into a song [Common Otaku Things]

For a party with close friends or a slightly geeky crowd, REAL AKIBA BOYZ’s “Otakuni Arigacchi” is a top recommendation.

It starts off by presenting classic otaku “relatable moments” almost like a rhythm comedy bit—feel free to turn it into a parody to get laughs from your friends.

In the latter half, there’s a section where you can suddenly show off some cool dance moves, so go all out and make it look awesome.

The contrast between the first and second halves is one of the song’s key selling points! During the call-and-response parts, hype everyone up so the whole party can get in on it together!

Theme of Eccentric Boy BowieEccentric Boy Bowie All-Stars

Theme of Eccentric Boy Bowie

Let me introduce a surefire crowd-pleaser that will have everyone laughing: “Theme of Eccentric Shonen Bowie.” This song was used on the variety show Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji.

The lyrics were written by Hitoshi Matsumoto, and the vocals were performed by the unit Eccentric Shonen Bowie All Stars, which includes Masatoshi Hamada.

It’s a lively track with plenty of comedic moments, making it perfect for warming up the crowd.

Another feature of this song is its relatively low key, which makes it easy to sing.

Dirty WorkAustin Mahone

Austin Mahone – Dirty Work (Official)

This is “Dirty Work” by the Western pop artist Austin Mahone.

This song is used in the routines of the hugely popular female comedian Chiemi Blouson.

So how about playing it while doing her routine? She’s a very popular comedian, and people often hear this song, so it should really liven things up! Recently, it seems a mixed version of Dirty Work by Austin Mahone and Chiemi Blouson has also been released.

Shanana☆ - Trinidad & Tobago ver.MINMI

MINMI – Sha Na Na☆ -Trinidad & Tobago ver.-

When I went to karaoke with friends, I always wrapped things up with this song.

It has moving lyrics, an exciting sound, and a touch of humor—it’s an absolute favorite of mine.

Even people who don’t know it will feel like dancing, and it lets you sway your hips with a samba-like vibe.

Sinbad on the ShorePink Lady

Pink Lady de Nagisa no Sindbad

Set against a summer seaside backdrop, this song conveys the feelings of a woman falling in love.

Released in June 1977 as Pink Lady’s fourth single, it became their first million-selling hit.

Created by the renowned duo of lyricist Yū Aku and composer Shunichi Tokura, the track captured many hearts with its catchy melody and memorable lyrics.

It has remained beloved for many years, even serving as the theme song for a Nippon TV drama in 2005.

It’s a perfect number for livening up group occasions like parties and wedding receptions.

loveGen Hoshino

Gen Hoshino – Koi (Official Video)

The song released by Gen Hoshino in October 2016 became a huge sensation as the theme song for the TBS drama “We Married as a Job!” (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu).

Since Hoshino himself appeared in the series, the song and the drama fused together to spark a social phenomenon.

Especially noteworthy is the “Koi Dance,” which was featured in the drama’s ending and covered by many people on social media, with the total views of those videos surpassing 80 million.

The song symbolically expresses the diversity of love and how love can help people grow, delivering a powerful message that resonates with many.

It has become a staple performance choice for drinking parties and wedding receptions—highly recognizable, easy to sing, and easy to dance to—making it a song that shines in any setting.