Popular Japanese songs among men in their 60s: recommended masterpieces and classic tracks

scarecrowMasashi Sada

scarecrow

Among people in their 60s, those in the latter half of the decade likely experienced the heyday of folk music.

Many of you may have been particularly struck by Masashi Sada’s lyrics, overflowing with originality and narrative depth.

Of all his songs, the one I especially recommend is Kakashi.

Its range is an average mid1 A# to mid2 F#, and because the pitch movement is fairly steady, it’s easy for anyone to sing.

The melody has an ennui-like mood, so be sure to sing it together and get the vibe going.

CheersTsuyoshi Nagabuchi

Cheers

Speaking of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, I think he’s most popular among men in their 60s.

In fact, many of his fans seem to be from that generation, don’t they? His signature song “Kanpai” has a fairly narrow vocal range of mid1 D to mid2 G.

The tempo is relaxed as well, making it relatively easy to aim for a high score.

However, because low notes appear frequently, a certain degree of depth and low-end is required.

For men with higher voices to make it sound appealing, it’s best if they can produce a natural shout at the highest notes.

Legend of DreamsStardust☆Revue

Legend of Dreams

Since Stardust Revue’s Mr.

Kaname Nemoto has a wide vocal range and a high voice, men in their 50s—even if they’re fans of his generation—may tend to avoid singing his songs.

That’s why I recommend Yume Densetsu.

In this song, the lowest note is mid1 F# and the highest is high B.

While it’s on the higher side overall, the low range is narrow, so the overall range required is about average.

In other words, as long as you can adjust the key, it’s quite singable.

It may still feel a bit high, but the vocal line itself is simple, making it a song with solid potential for a high score.

In the night sky after the rainKiyoshiro Imawano

Kiyoshiro Imawano - In the Night Sky After the Rain

Speaking of Kiyoshiro Imawano, his musical style is striking for evoking nostalgic scenes within a punky vibe.

Among his works, “Ameagari no Yozora ni” especially showcases his musical character.

While the highest notes aren’t very high, the pitch mid2F# appears frequently, so when adjusting the key, it’s best to center your tuning around that note.

The lyrics are a bit risqué, but it’s a song that tends to get the crowd going at karaoke, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

Another SaturdayShogo Hamada

Another Saturday (single / 1985)

Shogo Hamada’s classic “Another Saturday.” Although this song is renowned for being easy to sing, that doesn’t mean it has a narrow vocal range.

In fact, it spans a fairly typical range of mid1 C to mid2 F.

So why is it considered easy? Because the average pitch centers around mid2 A#, the so-called “A,” which sits in the middle area where humans find it easiest to produce sound.

The vocal line also has few dramatic rises and falls, so as long as you adjust the key properly, it’s a song with which anyone can aim for a high score.

Imperial Regent DeclarationMasashi Sada

Kampaku Declaration — Masashi Sada

Released in 1979, this is one of singer-songwriter Masashi Sada’s signature songs, along with “Kandagawa.” Its lyrics evoke a nostalgic image of the Showa-era man and father, and it’s a love song imbued with a heartfelt message to his beloved wife.

To the most important personTunnels

To the most important person

The classic Tunnels song “To the Most Important Person.” When it comes to Tunnels’ tracks, this is probably the first one many people think of.

Contrary to its masculine melody, the vocal line is surprisingly straightforward.

Its narrow range is particularly notable, keeping every part in the low to lower-mid register.

This is the easiest range for men in their 50s to sing, so it should be perfectly manageable for karaoke at after-parties or late-night gatherings.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.