[Recommended for your 20s] Songs that get the crowd going at karaoke | From the latest hits to timeless classics

SAY KOU SHOWRobert Akiyama

Robert Akiyama “SAY KOU SHOW” (official music video & making-of), directed by Hiroshi Shinagawa

Robert Akiyama’s masterpiece “SAY KOU SHOW.” It’s a relatively recent song, and with its lyrics packed full of dirty jokes, it seems to land better with people in their twenties and up than with teens.

Despite being a comic song, it features a groovy, smooth melody.

The vocal range is narrow and mostly sits in the lower to mid register, so most men can sing it in the original key without trouble.

It’s a song that’s more about expression than technique, so it’s best performed with exaggerated facial expressions in true Akiyama style.

LOSERNEW!Kenshi Yonezu

Kenshi Yonezu – LOSER

Kenshi Yonezu’s iconic song “LOSER.” The music video drew attention for his own dancing, and the track became one that showcased Yonezu’s artistry to the public.

Though released in 2016, it remains highly popular today, earning strong support not only from people in their 20s but also from those in their 30s.

The track has a somewhat cyber vibe, and despite the title’s “loser” theme, the lyrics are crafted to be uplifting—making it a perfect fit for those in their 30s who often face many challenges in the working world.

We are!NEW!Hiroshi Kitadani

Hiroshi Kitadani – We Are! / THE FIRST TAKE

ONE PIECE is a series that’s always at the forefront of the anime scene, constantly generating buzz.

It has produced many theme songs, but when you hear ONE PIECE, the first one that comes to mind is probably “We Are!” The biggest charm of this song is, without a doubt, its grand vocal line.

The singer, Hiroshi Kitadani, is a vocalist who excels in the lower register as well, and in JAM Project he handles the overall low parts and even death growls.

The richness created by those low tones is truly impressive and perfectly captures the spirit of adventure.

MatatabiWANIMA

WANIMA “Matatabi” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO – Ending theme of the anime “Night of the Living Cat”

WANIMA, a punk-leaning rock band boasting top-tier popularity.

They have many great songs, but the one I especially recommend is “Matatabi.” It’s the theme song for the anime “Night of the Living Cat,” and, for WANIMA, it’s unusually shaped into a pretty hardcore melody.

In the middle of the track, there’s a shout that’s almost like a scream, and it’s one of the most satisfying moments in the song—so if you sing it at karaoke, it’s sure to get the crowd going.

Biting the second handI wish it could stay midnight forever.

ZUTOMAYO - “Bite the Second Hand” Music Video (Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni. – Byoushin wo Kamu)

Zutomayo’s famous song “Byoushin wo Kamu” has super cool instrumentals in the back, and the vocal melody has an easy-to-follow build, so it’s a really cool song if you can sing it! I’ve worked on this song several times in vocal training lessons, and I found the rhythm surprisingly tricky.

In the A verse, the length of the held notes and the timing of when the melody comes in are difficult unless you’re really locking into the beat.

If you listen closely, it shouldn’t be a problem, so try singing along with the original track repeatedly.

Also, the high note in the chorus goes up to E5, so you really need to be conscious of accents or it won’t come out easily.

First, sing slowly and check which lyrics you’ll accent.

There are quite a few high notes throughout the chorus, so it’s good to keep those accents in mind all the way to the end.

A gaze is lightTatsuya Kitani

Your gaze is light / Tatsuya Kitani – Your Gaze, Crepuscular / Tatsuya Kitani

Singer-songwriter Tatsuya Kitani, who enjoys overwhelming support from young listeners.

He’s an artist known for many inventive phrases, and even though “Manazashi wa Hikari” ultimately comes together as orthodox pop, he slips in a Japanese-style phrase right before the chorus.

The song spans a slightly wide range from mid1 C# to hi B, but the hi B parts are in a light falsetto, so even those who struggle with head voice can sing it.

The more challenging spots are actually around hi A, so if you set your key with that as the focal point, you can expect a vocal that really soars at the climax.

Magical Starshine Make-up☆Kana Nishino

Kana Nishino “Magical Starshine Makeup☆” MV Full

This song has a super cute title—just seeing it makes you feel stronger and more energized! The slightly spoken part in the A section feels very K-pop, but from the B section the style shifts and you get more of a “singing” vibe.

The overall vocal range is G3 to F5, which is on the higher side, but for those comfortable with head voice, it’s very easy to sing.

Lately, Kana Nishino has been incorporating a bit of rap into her songs, which gives them a different feel from before; it means there’s more to learn, but if you think of it as “several songs within one,” it becomes fun! Rather than memorizing the entire song at once, I recommend learning it melody by melody.

The transition from the A section to the B section is very important, so don’t suddenly push your voice—prepare your voice first, then aim far and sing clearly!