The world's greatest male vocalist! Exploring the appeal of American male singers

Shape Of YouEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You (Official Music Video)

It’s Ed Sheeran’s smash hit, which has been played 2.

6 billion times worldwide.

It became hugely popular in Japan across both karaoke and club scenes.

Despite featuring a sparse track built around ethnic instruments, it went viral thanks to vocals that perfectly complement its bittersweet melody.

This LoveMaroon 5

Maroon 5 – This Love

It’s an R&B track by Maroon 5, who shot to fame with the hit Sunday Morning.

With vocals capable of handling tracks at any BPM, this song was no exception and became a hit as well.

It’s so popular that it’s even frequently sung at karaoke in Japan.

BabyJustin Bieber feat. Ludacris

Justin Bieber – Baby ft. Ludacris

This is the breakout mega-hit that put Justin Bieber’s name on the map.

Set to a light, fast-paced track that perfectly highlights his cute, youthful vocals, the song caught fire primarily in the club scene thanks to its easy-to-sing hook and sense of unity, becoming a massive hit.

He remains a star who continues to draw attention, not least for the many scandals in his private life.

Dead PresidentJay Z

Jay-Z – Dead Presidents [HQ/Explicit]

This is one of the signature tracks by JAY-Z, a rapper remembered as legendary.

He enjoys enduring popularity in Japan, especially among blue-collar men, and whenever he releases a limited-edition track, it can fetch high prices on auction sites.

He’s dedicated to highly original sound-making and has the sensibility to deliver even punk-style tracks with ease.

HappyPharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Music Video)

This is a smash-hit single by Pharrell, who originally started out as a hip-hop artist.

Thanks to the song’s success, Pharrell regained popularity across a wide range of audiences and even appeared on Japanese morning news programs.

It has been hailed by many as the best work of its release year, and the video went viral with over a hundred million views.

So SickNe-Yo feat. LL Cool J

Ne-Yo – So Sick (Official Music Video)

This is a signature song by Ne-Yo, a defining R&B singer of the 2000s.

Featuring the popular Black rapper LL Cool J, it became a huge hit in the United States, and even after being imported to Japan, its popularity never waned, consistently stirring up the charts and becoming a classic.

Someone You LovedLewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved

That husky, powerful singing voice has a charm that grabs your heart and won’t let go once you hear it.

He’s Lewis Capaldi, a singer-songwriter from Scotland.

His music blends pop with blue-eyed soul, and he shot to prominence in 2017 with “Bruises.” His smash hit “Someone You Loved” topped both the US and UK charts in 2019, and the track—which also won the BRIT Award for Song of the Year—appears on his massively successful album “Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent.” The way he lays bare the pain of heartbreak draws you in before you know it.

He’s an artist I highly recommend for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a soul-stirring, emotional voice.