Popular 80s hits for karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs!
What kind of songs do you sing when you go to karaoke?
Some people like to sing the latest hits, but 80s Japanese pop still enjoys strong popularity at karaoke.
Songs from that era are often either easy to sing or really satisfying to belt out, so they’re popular even among younger generations.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of recommended karaoke tracks from the biggest hits of the 80s.
We’ve focused on timeless classics that almost everyone has heard before and gathered songs perfect for karaoke, so use this as a guide when choosing what to sing.
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1980s hit songs popular at karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs! (1–10)
DESIRE -Passion-Nakamori Akina
The “DESIRE style,” combining traditional Japanese attire, a short bob, and distinctive choreography, became a social phenomenon.
It’s a song where you can really feel Akina’s bold side.
Singing with a slightly lower, cool tone should match the atmosphere very well.
The range doesn’t venture much into high notes, and the A-melody is quite low for many female singers.
If you imagine pushing out a mass of breath in front of you and release your voice slowly, your body will resonate and it becomes easier to produce the sound.
For the chorus, open up your voice with a stylish, confident flair! It always gets the crowd going, so it’s highly recommended.
CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Included on Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s third album “Kampai,” the song was originally released on September 5, 1980.
Although it has become one of Nagabuchi’s signature hits, it wasn’t released as a single until eight years after the album came out, with a newly recorded version issued as the single.
As it became a staple song for graduation ceremonies in the 1980s and 1990s, many people have likely sung it themselves.
In that sense, I believe it’s a deeply nostalgic song for each person.
Please enjoy singing it along with your memories.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
Kazumasa Oda, with his uniquely transparent and one-of-a-kind voice, never fails to captivate.
“Kotoba ni Dekinai” (“Can’t Put It Into Words”) is a classic released in February 1982 by Off Course, the band led by Oda.
It’s been used in commercials and anime, so many younger listeners may have heard it somewhere.
The Japanese lyrics come through beautifully, making it a song you can really savor as you sing—another of its great qualities.
It’s perfect not only for middle-aged and older listeners, but also for younger people who feel, “I can’t keep up with today’s fast-tempo songs!” Give it a try at karaoke.
Popular 80s hits for karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs! (11–20)
Wine Red Heartanzenchitai
It was Safety Zone’s fourth single, released on November 25, 1983, with lyrics by Yosui Inoue.
The song has a uniquely dense, sensual mood, and that very “density” gives off a kind of stylish vibe that’s a bit different from the Showa-era mood kayō that came before—another part of its charm.
While much of that sense of style comes from the melody and arrangement themselves, it likely owes a lot to Tamaki’s somewhat distinctive vocal delivery.
When you sing it at karaoke, it might be fun to deliberately imitate Tamaki’s slightly dragged-out singing style!
Red Sweet PeaMatsuda Seiko
Released on January 22, 1982, with composition by Yumi Matsutoya.
Among Seiko Matsuda’s many hit songs, this one is said to be especially popular.
Just by listening, you can feel a gentle brightness that evokes the arrival of spring—truly one of the great classics of the Showa era! When singing it at karaoke, you can imitate Seiko herself or add your own interpretation; it’s a song with a melody that lends itself to many expressive approaches.
Get WildTM NETWORK
TM NETWORK, the electronic music band led by Tetsuya Komuro, wrote Get Wild as the ending theme for the anime City Hunter.
Its melody and lyrics, inspired by the anime’s world, are still loved by many today.
It’s a fast-tempo dance track, making it perfect for when you want to cut loose.
If everyone joins in on that chorus, it’ll hype things up even more.
By the way, the long intro was designed to make it easier to play smoothly within the anime.
Take back the love!!kurisutaru kingu
The opening shout is memorable—the theme song of the TV anime Fist of the North Star is “Ai o Torimodose!!” It was released in 1984 by Crystal King, a rock band known for hits like “Daitokai” and “Shinkirou.” With its punchy, fight-song energy, it’s perfect for blowing off stress! It’s also a popular anime song for karaoke, so it’s a great pick when you can’t decide what to sing or want to break out of a rut.
It’ll hype up a big group or a solo karaoke session, so give it a try!