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.
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- Songs that get women in their 80s excited: A roundup of tracks also great for karaoke
- [Revisited] A roundup of popular and classic Showa-era songs that are trending now [2026]
- Moving masterpieces and popular songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke
- Showa-era nostalgic songs: Popular ranking
- Including global hits! 80s songs popular on TikTok
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- Karaoke songs that were hits in the ’90s. Classic and popular tracks from Japanese music.
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Popular Showa-era pop. Timeless hit songs.
- [Nostalgic Hits] Smash Hits with the Showa Generation! Classic and Popular Songs Sung by Female Vocalists
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- Thrilling to Cool Showa-Era Tunes! Classic Songs from Female Singers and Artists of the Showa Period
1980s hit songs popular at karaoke. Sing kayōkyoku and pop songs! (1–10)
Season in the SunTUBE
TUBE’s “Season in the Sun” has a sparkling, nostalgically fresh melody.
Known for their strong summer image, TUBE released this as their third single in April 1986.
This song really catapulted their recognition, didn’t it? It oozes vacation vibes and is a classic you can’t help but want to listen to when summer comes around.
With its uptempo groove, it’s perfect for getting everyone hyped when you sing it at karaoke.
If you’re a younger listener curious about ’80s music, you can’t go wrong picking this track!
Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten
Teresa Teng, the Asian songstress from Taiwan, sings “Toki no Nagare ni Mi wo Makase” (I Give My Love to the Flow of Time).
It’s an absolute classic that middle-aged and older generations always sing at karaoke! Lately, Showa-era pop songs have been catching on with younger people too, so I hope more and more of them will sing it.
A good song touches the heart no matter the era, don’t you think? Try singing it while savoring the lyrics about single-minded love, carried by its gentle, unhurried melody.
It’s also a great pick when going to karaoke with the whole family.
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.
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!