From Showa-era kayōkyoku to pop: songs that sound cool when you can really sing them
Many of you probably want to sing cool, deep tracks at karaoke with style.
In particular, Showa-era kayōkyoku and New Music, as well as early-to-mid Heisei J-POP, are packed with timeless masterpieces that still sound fresh decades after their release—a real treasure trove of cool, mature songs.
It’s precisely because of that universal appeal that these songs continue to be sung by today’s younger generation.
In this article, I’ll introduce plenty of those songs that, if you can pull them off, will give you that sophisticated edge.
I’ve picked selections mainly from Japanese music of the ’70s through the ’90s, with some of the latest J-POP mixed in, so use this as a reference when choosing songs for karaoke!
- Must-see for men: Songs that look cool if you can sing them at karaoke—numbers that women can’t help but be captivated by.
- Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- A collection of iconic, cool Showa-era kayōkyoku classics sung by male vocalists
- [Men in Their 50s, Gather Up!] Classic Karaoke Crowd-Pleasers & Easy-to-Sing Hits
- [Classic Showa Kayō Hits] The captivating Showa-era pop songs beloved even by younger generations
- [Songs from the Showa Era] Introducing classic tracks that are easy to sing at karaoke.
- Karaoke songs for men in their 40s: a curated selection of hit tracks women want to hear!
- Heisei-era masterpieces: Easy to sing! Carefully selected songs recommended for karaoke choices!
- Songs Women Want Men to Sing: Popular Karaoke Picks Chosen by Girls
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
- [Popular and Crowd-Pleasing!] Stylish Song Selections and Karaoke Tracks
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
From Showa-era kayōkyoku to pop: cool songs that sound great when mastered (61–70)
Goddess (Eros)Fujii Fumiya
It was released in 1994 as Fumiya Fujii’s third single.
The song was used in a commercial for Mitsutaka’s “Boutique JOY,” and it reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It drew attention for having lyrics by Fumiya Fujii and music composed by Kazutoshi Sakurai of Mr.
Children.
For Sakurai, providing a song to another artist is quite rare.
LOVE ~I Want to Hold You~sawada kenji
After a heartbreak, some people may actually feel down but find it hard to show their true feelings.
LOVE ~Dakishimetai captures that kind of complicated love.
It’s a song released by Kenji Sawada in 1987, also known for being performed on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a slow-tempo ballad, almost like an acoustic solo, so beyond vocal ability, acting and expressive power are crucial.
Try singing as if you were the protagonist of the song.
It will surely stir the hearts of both listeners and the person singing.
AliensKirinji
A supremely mellow and romantic song by Kirinji, Japan’s pride and joy of melody makers.
The chorus of this track is breathtakingly beautiful and vividly immersive.
The falsetto parts are gorgeous, but the key is quite high, so be prepared! If you can pull it off, it’s a true masterpiece that will make you think, “Wow, that was really something.”
You’re My Only Shinin’ StarNagayama Miho
Miho Nakayama, who is also active as an actress, is known for winning the Japan Record Award with “You’re My Only Shinin’ Star.” The song, told from a woman’s perspective, expresses gratitude to her boyfriend and features vocals that make full use of high tones throughout.
So if you sing it, it can convey not only coolness but also a sense of beauty and elegance.
By the way, several versions have been released, so comparing them is recommended.
outdatedKawashima Eigo
Even when you say a song is “shibui,” the style can vary.
Some have a sweet vibe, others are stylish—there are many shades of shibui.
But this song, Jidai Okure, is, in a word, the ultimate shibui.
It’s a work that fully brings out a manly coolness, and the lyrics portray a straight-laced, old-school kind of man.
It might be hard to win popularity with women, but it will likely resonate with men.
Try practicing to get closer to Eigo Kawashima’s deep, rugged vocal tone.
As time goes bysawada kenji
It was released in 1975 as Kenji Sawada’s 14th single.
Used as an insert song for the TV drama “Akuma no Yona Aitsu,” in which Sawada himself starred, it became a major hit.
With lyrics by Yū Aku, it is one of Kenji Sawada’s signature songs and has been covered by many artists, regardless of gender.
With a fiery heartKobayashi Akira
This is a song released by Akira Kobayashi in 1985, which was used in a commercial for Ajinomoto General Foods (AGF) “Maxim.” With lyrics by Yū Aku and music composed by Eiichi Ohtaki, the song became a major hit, winning the Gold Prize at the 28th Japan Record Awards and earning a spot in the 37th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
It remains one of Kobayashi’s signature songs.