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!
- Karaoke songs recommended for men with low voices or who are good at singing in a low register
- 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
- [2026] Songs I Want to Try at Karaoke! A Roundup of Popular Showa-Era Kayōkyoku
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
From Showa-era Kayōkyoku to Pop: Cool Songs to Master (51–60)
Tsubasaandāgurafu
This song was released in 2005.
It’s Under Graph’s debut track.
A straightforward band sound is layered with vocals that, in a good way, lack bravado.
The cool, matter-of-fact way it sings about meetings and partings is captivating.
Precisely because it isn’t overly emotional, the lyrics feel more real.
JUST BECAUSETHE JAYWALK
The debut single by the rock band J-WALK, who became one of the defining bands of the 1990s thanks to the massive hit “Nani mo Ienakute… Natsu.” The ensemble, where an emotionally charged vocal layers over a spacious, dramatic piano intro, has a refined coolness.
With a classic rock-ballad style, its lyrical arrangement and poignant melody exude a timeless, nostalgic charm that doesn’t fade with changing eras.
It’s a ballad number that remains cool and unfaded whether sung by those who experienced it in real time or by younger generations.
ParadiseHirai Ken
It was released in 2000 as Ken Hirai’s eighth single.
This song became the catalyst for his big breakthrough, but it was the first single for which Hirai himself neither wrote the lyrics nor composed the music.
His sexy, sultry vocals combined with the mature lyrics make for a very cool, sophisticated track.
SubaruTanimura Shinji
Shinji Tanimura’s classic song “Subaru.” Not only is it beloved in Japan, it’s also popular across Asia, especially in China.
When it was first released in 1980, its positions on the Oricon charts weren’t particularly high.
However, after being featured in a commercial for “Super Nikka,” it steadily climbed the rankings and ultimately sold over 600,000 records.
If you sing this song at gatherings with an older crowd, it’s sure to be a hit.
I knew it—I love you.yashiki takajin
Takajin Yashiki, who brought numerous classic songs into the world.
The first time this Tokyo-born artist tried writing lyrics in Kansai dialect was with “Yappa Sukiyanen.” Written from a woman’s perspective, it portrays the inability to completely hate an ex-lover after a breakup.
It’s a ballad with distinctive chorus parts, and if sung out, it can create a romantic atmosphere.
Interestingly, there are parts where the way the lyrics are sung differs from how they would be pronounced if read as-is; this is said to be closer to actual Kansai dialect pronunciation.
