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 to master (81–90)
FOR YOUR LOVEMatsuzaki Shigeru
Shigeru Matsuzaki is a singer with overwhelming vocal prowess.
In fact, he’s a Japanese artist who’s recognized worldwide—he took second place at the Mallorca Music Festival, a competition where top singers from around the globe vie for vocal supremacy.
One of his signature songs is “FOR YOUR LOVE.” Among his works, this track stands out for its especially soulful melody.
While the sweet lyrics are memorable, it also carries a rugged depth, so if you’re confident in your singing ability, definitely give it a try.
Stop the clockKarumen Maki
Jacks’ classic song “Tokei o Tomete” (“Stop the Clock”).
Released in 1969, it has since been covered by many artists.
Among those, the cover I recommend is Carmen Maki’s version.
The song has a strong connection to Hokkaido: it was used as the ending theme for the film The Detective Is in the Bar and as background music for a local Hokkaido weather forecast.
With its deeply moving, gritty melody, it’s definitely a great song to try singing yourself.
Azusa No. 2karyūdō
This is a signature song by a male duo from the Showa era.
I love folk songs from this period! In “Azusa No.
2,” the A and B sections are relatively quiet, but once the chorus hits and the harmonies come in, it suddenly soars! It’s incredibly cool and feels so good to sing! The harmony is basically a third below, but since the main melody’s chorus sits around G4 and has that belting quality, the harmony should come in firmly so it doesn’t get overshadowed.
When entering the chorus, listen carefully to the backing track and breathe together so you both come in at the same time! The unison at the end of the chorus after all that harmonizing is wonderful, too.
It might be a somewhat wistful song, but when the harmonies lock in, it’ll give you goosebumps—so definitely find a partner and give it a try!
Tokyoyashiki takajin
Released in March 1993, this mood-kayō song fuses tearful enka with sophisticated urban pop.
Through Kansai-dialect lyrics, it movingly portrays a romance and breakup with a man she met in Tokyo, along with her complex feelings toward the city.
Takajin Yashiki was an artist who was active mainly in the Kansai region, also serving as a host of the popular program “Sei! Young.” This piece became a hit as requests on cable radio surged, ultimately selling a total of 600,000 copies.
In live performances, he would sometimes change the place name in the chorus to match the concert location, valuing a sense of unity with the audience.
When singing it at karaoke, it’s recommended to sing at an easy, relaxed pace while thinking of your hometown and the special people you’ve met.
Don’t go.Tamaki Kōji
A singer-songwriter who seems like a bundle of musical sensibilities—with overwhelming vocal prowess praised even by professional musicians as “the best singer in Japan,” countless hit songs, and multi-instrumental talent—Koji Tamaki’s fifth single.
The track was chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s 30th anniversary drama “Goodbye, Ri Kouran,” and it’s a number he often performs live.
Featuring piano and strings while carrying a subtly oriental atmosphere, the arrangement draws listeners deeply into its world.
With its dreamlike melody that’s sure to turn heads at karaoke, this is a refined track I’d recommend to anyone looking for something cool and understated.
LaughobiaMINAKEKKE
MINAKEKKE is the solo project of Yui Minako.
Characterized by a sound rooted in goth, new wave, acid folk, and trip-hop, it has earned high praise from hardcore music aficionados.
The new track “Laughobia” blends acid folk and trip-hop, boasting a very wide vocal range.
Although it’s sung with a downbeat, moody delivery, the abundance of long tones likely demands more diaphragm and breath control than one might expect.
From Showa Kayō to Pop: Cool Songs to Master (91–100)
Take It BackReiko
Born in 2002, REIKO—born in the Philippines and raised in Aichi Prefecture—is a promising young singer-songwriter who, despite narrowly missing out in SKY-HI’s audition program “THE FIRST,” was later recognized for his talent by SKY-HI himself and debuted as a solo artist.
Released in April 2025, the track “Take It Back” consciously channels New Jack Swing, reviving the style in a modern way and shaping it into a killer tune that fully showcases REIKO’s superb vocal ability and outstanding sense of rhythm.
Beyond the melody line that moves across a wide vocal range, songs like this demand a strong rhythmic feel while singing; simply hitting the notes as written will never capture the vibe.
Listen closely to the track and try singing with the song’s inherent groove in mind.
