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 that sound great when mastered (61–70)
It’s nothing good.Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, whose songs about burning manly passion are supported by men of his generation.
His track “Rokuna Mon Ja Nee,” released in 1987, became a major hit as the theme song for the drama Oyako Zigzag, in which Nagabuchi himself starred.
It’s a well-known song that many people have heard, not only those who remember the era but also thanks to its huge success.
It creates a rugged, cool vibe yet also gets everyone fired up as a karaoke song—by the chorus it turns into a big sing-along.
It’s a number I highly recommend to anyone who’s been feeling stressed out lately.
MPurinsesu Purinsesu
For those looking for songs that showcase vocal power and high notes, M is highly recommended.
It’s a track by Princess Princess, a five-member all-female rock band.
The song vividly and emotionally portrays the sorrow of a woman after a breakup.
Incidentally, it’s been covered by many male artists, so checking out those versions can be helpful.
Some covers are sung softly, while others focus on lower registers.
Also, if you’re listening for the first time, I hope you’ll start by paying close attention to the lyrics.
Listening to OliviaAnri
Anri is hugely popular both in Japan and abroad.
Among her songs, “Olivia o Kikinagara” is especially beloved as a karaoke staple.
Many of you may already know it, but it’s a ballad sung from a woman’s perspective about a love that has already ended.
Rather than looking up the words and names that appear in the lyrics, I think you’ll get more out of it by immersing yourself in its world.
Also, many male artists—such as Takeshi Tsuruno and Hideaki Tokunaga—have covered the song, and those versions are must-listens as well.
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.