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 (31–40)
Last sceneHotei Tomoyasu
It was released in 1996 as Tomoyasu Hotei’s 11th single.
Issued as the lead single for King & Queen, it reached No.
3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Contrary to Hotei’s striking appearance, it’s a gentle, warm ballad and is highly regarded as a classic adult ballad.
Ballad of a SingerSaitō Kazuyoshi
Released in 1997 as Kazuyoshi Saito’s 15th single.
The song was used as the ending theme for TBS’s COUNT DOWN TV, and in 2017 it was also chosen as the theme song for the film Lu Over the Wall.
It’s a cool, understated track that has been covered by many artists, regardless of gender.
milk teaFukuyama Masaharu
Masaharu Fukuyama is an artist who really showcases the charm of his deep voice.
Since this song is a talk-like ballad, that low voice stands out even more.
His pronunciation has a distinctive style, so if you can imitate it to that extent, it might make the coolness stand out even more.
No, that’s not it.Suzuki Masayuki
Just his look alone is downright cool—Masayuki Suzuki’s signature song “Chigau, Sou Janai.” Its funky groove and rhythmic beat are sure to get the crowd going at karaoke.
Since he has such a distinctive voice, you can try imitating him or sing it in your own style—either way, it works.
Farewell, my loverSakai Masaaki
Masakazu Sakai is famous not only as an actor but also for being able to do just about anything—singing, street performance, and more.
His song “Saraba Koibito” (Farewell, My Lover) is one of his signature hit songs, known for being a long-running success that ranked in the yearly Oricon Top 10 in 1970.
Although it’s a breakup song, the melody is exceptionally sweet and maintains a gentle tone throughout.
If you sing it at karaoke, those qualities can help you project a cool, mature vibe!
From Showa-era kayō to pop: Cool songs to master (41–50)
Farewell, Ari.Yazawa Eikichi
It was released in 1994 as Eikichi Yazawa’s 36th single.
The song was used as the theme for the drama of the same name, “Ari yo Saraba,” in which Yazawa starred, and it reached No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
The lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto and the music was composed by Eikichi Yazawa.
It became his second best-selling song.
Morning silhouetteHamada Shogo
A song by singer-songwriter Shogo Hamada, who made his major debut as the drummer of the rock band Aido and, even after going solo, is known for his extremely limited media exposure.
Included as the B-side to his 7th single “Kaze o Kanjite” (“Feel the Wind”), the track’s bluesy yet somehow refreshing arrangement evokes the image suggested by its title.
The rich chorus in the hook makes it a pleasure to sing at karaoke.
With lyrical lyrics and a soulful melody, it’s a tasteful number you’ll want to deliver with cool, understated finesse.
