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 (31–40)
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.
Stardust StageChekkāzu
Among Showa-era idol band songs, this is a standout classic where “the bittersweetness of youth × the drive of rock” shines at its best.
“Hoshikuzu no Stage” was the theme song for the first season of the TBS drama “Uchi no Ko ni Kagitte…” and, remarkably, was The Checkers’ first-ever drama tie-in track.
Unlike their other songs, it has a relaxed tempo, making it easier to sing calmly.
You can take your time and sing carefully while looking at the lyrics, but the key suddenly changes in the final chorus and the pitch goes up, so after the modulation, try raising your energy level by one notch when you sing!
GIFTMr.Children
It was released in 2008 as Mr.Children’s 32nd single.
The song was used as the theme for NHK’s broadcasts of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, and from January 2012 it was also featured in Shiseido’s MAQuillAGE commercials.
It reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly singles chart and is one of Mr.Children’s most popular songs.
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.
ON THE ROADTakehara Pisutoru
A man admired by men: Pistol Takehara.
With just a guitar, the way he sings so passionately is incredibly powerful and cool.
I can’t help but think how amazing it would feel to belt out his songs like that.
Even without a deep voice like his, if you sing with feeling, I’m sure you can deliver a great song!