Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

[2026] Show off your vocal prowess! A roundup of recommended songs for the culture festival karaoke contest

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.

Among all the events at a school festival, the karaoke contest might be the one that gets everyone most excited.

Since we rarely get the chance to sing in front of a big crowd, it’s the perfect opportunity for those confident in their vocals to show off their singing skills.

In this article, we’ve put together a selection of songs that are perfect for performing at school festivals and campus karaoke competitions.

From high-difficulty picks recommended for powerhouse singers to crowd-pleasing hits guaranteed to hype up the venue, we’ve chosen a wide range.

Please select based on your vocal range, personality, and the image of the event.

We hope your stage becomes a wonderful, unforgettable memory.

[2026] Show Off Your Vocal Skills! Recommended Songs for the School Culture Festival Karaoke Contest (21–30)

to clear up (weather)Yorushika

Yorushika – Haru (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

to clear up (weather)Yorushika

A gem of a song filled with a fantastical worldview and a heartwarming message.

Released in January 2024, it was chosen as the opening theme for the popular anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

It brims with the charm of Yorushika’s characteristic poetic expression and Suis’s translucent vocals.

Elements like “rain” and “clouds” in the lyrics skillfully symbolize life’s hardships and hopes.

It has the power to encourage those who want to overcome difficult times.

Be sure to try singing it at your next karaoke contest.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Cinderella BoySaucy Dog

Saucy Dog “Cinderella Boy” Music Video <5th Mini Album “Lazy Sunday” Released on 2021.8.25>

Cinderella BoySaucy Dog

Saucy Dog is a three-piece rock band that has been active since the mid-2010s.

One of their signature songs is Cinderella Boy.

Released in 2022, its catchy lyrics and high-range chorus have made it popular for karaoke.

Since dynamics are key to this track, be mindful to create contrast in volume between the chorus and the verse.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy

Monster’s Flower Song / Vaundy: MUSIC VIDEO

Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster's Flower Song)Vaundy

Singer-songwriter Vaundy, beloved for his moody vibe paired with R&B-tinged melodies.

While he usually performs songs infused with R&B elements, “Kaiju no Hanauta” is crafted with an alternative rock sound distilled into pop music.

The soaring highs in the chorus and the brief, striking shout make a strong impression, and it’s a karaoke staple as well.

If the key is set too low, the falsetto sections lose their punch, so when adjusting the key for this song, use the chorus’s falsetto as your reference point.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Curtain callYuuri

Curtain call

Curtain callYuuri

A high-velocity rock tune where doubt, inner conflict, and hope collide.

Yuuri’s heartfelt vocals and the sweeping melody strike straight to the heart.

It carries a message that resonates: people struggling with life, unable to understand each other—maybe, if they’d met in a different place, they could have connected.

Released as a digital single in July 2024, this track was chosen as the opening theme for Cour 2 of Season 7 of the TV anime My Hero Academia.

It’s a wonderful anthem that stirs the courage to step toward a hope-filled future!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake

Omoinotake | Hundreds of Millions of Light-Years [Official Music Video]

hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake

Omoinotake’s youth-affirming anthem delivers indescribably precious feelings alongside a grand sound.

Serving as the theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “Eye Love You” and selected as the entrance march for the 97th National High School Baseball Tournament, the track was released in February 2024 and is also included on their major second album, “Pieces.” Its bright, refreshing melody contrasted with bittersweet lyrics makes for a moving listen.

For your school festival karaoke contest, why not share its uplifting, relatable message in your own voice with the audience?

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

BibbidebaHoshimachi Suisei

Bibideba / Hoshimachi Suisei (official)

BibbidebaHoshimachi Suisei

This is a track announced by Suisei Hoshimachi in March 2024, written and composed by the Vocaloid producer Tsumiki.

It’s striking how it sings of the will toward self-fulfillment and a longing for freedom.

You can feel the determination to break through the monotony of everyday life.

As you listen, it feels like being invited into a one-night-only dream world, like Cinderella.

I think it’s the perfect song for anyone who wants to shine in their own way.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

crescent moonayaka

Ayaka – Crescent Moon

crescent moonayaka

This is a song distinguished by its moving vocals and heartrending lyrics.

Released in November 2006 as the 15th single, it became a major hit, earning the artist their first No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart.

It was also used in a commercial, helping it gain popularity across generations.

It’s a track that fully showcases Ayaka’s vocal prowess.

The lyrics portray deep emotion—feeling a sense of distance from a loved one, yet finding their very existence to be a source of emotional support.

If you’re confident in your singing, definitely give it a try.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem