Enka that gets the crowd going at karaoke | Fire up the room with easy-to-sing classics!
I want to get the party going at karaoke with close friends! But I feel a bit embarrassed singing enka… have you ever felt the same? The truth is, there are lots of enka songs with familiar melodies that are easy to sing and perfect for warming up the room.
In this article, we’ll introduce classic enka tunes you can try casually at karaoke.
If you go for it, you’ll be surprised how everyone starts humming along, and handclaps naturally break out—these songs are perfect for creating that kind of wonderful moment! You’ll also find concrete advice from a vocal coach, so enjoy it to the end!
- Legendary enka songs that fire up the crowd. A song catalog of enka picks you won’t go wrong with at karaoke.
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- Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka songs for karaoke
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- Hype songs! Popular karaoke staples that are easy to sing
- Hidden karaoke gems you might not know: a collection of easy-to-sing, crowd-pleasing tracks
- Songs everyone knows across generations. A roundup of karaoke tracks anyone can sing, regardless of age.
- [Must-See for Your 40s] Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs That Get Everyone Going | Timeless Classics Enjoyed Across Generations
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- Recommended fun songs for karaoke: a roundup of danceable and hype/energetic tracks
- Get the crowd going at karaoke! A special feature on easy-to-sing Vocaloid songs—from timeless staples to hidden gems
Enka Hits That Ignite the Karaoke Party | Fire up the crowd with easy-to-sing classics! (1–10)
Come back.Matsumura Kazuko
Kazuko Matsumura is an enka singer from Hokkaido.
While she also performs orthodox enka, her essence arguably lies in rock-influenced enka.
Many people have surely been moved by her performances, where she holds a shamisen and sings as if she were a rock musician doing an acoustic set.
“Kaette Koi yo” is one of her signature songs; it maintains the fundamentals of enka yet stands out with a rock-tinged power.
The range is somewhat high, from mid2 A# to hi D#, but since the overall span is narrow, it shouldn’t be difficult to sing if you adjust to a suitable key.
It also features fewer kobushi (ornamental turns) than typical enka, making it a recommended choice.
Kiyoshi’s Zundoko SongHikawa Kiyoshi
Kiyoshi Hikawa, a figure who sent shockwaves through the enka world.
Though an idol-type enka singer, he possesses solid vocal prowess and has influenced many as an artist who combines skill with catchiness.
“Kiyoshi no Zundoko Bushi” is one of his hit numbers.
While this song spans a fairly wide range—mid1 C to hi B—the pitch shifts in the kobushi (melodic ornaments) are kept to at most two notes, making the overall difficulty as enka relatively low.
If you have a reasonably wide vocal range, you should be able to sing it without trouble.
It’s immensely popular among madams, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
TATSUYATanaka Aimi
Aimi Tanaka is an enka singer known as the beloved disciple of Takashi Hosokawa.
She possesses a remarkably deep voice for someone in her early twenties, and on top of that, her expressive power is extraordinary.
She is undoubtedly expected to play a leading role in the future enka scene, yet she has also released many songs that are easy to sing.
Among them, the one you can especially expect to get the crowd going is “TATSUYA.” While the lyrics are sad, depicting a widow, the melody is powerful and still brings out a feminine quality, so you can expect it to be quite exciting.
It leans more toward kayōkyoku in style, and the absence of difficult pitch movements—such as the dramatic ups and downs often associated with kobushi—makes it notably easy to sing.
Enka Hits That Fire Up the Karaoke Crowd | Get the Party Going with Easy-to-Sing Classics! (11–20)
North TavernHosokawa Takashi
Takashi Hosokawa is one of Japan’s finest vocalists.
Early in his career he pursued a path as an enka singer, but after studying under Michiya Mihashi, who came from a folk song background, his already high-level singing ability grew to a monstrous level.
Among that, he has also actively taken on catchy songs, making him an extremely popular figure among enka fans.
Among Hosokawa’s songs, the one I particularly recommend for its crowd-pleasing energy and ease of singing is “Kita Sakaba.” While the overall range is set on the higher side, the range itself isn’t very wide, so you should be able to sing it if you adjust to the right key.
The song features a structure typical of enka, showcasing scale movements of two notes or more with kobushi (melismatic turns), but since the kobushi don’t continue in rapid succession, their difficulty is relatively low.
Instead of projecting your voice forward, try to produce it with the sensation of it piercing through from the crown or back of your head; doing so will bring you quite close to the original, so give it a try.
Life is like a Naniwa-bushi (a melodramatic ballad).Hosokawa Takashi
After training under Michiya Mihashi, Takashi Hosokawa showed an explosive improvement in his vocal ability.
Even after his vocals improved, he continued to release many tracks that emphasize catchiness.
Among them, Naniwabushi Dayo Jinsei wa is one of his most singable songs.
Aside from the kobushi at the end of the chorus, the song features only minimal melismatic turns that mostly move by a single note, and despite a BPM of 128, there are no rapid-fire sections, resulting in an overall low level of difficulty.
The range is fairly wide, so be sure to find the key that suits you before singing.
Life’s journeyMisora Hibari
The songstress Hibari Misora, who left behind many masterpieces.
In addition to enka, she worked across a wide range of genres, from kayōkyoku to even jazz.
In this “Jinsei Ichiro,” while firmly retaining the essence of enka, the overall melody is crafted to be closer to a catchy kayōkyoku number.
Although it features many fine kobushi (melismatic turns), if you master the hiccup-style vocal technique, the kobushi remain within a range that can be reproduced without issue.
So if you have a certain understanding of enka, you should be able to sing it smoothly.
Osaka ShigureMiyako Harumi
Harumi Miyako is an enka singer known for her powerful vocals, often referred to as the “Harumi-bushi,” which leave a strong impression.
If you’re familiar with enka, you’ve surely heard of her.
While her songs are generally considered to be quite challenging, there are also some catchy ones among them.
One I especially recommend is Osaka Shigure.
Compared to her typical style, which features growling, shout-like vibrato, this song uses more high-pitched kobushi (ornamental turns), so it doesn’t demand as much sheer power.
At the same time, the melody itself is bright, making it both easy to sing and a crowd-pleaser.