RAG MusicKARAOKE
Lovely karaoke song

[For Women] Sing challenging songs at karaoke and steal the spotlight!

If you’re blessed with a singing voice you’re proud of, you’ll want to make the most of it and show it off to friends and everyone around you, right? In this special feature, we’ve collected challenging songs recommended for women like you.

Even when we say “songs that are hard to sing,” the difficult points vary: some demand a very wide vocal range, while others require delicate expressiveness, and so on.

Each song’s article includes notes on what makes it challenging and tips on how to sing it well, so be sure to use this as a guide and show off your wonderful voice to the fullest!

[For Women] Sing difficult songs at karaoke and get noticed! (111–120)

ShakeDOUBLE

DOUBLE / Shake [Music Video]
ShakeDOUBLE

DOUBLE is a leading R&B duo representing Japan.

If you lived through the full-fledged R&B boom of the 2000s, you’ve probably heard their music at least once.

Among DOUBLE’s works, the one I especially recommend is “Shake.” It features an authentic sound that easily rivals Western R&B and a solid groove rarely found in Japanese music.

Because vocal “fake” ad-libs—an advanced R&B technique—are used in most parts, mastering this song is difficult unless you can handle Western R&B vocals with ease.

Starry NightYuka

This is Yuka’s sixth digital-only single, released in February 2023.

It was selected as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “A Night When Stars Fall.” When singing this song at karaoke, I think the key point is whether you can create contrast between the A-melody sections, which are built around the lower register, and the chorus, which centers on high tones.

From the persuasive chest voice—gentle and quiet in expression yet resonant in the thoracic cavity—heard in the A-melody, to the delicate falsetto in the chorus, pay close attention to smooth transitions between registers and to subtle vocal nuances as you sing.

While the song isn’t flashy, it’s one of the best choices for showcasing your vocal ability and expressive range.

Faster than meiri

iri – Faster than me (Music Video)
Faster than meiri

When we think of difficult songs, we tend to assume they’re ones with lots of high notes, but that’s not actually the case.

It’s true that high-pitched songs are hard, but pieces packed with advanced vocal techniques are far more challenging.

That’s why I recommend iri’s “Faster than me.” Centered on R&B and soul, it features a simple arrangement.

Not only does it incorporate sophisticated techniques like riffs/runs, falsetto, and falls, but because the instrumentation is minimal, even your breathing has to be treated as part of the vocal performance.

In conclusion

We’ve introduced a lot of songs that seem quite difficult to sing at karaoke—what did you think? Were there any you felt like you’d want to try? As I wrote at the beginning, even when we say “difficult songs,” there are truly many types and many different kinds of difficulty.

To sing in a way that feels satisfying to you, you of course need proper vocal technique and appropriate expressive skills, but above all, the most important thing is your feeling of “I love this song!” I hope this article helps you discover just such a track.