Famous songs we’d like women in their 50s to sing (by age group)
Do you all go to karaoke often?
Maybe you always sing the same songs and it feels a bit stale, or you’re not too familiar with recent hits—there are lots of dilemmas, right?
For those in that situation, especially women in their 50s, we’ve picked out songs that men would love to hear you sing.
We’re mainly featuring the J-pop that was popular during your youth, while also mixing in some recent tracks.
You might find yourself thinking, “Oh right, I used to love this song!”
Feel free to use this as a reference!
[By Age Group] Famous Songs We’d Like Women in Their 50s to Sing (1–10)
mermaidNOKKO
This is the fifth single by singer-songwriter NOKKO, who is also known as the vocalist of the rock band Rebecca and is recognized for her signature high-tone voice.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and its dreamy arrangement centered on strings and organ feels wonderfully soothing.
With its gentle, beautiful melody and passionate lyrics, it’s sure to captivate male listeners even at karaoke.
Frequently covered by many famous artists, it’s a highly recommended karaoke song for women in their 50s.
PRIDEImai Miki
A singer and actress active across a wide range of fields, Miki Imai is currently based in London, England, focusing on her music.
This is her 12th single.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Doc,” and it also drew attention at the time for being written by Tomoyasu Hotei, the world-renowned guitarist Japan is proud of.
Its gentle melody and dignified lyrics convey a cool sophistication befitting an adult woman.
It’s a number that carries particular weight when sung by women in their 50s who have accumulated diverse life experiences—one you’ll want to request at karaoke.
TOMORROWMayo Okamoto
This is the debut single by singer-songwriter Mayo Okamoto, who has been meticulous about every note and word, and from that mindset has released numerous classics.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Second Chance,” and despite being her major-label debut, it’s known as one of Okamoto’s signature tracks.
Its positive message, which supports you when you’re feeling down, is likely to resonate strongly with men experiencing stress at work.
Sung by a woman in her 50s, it conveys a special warmth and breadth, making it a sure-fire crowd-pleaser at karaoke.
Message of RougeMatsutōya Yumi
A song by singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya, who took the top spot in album sales for ten consecutive releases across five decades—from the 1970s to the 2010s—and remains highly active today.
Originally released in 1972 as her fifth single under the name Yumi Arai, the track gained broader recognition when it was used as the opening theme for the 1989 Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service.
Its brisk American pop feel contrasts with its sharp, biting message—something that might make male listeners’ hearts race when they hear it at karaoke.
It’s a karaoke favorite not only among people in their 50s, who were part of the original generation, but also among the anime generation.
for a long timeKiroro
A female duo music group, Kiroro, formed by high school classmates, whose full-fledged revival announced in 2018 also drew attention.
This is their first major-label single.
Despite being their major debut and having no tie-in, it became a million seller and has been covered by artists in Japan and abroad, making it one of Kiroro’s signature songs.
The lyrics, which portray someone overwhelmed by work while keeping feelings for their partner close to their heart, may resonate with women in their 50s who find echoes of their own memories.
For men, it’s the kind of Heisei-era J-pop classic you’d want a career woman to sing.
Give me a gentle kiss.DREAMS COME TRUE
This is the 31st single by the duo DREAMS COME TRUE, a soulful track featuring an extraordinary vocal that has captivated fans since their debut.
Written specifically as the theme song for the TV drama “Suna no Utsuwa” (The Castle of Sand), its lyrics portray a forbidden love, and the heartrending arrangement really tightens the chest.
When sung by a woman in her fifties—someone likely to have lived through many experiences—men might find themselves imagining their own private dramas.
With an outstandingly unsettling atmosphere in the outro, it’s a love song that perfectly suits an adult woman.
Pure Love RhapsodyTakeuchi Mariya
In today’s music scene, where Japanese city pop is being reevaluated worldwide, renewed attention is being drawn to singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi’s 24th single.
The song was used as the theme for the TV drama “Deatta Koro no Kimi de Ite” and as the commercial song for Nissan’s Cefiro, and it is also known as Takeuchi’s biggest hit.
Its arrangement, combining a light, buoyant feel with a comforting sense of float, and its bittersweet lyrics imbued with her own personality, create a more realistic image when sung by an adult woman.
With its stylish, gentle melody that soothes the heart, it’s a number that many men would surely love to hear sung by a woman in her 50s.
A gentle feelingChara
This is the 14th single by singer-songwriter CHARA, who exudes a one-of-a-kind presence with music influenced by Black music, layered with her distinctive whispery vocals and uniquely poetic lyrics.
Used as the CM song for Shiseido’s “T’Issera J,” it is known as one of CHARA’s signature tracks alongside “Swallowtail Butterfly ~Ai no Uta~,” released under the name YEN TOWN BAND.
If someone were to sing it at karaoke with that irresistibly cute voice, even men might find themselves swooning.
It’s a karaoke number we’d love to hear women in their 50s—the generation for whom it resonates—sing to showcase an unexpected and charming contrast.
Second LoveNakamori Akina
This is the third single by singer Akina Nakamori, whose commanding presence—even as a leading actress—and overwhelming vocal power and unique aura have earned her recognition beyond the realm of idols.
With an arrangement rooted in orthodox kayōkyoku and an expressive, wistful delivery, it became a major hit and is an indispensable number when discussing Nakamori’s early career.
Its poignant lyrics and melody resonate with men across generations, making it a popular choice for karaoke.
It’s a classic that colored the idol scene of the 1980s, one I especially hope women in their 50s—rich in life experience—will sing.
10 yearsWatanabe Misato
A 12th single by singer-songwriter Misato Watanabe that, thanks to its strong popularity—topping fan polls, for example—has become one of her signature songs.
Released as a double A-side with “Kimi no Yowasa,” it was also used as the campaign jingle for UCC Ueshima Coffee’s canned coffee commercials.
With lyrics that convey a message of striding powerfully through the ten years of both past and future, the song conjures an image of a cool, self-possessed woman—even from a male perspective.
Sung by a woman in her fifties with rich life experience, the lyrics gain added depth, making it a crowd-pleaser at karaoke as well.