[Men in Their 50s, Gather Up!] Classic Karaoke Crowd-Pleasers & Easy-to-Sing Hits

White LabyrinthKisugi Takao

Takao Kisugi - White Labyrinth (Maze) with Paul Mauriat

“White Labyrinth” is one of Takao Kisugi’s signature songs, a classic ballad that delicately portrays a bittersweet love.

It likens the complexities of tangled emotions to a “white maze,” conveying a heart that loves straightforwardly even while struggling.

Included on the 1984 album LABYRINTH, the lyrics were written by his sister, Etsuko Kisugi.

Paired with a nostalgic melody that perfectly matches the song’s image, it resonates deeply with listeners.

Although the melody is emotive, the vocal line itself is simple, making it a recommended song even for those who can’t sing in a high range.

Just by you being herekome kome CLUB

KOME KOME CLUB – Kimi ga Irudakede (1992)

The 13th single by Kome Kome Club, released in May 1992.

Helped by its use as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Sugao no Mama de,” it became a massive hit, selling over 2 million copies in total.

As a hit from the early ’90s, the heyday of J-pop, many people who are now in their 50s likely enjoyed singing this song at karaoke back then.

Watching the video again now, you can feel the “bubble-era vibe” everywhere—from vocalist Carl Smoky Ishii’s hairstyle and costumes to various elements of the song.

If you recall that atmosphere while singing it, you might find it even more enjoyable.

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Kei Takahata

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Embracing SummerTUBE

TUBE “Embrace the Summer” MUSIC VIDEO

With a sound that evokes clear blue skies and a shining sun, this is a quintessential summer song from TUBE.

It expresses a love so intense it keeps you up at night, conveyed through passionate lyrics and melody.

The protagonist’s once-in-a-lifetime feelings are sure to awaken bittersweet memories of love that many have experienced.

Released in May 1994, it was a massive hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts and selling 940,000 copies.

It was also featured in a Toyota Corolla Ceres commercial and has become a karaoke staple beloved by many.

It’s the perfect track for reminiscing with close friends or colleagues as you look back together on life’s milestones.

Words of FarewellKaientai

Rather than explaining that it was Kaientai’s 16th single released in November 1979, it’s quicker to say it was the theme song for the first season of the smash-hit drama “Mr.

Kinpachi in Class 3B” (3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei) [laughs].

As of 2020, I think most people in their 50s probably sang this song at their elementary or junior high school graduation.

Of course, many people watched the drama as well.

It’s a song that holds personal “memories” for each listener, so try singing it with that sense of nostalgia.

The melody is very straightforward and easy to sing, too.

If I were to give one tip, I’d say you’ll probably get a better reception if you avoid imitating Tetsuya Takeda’s singing style too closely.

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Kei Takahata

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Radio MagicEARTHSHAKER

Radio Magic – EARTHSHAKER

This is the second single by the Japanese HM/HR band EARTHSHAKER, released in September 1984.

I picked this song with a bit of my personal taste mixed in (lol).

But I bet there are quite a few people in their 50s who liked so-called “Japa-metal,” which had a bit of a boom in the ’80s.

The vocalist singing this, Marcy, has a very wide vocal range and strong singing ability, but since metal songs often have very simple melodies, many of them are surprisingly easy to sing.

This one is especially poppy and falls into the very singable category.

I’m sure some men in their 50s covered this song in bands back in their youth, so why not revisit those days and give it a try?

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Kei Takahata

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Wine Red Heartanzenchitai

Wine Red No Kokoro

It was the fourth single by Anzenchitai, released in November 1983.

This is also one of the classic Showa-era songs that will go down in history.

Although they debuted in 1982, they hadn’t had a hit single yet, and this track was created through vocalist Koji Tamaki’s hard work to produce a hit.

As a result, it’s very friendly and easy to remember, with a melody that anyone can sing along to at karaoke and the like.

Have fun singing it by imitating Tamaki’s very distinctive vocal style! Just be careful not to strain your throat too much on the high notes in the chorus.

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Kei Takahata

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Ruby RingTerao Akira

Ruby No Yubiwa

“Ruby no Yubiwa” is a classic song known for its poignant melody and lyrics that nostalgically recall a lost love.

Released in February 1981, it became a massive hit, topping the Oricon chart for 10 consecutive weeks.

Akira Terao’s distinctive husky voice beautifully conveys the pain and lingering feelings of heartbreak.

The chorus, which incorporates key changes, isn’t very difficult, so even those without strong confidence in their singing can handle it well.

Those with lower voices can capture the feel of the original more closely, while those with higher voices may want to raise the key.

As a quintessential heartbreak song, it continues to be loved by many to this day.