[Women in Their 40s] Even If You’re Tone-Deaf, You Can Sing! Karaoke Songs That Fit a Woman’s Vocal Range

Soft scarCocco

Cocco – Soft Scars

Singer-songwriter Cocco, who was active in the 2000s.

For those in their early to mid-40s, she’s arguably a defining artist of their generation.

Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is Yawaraka na Kizuato (Soft Scars).

It has the feel of straightforward J-pop, similar to what Aimyon represents today.

There’s a falsetto part toward the end of the chorus, but because it’s sung very softly, even those who struggle with high notes should be able to sing it without any trouble.

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Tokyo at 7 p.m.Pizzicato Five

PIZZICATO FIVE / 7 p.m. in Tokyo

Pizzicato Five, often called the pioneers of the Shibuya-kei scene.

Their signature is dance pop infused with house, delivering a stylish sound that pairs catchy hooks with an edgy flair.

Among their tracks, the one I especially recommend is Tokyo wa Yoru no Shichiji (Tokyo at 7 p.m.).

Since it’s dance music, you might think the rhythm is tricky, but house is based on a four-on-the-floor beat—the easiest kind to follow—so there’s no need to worry.

The vocal line rises and falls gently, and the overall range is quite narrow, meaning anyone, regardless of their voice type, can sing it lightly and confidently.

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GoodbyeGAO

GAO – Sayonara [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Artist GAO is known for his irresistibly handsome looks and deep, attractive “ikébo” voice that even puts many men to shame.

His masculine vocal tone, emanating from a face that could pass for a beautiful boy, captivated many women in the 1990s.

Among GAO’s songs, the one I particularly recommend as easy to sing is Sayonara.

You might think it has some high parts, but that’s only because of GAO’s vocal timbre; for an average woman in her 40s, it should actually be quite comfortable to sing.

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LOVE 2000hitomi

hitomi / LOVE 2000

Hitomi is a female singer-songwriter who was hugely active in the 2000s, known for her pop-rock–based musical style.

Many women in their early 40s may have admired her.

One of her signature songs is LOVE 2000.

While it’s full of energetic melodies, it’s actually surprisingly easy to sing.

The range is somewhat wide, but since the peak only appears for a brief moment in the chorus, it’s still manageable even if you can’t hold long high notes.

The rhythm is also very easy to follow, so if you’re looking for a powerful yet singable track, be sure to check it out.

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5 seconds before I fall seriously in loveHirosue Ryōko

[Official] Ryoko Hirosue “Five Seconds Before I Fall Seriously in Love” (MV) Ryoko Hirosue / Maji de Koi Suru 5 Byou Mae MK5 [1st Single]

The actress Ryoko Hirosue’s classic song “Maji de Koi suru 5 Byō Mae.” Since this piece is sung by an actress rather than a singer, it’s notably easier compared to other songs I’ve introduced.

Its biggest charm is, above all, its bright, upbeat tone.

Given that kind of sound, combined with Hirosue’s naturally higher voice, you might assume it demands a high vocal range, but the song’s range isn’t actually very wide.

It also doesn’t require techniques like vibrato or long sustained notes, so even women in their 40s who aren’t confident singers should be able to sing it with ease.

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Hello, my friendMatsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Hello, my friend

As one of the most important artists in Japanese music history, Yuming—Yumi Matsutoya—is a name that invariably comes up.

Each generation has songs by Yuming that hold special meaning, but many women in their 40s today will likely think of her hits from the 1990s.

From the standpoint of being easy to sing at karaoke, I recommend Hello, my friend.

Released in 1994 as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Kimi to Ita Natsu (A Summer with You), it was a massive hit that sold over a million copies.

While it’s packed with that quintessential Yuming flavor, the melody unfolds very straightforwardly and is easy to sing.

There are no particularly challenging high notes or sustained long notes, so with a bit of practice, you can probably expect a high score at karaoke.

paper craneOka Midori

paper crane

Released in February 2019, “Kami no Tsuru” (Paper Crane) is a memorable single for Midori Oka, as it marked her first entry into the top 20 of the Oricon charts.

While the melody is bright, it carries a certain poignancy and wistfulness—a classic enka sound that resonates with the Japanese heart.

That said, the typical enka-style vocal ornaments like strong kobushi and intense vibrato are relatively restrained here.

If you focus on singing gently and sincerely, as Oka does, it’s quite approachable even for beginners to enka.

Interestingly, the lower notes can be more challenging than the high ones, so I recommend practicing with clear enunciation and working to apply solid vibrato on the low passages.

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