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

Ah, what a relief.Hana＊Hana

Hana*Hana “Ah, I’m glad (Setagaya Mix)”

The music duo Hana*Hana gained popularity with their warm, gentle sound.

They have several mega-hits, so I think many women in their 40s remember them.

Among their works, the one I especially recommend is A~ Yokatta.

It’s a classic J-pop ballad, with a gently rising and falling vocal line, a relatively narrow range, and modest long tones—features that make it easy to sing, even for those who aren’t confident singers.

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Like when we first metEvery Little Thing

"Like When We First Met" MUSIC VIDEO / Every Little Thing

For many women now in their 40s who spent their teens to early twenties in the mid-to-late 1990s, Every Little Thing holds a special place.

Back then, lots of people copied Kaori Mochida’s fashion and hairstyles, too.

ELT’s classic songs are still hugely popular at karaoke even in the Reiwa era, but if you’re aiming for a high score, the 1997 hit As When We First Met (Deatta Koro no You ni) is a great choice.

Its quintessential late-’90s Avex sound and melody make it very easy to sing, and since there are no tricky shifts, it’s less likely you’ll go off pitch.

The overall key is on the higher side, so if you have a lower voice, it’s a good idea to adjust the key to suit you before singing.

Become the windtsuji ayano

Ayano Tsuji – Become the Wind (Music Video)

Ayano Tsuji is a popular singer-songwriter who made her major debut in 1999 with a style that’s instantly recognizable: a gentle singing voice accompanied by ukulele.

Since the 2000s, she has maintained a unique position in the J-pop scene by releasing a number of heartwarming classics.

Tsuji’s music is comforting just to listen to, and one of her signature songs, Kaze ni Naru, which was used as the theme song for the Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns, is widely known and a great pick for karaoke where people of all ages gather.

Its very straightforward melody makes it easy to sing, so it’s recommended both for aiming at a high karaoke score and for having fun singing together as a parent and child!

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.

Study SongMoritaka Chisato

Chisato Moritaka 'Study Song' (Music Video)

Actress Chisato Moritaka, who gained popularity from the 1980s to the 1990s.

She has left behind many classic songs as a singer as well, but among them, the one I especially recommend to women in their 40s is Study Song.

As the title suggests, it’s literally a song that encourages studying, and for women in their 40s who were students back then, it may be particularly memorable.

Since this piece isn’t a song performed by a professional singer, the vocal line is calm and relatively even, without many ups and downs.

The vocal range is also quite narrow, so it should be easy enough to sing even at a third-round after-party.

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I won’t forgetFuji Ayako

I won't forget

“Wasurenai,” released in 2012, is a single that showcases Ayako Fuji’s appeal as a singer of pop music distinct from her enka persona.

It served as the theme song for the Tohoku arc of NHK’s popular anime Little Charo, and the lyrics—imbued with hopes for Tohoku’s recovery—were written by Fuji herself, who hails from Akita.

As mentioned at the outset, it’s not enka but a fully pop medium-tempo ballad, with a straightforward melodic progression that’s very easy to sing—perfect for karaoke with kids!

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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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