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[For Women in Their 40s] A Collection of Songs That Score High at Karaoke [2026]
Those of you currently in your 40s are the generation who spent your youth in the 1990s to early 2000s, when CDs were selling explosively.
It was also the heyday of karaoke, and many of you likely have your go-to karaoke songs, but aiming for a high score can be tough—even with your favorites.
So in this article, we’ve researched recommendations for women in their 40s: songs that are relatively easy to sing and tend to yield higher scores.
Centered on hits and popular tracks from the ’90s through the 2000s, we’ve also included some recent masterpieces.
If you’ve got a karaoke outing coming up, be sure to use this as a reference!
[For Women in Their 40s] A Compilation of Songs That Score High in Karaoke [2026] (1–10)
Become the windtsuji ayano
Ayano Tsuji is a popular singer-songwriter who made her major debut in 1999 with a signature style of gentle, instantly recognizable vocals and ukulele-accompanied performances.
Since the 2000s, she has continued to release a string of heartwarming classics in the J-POP scene, maintaining a unique position.
Tsuji’s music has a soothing quality just by listening, 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 perfect for aiming for a high score at karaoke—and singing it together as a parent and child is sure to be fun, too!
My friendNEW!ZARD
This song was released in January 1996 as ZARD’s 17th single.
It became widely known for being used as the ending theme of the TV Asahi anime SLAM DUNK and went on to become a million seller.
With lyrics by Izumi Sakai and music by Tetsurō Oda, it’s a refreshingly upbeat pop-rock number that truly embodies the golden age of J-pop.
Its message—facing forward while holding both the brilliance of youth and the bittersweetness of change—rings clear over a lively band sound.
It’s also included as the first track on the album TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY, and it’s a highly recommended song that’s sure to fill any venue with a wave of nostalgic excitement when sung at karaoke with peers, reunions with club teammates, or milestone gatherings in life.
wailing in griefKudō Shizuka
Among Shizuka Kudo’s discography, which has produced numerous hit songs since her solo debut in the late 1980s, the best-selling is Dokoku, released in 1993.
It’s a masterpiece with lyrics by Miyuki Nakajima and music by Tsugutoshi Goto, and many women in their 40s today likely have this song in their karaoke repertoire.
The song is set in a relatively low key for a female vocal, making it a great choice for women with lower voices who struggle with high notes.
Kudo’s characteristic, sultry vibrato is applied naturally, yet the difficulty level is modest, with a very memorable and easy-to-sing melody line.
It’s also recommended for those aiming for high scores at karaoke.
Marigoldaimyon
Aimyong’s songs have a timeless appeal that’s independent of trends, making them popular across generations.
“Marigold,” released in 2018, marked her major breakthrough.
Its somewhat nostalgic melody evokes the early Heisei era, making it very pleasant to listen to and a classic that resonates with people of all ages.
For women in their 40s who say, “I mostly listen to the J-pop from my youth, but I want to try singing something more recent…,” I highly recommend Aimyong’s songs.
“Marigold” sits on the lower side pitch-wise and doesn’t have an extreme vocal range, so even those with lower voices or who feel insecure about singing should give it a try!
Don’t give upZARD
ZARD is an indispensable presence in the Japanese music scene of the ’90s, and for many women in their 40s today, their songs undoubtedly evoke the soundtracks of youth.
The late Izumi Sakai’s clear vocals and heartfelt lyrics never lose their luster, and they’re still hugely popular at karaoke.
“Makenaide” is one of ZARD’s most famous songs, a true classic with nationwide acclaim.
While the pitch is slightly on the higher side, it’s generally average overall, and the melody is straightforward without large leaps in range, making it a good candidate for high karaoke scores.
Aim to articulate each word of the lyrics clearly, and sing the chorus with crisp, powerful delivery!
threadNakajima Miyuki
Since her debut in 1975, Miyuki Nakajima has produced numerous hit songs as a genius singer-songwriter, all the while maintaining a mysterious, solitary presence that continues to shine even in the Reiwa era.
Among her many masterpieces, Ito is one of her most famous songs, first appearing on the 1992 album EAST ASIA.
From the 2010s onward, it was used as background music on television programs, boosting its household recognition, and in 2020 a film inspired by the song was released—testament to its immeasurable influence.
Of course, it’s challenging to capture the expressive nuance that someone like Nakajima brings, but the melody line is easy to sing, so in terms of karaoke difficulty it’s relatively low—making it a great choice for those aiming for a high score.
Thank youikimonogakari
Since the late 2000s, Ikimonogakari has boasted top-tier sales and popularity in the J-pop scene, enjoying exceptional name recognition across all ages.
Their songs span a wide variety of genres, yet the melodies—anchored by simple, classic chord progressions—are incredibly pleasant and universally appealing.
It’s impressive how they consistently release “good songs” that don’t alienate any listeners.
Released in 2010, “Arigatou” served as the theme song for the NHK morning drama Gegege no Nyobo and is one of Ikimonogakari’s signature tracks, highly popular at karaoke.
While the chorus reaches slightly higher notes, it stays within a range manageable in chest voice, and there aren’t any large interval jumps, making it very singable and a strong candidate for a high karaoke score.