Easy-to-sing karaoke songs: Classic picks for women in their 40s

Ding DongZoo

ZOO Ding Dong EXPRESS

ZOO was a music group that was hugely active in the 1990s.

In Japan, they helped popularize black contemporary music, gaining popularity with a sound that made what was then an uncommon genre catchy and accessible.

Among ZOO’s songs, one I especially recommend is “Ding Dong.” While the song has fairly pronounced dynamic nuances, they are primarily expressive rather than driven by volume, which stays relatively steady, so it’s not overly difficult.

The vocal range is also narrow, so if you lock into the rhythm and pitch, you can aim for a high score at karaoke.

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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.

Pure AsiaPUFFY

PUFFY “Asia no Junshin” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Puffy, the female duo that gained popularity in the early 2000s, could be considered a charismatic presence for women in their 40s.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is ‘Asia no Junshin.’ Because of its upbeat and positive melody, many might think it sits high, but the actual vocal range isn’t wide.

While it has plenty of long notes, vibrato isn’t necessary, so as long as you adjust to a suitable key, even women with lower voices should be able to sing it without any problem.

I can hear humming.Kahimi Karie

I Hear Humming / Kahimi Karie [Official Music Video]

Kahimi Karie is a female singer whose music, centered on genres like neo-lounge and Shibuya-kei, gained popularity in certain circles.

If you were a fashionable Shibuya-kei gal in your early 40s at the time, there’s a good chance you know her.

Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is Humming ga Kikoeru (“I Can Hear Humming”).

It’s a very stylish work with great taste, but the vocal lines are simple and mostly sung in a whisper.

The range is narrow as well, so as long as you adjust to a suitable key, anyone can sing it easily.

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Snow, Moon, and FlowersKudō Shizuka

Shizuka Kudo / Snow, Moon, and Flowers [Official Video]

Right after going solo, Shizuka Kudo also incorporated a pop style, but as her career progressed, her songs increasingly took on a sharp, stylish edge.

“Yuki, Tsuki, Hana” falls into the latter category: while it retains a touch of Showa-era flavor, it maintains a stylish atmosphere throughout.

The song generally sits in a lower range, and the vocal line is calm with little fluctuation, but be mindful of the brief falsetto that appears in the chorus.

Rather than forcing a falsetto, the key is to adjust your pitch so the voice flips naturally.

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