[2026 Edition] Karaoke Songs That Will Get the Crowd Going—Perfect for Women in Their 40s

Refrain of SoulsTakahashi Yoko

Refrain of Souls

It’s a masterpiece where Yoko Takahashi’s overwhelming vocal power—enough to shake the listener’s soul—blends magnificently with a majestic orchestra.

The theme suggested by the title, “repetition” or “recursion,” may have gained a universal depth and breadth precisely because lyricist Neko Oikawa honed her senses and spun the words without probing too deeply into the heart of the story.

Released as Takahashi’s single in February 1997, it left a powerful impression as the theme song for the anime film Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth.

The track shone at No.

3 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and sold over 630,000 copies in total; it was later included on the album “~refrain~ The songs were inspired by ‘EVANGELION’.” It’s a song you’ll want to sing when you need to unleash your emotions at karaoke or immerse yourself in the world of an epic story.

Choo Choo TRAINZoo

ZOO Choo Choo TRAIN PV.flv

It’s a song with a melody everyone’s heard at least once, and one that people of all ages can dance to and get excited about together.

These days it’s also known as one of EXILE’s signature tracks.

The choreography where everyone lines up in a row and dances in a circle from front to back is still familiar to most people.

It’s sure to turn any karaoke room into a dance floor!

Surely more than anyone else in the worldNagayama Miho

Surely more than anyone else in the world

An iconic song that represents the 1990s J-pop scene was given new life in 2015.

This collaboration between Miho Nakayama and WANDS became a massive hit as a TV drama theme song.

Its lyrics, depicting both the intensity and delicacy of romantic feelings, captured the hearts of many.

It surpassed one million copies sold in just 20 days after release and achieved the remarkable feat of ranking in the Oricon Year-End Singles Top 50 for two consecutive years.

It continues to be loved as a karaoke staple.

This is a recommended track for anyone who, amid the busyness of work and household chores, wants to reclaim a moment of youthful nostalgia.

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 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!

GoodbyeGAO

GAO – Sayonara [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

GAO is a singer with a memorable husky voice and an androgynous presence.

After the 2000s, she made a surprising shift to gangsta rap and even released a full-fledged hip-hop album, and she continues to be active in music under the name GAO today.

Many people probably think of her 1992 smash hit “Sayonara” when they hear her name.

The song has since been covered by many singers and remains a classic of early Heisei-era J-pop that continues to be sung today.

Featuring a very singable melody built on a simple chord progression with restrained leaps in pitch, it’s also a great choice for those aiming for a high karaoke score.

For the high notes in the chorus, be sure to project strongly from your diaphragm so you can deliver them with power.