[Calling all low-voiced women in their 40s!] Songs that are easy to sing at karaoke

My pager doesn’t beep anymoreKunitake Mari

Mariko Kunitake “Pokeberu ga Naranakute” MV

Mari Kunitake, who was active as a singer and model.

She’s what you might call a one-hit wonder, but many people probably still remember her.

Speaking of her hit song, of course it has to be “Pokeberu ga Naranakute” (“My Pager Doesn’t Ring”).

Released as the theme song for a drama of the same name, this piece is arranged as a ballad, with a vocal line that has little fluctuation and is very easy to sing.

Many of you likely watched the drama at the time, so consider adding this song to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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TEARS ~Within Time…Ganaha Mina

Mina Ganaha / TEARS ~Within the Flow of Time… [Music Video]

Mina Ganaha is a female singer-songwriter from Amami Oshima, known for her smooth vocals and popular in the 2000s.

Among her works, a particular recommendation is “TEARS: In the Flow of Time.” While the melody is somewhat serious, the vocal range isn’t especially wide, and the pitch movement is gentle throughout, making for an easy-to-sing vocal line.

If you use your jaw a bit more and aim for a slightly more masculine singing style, you can get closer to the feel of the original, so give it a try for reference.

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Ryo

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Let me stay for the night.Kobayashi Sachiko

Let me stay for the night.

It’s a classic Showa-era kayokyoku that has an enka flavor, with striking rock-style guitar solos and riffs.

“Hitoban Tometene,” released by Sachiko Kobayashi in 1985, was composed by Katsuhiko Miki, who also worked on one of Kobayashi’s signature songs, “Moshikashite.” The overall key is on the lower side, and it’s the kind of song that expresses a sultry melody through the appeal of the low register, so it’s perfect for those who struggle with high notes.

The enka-style kobushi (ornamental turns) and vibrato are kept to a minimum, making it a great piece for beginners to enka to try!

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KOH-1

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threadNakajima Miyuki

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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.

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.