Popular Japanese songs among women in their 40s: recommended classics and standard hits

Angel’s RestHisamatsu Fumina

Fumina Hisamatsu “Angel’s Repose” Official MV

Fumina Hisamatsu is a female singer who gained popularity for her musical style that blends glam rock and soft rock into J-pop.

She has a slightly low, full-bodied voice, and her hallmark is a husky, powerhouse vocal style reminiscent of male rock singers.

Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is Tenshi no Kyūsoku (Angel’s Rest).

If you’re a rock fan in your late 40s, you might have listened to it back in the day.

While the song is notable for its strong, driving melody, it sits mainly in the low-to-mid range and has a relatively narrow vocal range, making it a piece that suits many different voice types.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

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The Talent for LoveKawamoto Makoto

[MV] Makoto Kawamoto - 'The Talent for Love'

Makoto Kawamoto, known as a pioneer among guitar-playing female singers, has left us with many great songs.

Among them, the one I especially recommend for women in their 40s because it’s easy to sing is “Ai no Sainō” (The Talent for Love).

Since singer-songwriter Yasuyuki Okamura composed it, the track leans a bit toward groove, but the vocal range is narrow, so the overall difficulty is fairly low.

If you lock into the rhythm, you can likely aim for a high score at karaoke.

Be sure to add it to your repertoire.

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go for it！DREAMS COME TRUE

DREAMS COME TRUE「go for it！」

DREAMS COME TRUE is a duo supported by people of all generations, not just those in their 40s.

Because their music is rooted in Black music, many of their songs are challenging, but of course there are also simpler ones.

The one I recommend is go for it!.

While the melody is somewhat unconventional, the vocal range is narrow and there are no sudden jumps in pitch, making it one of the easiest DREAMS COME TRUE songs to sing.

Definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

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CRAZY GONNA CRAZYTRF

TRF / CRAZY GONNA CRAZY

Even within the broad label of “people in their 40s,” the music you grew up with differs greatly depending on whether you’re in your early or late 40s.

That said, TRF can be considered an artist popular across the entire 40-something demographic.

Among their songs, CRAZY GONNA CRAZY is particularly easy to sing.

Because it’s primarily dance music, it can be hard to notice, but the song actually has a narrow vocal range and doesn’t feature complex melodic leaps.

As long as you adjust the key to suit your voice, even those who feel their voice doesn’t come out easily should be able to sing it without trouble.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Turn the roulette of fateZARD

SARD UNDERGROUND 'Spin the Roulette of Fate' MV

A supreme track woven from lyrical lyrics that capture the subtleties of life and a light, buoyant melody.

While questioning the role of fate’s coincidences and the meaning of our choices, it gently reminds us of the importance of facing forward and living on.

Composed by Seiichiro Kuribayashi, it beautifully harmonizes ZARD’s heartwarming message with a refreshing sound.

Since its release in September 1998, it has been beloved as the opening theme of the anime Detective Conan and is also included on the album ZARD BEST The Single Collection: Kiseki.

It’s an uplifting song I’d recommend to anyone hesitating yet ready to take a step forward, or to those who want to move ahead without fearing change.

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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Marigoldaimyon

Aimyon – Marigold [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

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!