Even if you’re tone-deaf, it’s okay! Easy karaoke songs for men in their 40s

BoyhoodInoue Yosui

Yosui Inoue – Shonen Jidai (Live) NHK Hall 2014/5/22

This is Yosui Inoue’s 29th single, released in September 1990.

It’s also his biggest hit.

Inoue himself is a singer with an exceptionally high level of vocal ability, so it’s quite difficult for those who aren’t confident singers to perform it the way he does.

However, the song itself—if I may say so without causing misunderstanding—features a very wholesome, almost Ministry-of-Education-songbook-like melody and straightforward phrasing, making it easy for anyone to learn and sing.

I imagine that this kind of familiarity evokes a certain sense of nostalgia, which helped propel the song to hit status.

Just be mindful of the key you choose, and rather than obsessing over singing it too perfectly, focus on tracing the melody honestly—you’ll likely sing it quite nicely.

Let’s all sing it while thinking of our own “Shōnen Jidai,” our boyhood days.

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Kei Takahata

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That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky19

That paper airplane splits the cloudy sky

People in their 40s might be a bit outside the target generation, but with these lyrics, they’ll surely recall their school days and relate.

As you’d expect from a duo that loves old, classic folk songs, it’s been skillfully arranged in a modern style.

It’s easy to remember and easy to sing!

My subjectsKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi “Wagamono-tachi yo” Lyric Video

A song released on October 31, 2025, it’s a life-affirming anthem dedicated to headstrong adults.

It carries a powerful message that turns failures into funny stories.

Since it’s by Ketsumeishi, there are rap parts too, making it appealing because you don’t have to worry much about pitch when singing.

The tempo is relaxed, so it’s a song you can sing calmly, but it’s important to lock into the rhythm, and you might stumble a bit where there are lots of words.

For a song like this, it’s best to memorize the lyrics! Try singing it every day as if you’re humming to yourself.

Light humming is also recommended.

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Kubota Mami

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milk teaFukuyama Masaharu

Masaharu Fukuyama – milk tea (Full ver.)

This is Masaharu Fukuyama’s 21st single overall, released in May 2006.

It was issued as a double A-side single together with “Utsukushiki Hana,” which was included on the CD at the same time, and it was used as the theme song for the TBS variety show “Koisuru Hanikami!” It’s a slow-tempo ballad where the beautiful acoustic guitar sound and Fukuyama’s mature vocals are exquisitely matched.

There’s nothing particularly demanding in terms of vocal technique or complexity in the melody, but when singing this at karaoke, the most important thing is how you handle the spaces between phrases—how skillfully you “sing” the rests.

Cherish each word of the lyrics, study his original performance well, and then give it a try.

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Kei Takahata

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Love will winKAN

Aiwa Katsu

This was KAN’s 8th single, released in September 1990.

It was originally used as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Quiz Omoshiro TV,” but after being featured as an insert song on Fuji TV’s “Yamachan’s Yamada Katsutenai TV,” it gained popularity and became a record-breaking long seller.

If you’re in your 40s, you probably experienced this hit in real time.

The melody is very familiar and easy to remember, so I imagine many people recall it vividly along with their memories from that time.

The tune is approachable, with no particularly difficult high or low notes, and the rhythmic pattern is simple, making it a great choice for those who aren’t confident singers to pick for karaoke.

There aren’t any especially tricky parts—so just sing it with energy and get the crowd going!

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Kei Takahata

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You are in full color.Ohtaki Eiichi

[Official] Eiichi Ohtaki “Kimii wa Tennen-shoku” Music Video (40th Anniversary Version)

Eiichi Ohtaki’s seventh single overall, released on March 21, 1981.

The song has been used in many commercials, including Rohto Pharmaceutical’s “New V Rohto” (1981), Kirin Beverage’s “Namacha” (2004), and Asahi Breweries’ “Asahi Slat” (2010), so many of you have probably heard it through those ads.

It features an extremely poppy, straightforward melody, with no musically or rhythmically difficult sections, so even those who aren’t confident singers should be able to handle it at karaoke with little trouble.

Just be careful not to let the bouncy rhythm get too heavy!

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Kei Takahata

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Beard and Boobsyunikōn

Unicorn - 'Beard and Boobs'

Unicorn is a band that gained popularity for its genre-defying, free-spirited musical style.

I think many men in their 40s admired them.

Among Unicorn’s songs, the one I especially recommend is Hige to Boin.

It’s an orthodox rock track characterized by a rough, gritty vocal line.

The range is somewhat wide, but there’s no falsetto, and it’s fine to sing with a raw, aggressive delivery, so the overall difficulty is relatively low.

It’s recommended for those who want to sing in a masculine style with some shouts for impact.

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Ryo

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