Songs popular among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories.
As a man in your 40s, what kind of music do you usually listen to?
Of course, you probably hear a lot of the latest hits, but chances are you still love the songs that were with you during your youth.
In fact, when it comes to songs popular among men in their 40s today, many of them are tracks that made waves around the 1990s.
In this article, we’ll introduce a generous selection of Japanese songs—focusing on hits from that era—that are especially recommended for men in their 40s.
They’re full of classics perfect for karaoke or for listening to in the car, so definitely give them a listen.
They might just bring back memories from those days.
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Songs popular with men in their 40s: timeless tracks that bring back memories (81–90)
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
A single released under Fumiya Fujii’s solo name in 1993 after the breakup of The Checkers.
With lyrics that candidly express feelings for a loved one and a poignant melody, it was also used as the theme song for the TV drama Asunaro Hakusho, ultimately becoming a massive hit that sold over two million copies.
POISON ~A world where you can’t even say what you want to say~Sorimachi Takashi
Takashi Sorimachi has not only been active as an actor but also as a singer.
Many women in their 40s have likely been captivated by his allure.
Speaking of his signature songs, it has to be “POISON ~I can’t even say what I want to say in a world like this~.” The track gained nationwide popularity, partly because it was used as the theme song for the hit drama GTO.
While the song features a lot of low notes, its range is quite narrow at mid1 B to mid2 E, so there’s plenty of room to raise the key.
If you sing it in the right key, there’s nothing particularly difficult about it, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
BE MY BABYCOMPLEX
This is “BE MY BABY,” the debut and signature song of COMPLEX, the duo formed by Koji Kikkawa and Tomoyasu Hotei.
Although their active period was short, they were so popular that their final concert before going on an indefinite hiatus was held at the Tokyo Dome.
La La LaDaikoku Maki
This is Maki Ohguro’s 10th single “La La La,” released in 1995.
It’s her signature song, a million-seller and her biggest hit.
She has said that she sings the chorus together with the audience at the end of her concerts and plans to keep those recordings to enjoy in her old age.
It’s heartwarming to see how much she cherishes both the song and her fans.
TOMORROWMayo Okamoto
This is Mayu Okamoto’s debut single “TOMORROW,” released in 1995.
I think many people have been encouraged by its lyrics, and it’s said that she originally wrote the song to cheer up a friend from her hometown.
It’s truly a timeless classic, loved by people of all ages.
God of RomanceHirose Kōmi
This is Kohmi Hirose’s third single, “Romance no Kamisama,” released in 1993.
It became the theme song for the ski equipment store Alpen’s commercials and was hugely popular at the time.
It’s a song about a woman at a group blind date who checks a man’s age, hobbies, and job at first meeting—and chooses love over friendship.
Written out like this it might sound awful, but strangely enough, when it’s sung, it’s truly wonderful.
Popular songs among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories (91–100)
The Door of TimeWANDS
This is WANDS’ fourth single, “Toki no Tobira,” released in 1993.
It was the theme song for the TV Asahi drama series Neo Drama.
Regarding this song, vocalist Uesugi said, “When I was feeling down, I wanted a song that could encourage myself.”