Songs popular among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories.

For loveOkuda Tamio

“For Love” from the live film tamio okuda TOUR “29-30”

Since debuting as UNICORN in 1987, Tamio Okuda has maintained a unique position throughout his long career, continuing to exert a tremendous influence on subsequent artists.

For many people now in their 40s who spent their youth in the 1990s, it’s likely that Okuda’s songs from around his solo debut—rather than his work with Unicorn—were the soundtrack of their adolescence.

Okuda’s milestone solo debut single, “Ai no Tame ni,” was released in 1994 and became one of his signature tracks, achieving million-seller status.

While it’s hard to capture the nuanced atmosphere that Okuda himself brings, the melody has a relatively narrow range and gentle interval leaps, making it genuinely easy to sing.

If you’re aiming for a high score at karaoke, definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.

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KOH-1

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Linda LindaZa Burū Hātsu

[Official] THE BLUE HEARTS “Linda Linda” [1st Single (1987/5/1)] THE BLUE HEARTS / Linda Linda

The Blue Hearts’ classic “Linda Linda.” It’s an indispensable song when talking about Japanese punk rock.

Its intense vibes often lead to misunderstandings, but in fact the vocal line is surprisingly gentle and the range isn’t very wide.

Since it sits in the low to mid range, anyone can sing it comfortably with the right key adjustment.

However, the low notes in the verse (A-melo) are fairly low, so don’t lower the key too much just because the chorus and the B-melo feel easy to sing.

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Ryo

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MarionetteBOØWY

BOOWY / Marionette

This is BOØWY’s sixth single, “Marionette,” released in 1987.

When the best players come together, they can make music this cool.

Especially men of that generation were all hooked on it, right? What’s amazing is that it still sounds totally fresh even today.

Love will winKAN

Aiwa Katsu

From the piano intro to the song’s melody and lyrics, everything is so pop and catchy that it really sticks in your memory, doesn’t it? Released on September 1, 1990 as the eighth single overall, it gained popularity after being used as an insert song on Fuji TV’s show “Hō-chan no Yamada Katsute-nai Television,” and went on to become a long-selling hit.

It achieved double million-seller status.

The following year, in 1991, it won the 33rd Japan Record Award, and KAN performed it on the 42nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It is one of KAN’s signature songs.

ROSIERLUNA SEA

LUNA SEA ROSIER（2010.12.24＋25）

A song released by LUNA SEA in 1993 as their third single.

With its striking guitar riff and RYUICHI’s aggressive vocals, it became a classic that cemented LUNA SEA’s popularity.

Since their return to activity, it has been performed at nearly every live show, and at concerts it’s customary for bassist J to hurl the microphone stand as part of the performance.

TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya

TRUE LOVE / Fumiya Fujii

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.

BE MY BABYCOMPLEX

BE MY BABY

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.