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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Popular songs among men in their 40s. Timeless classics that bring back memories (91–100)
By the time of the Christmas carolsInagaki Junichi
A song released by Junichi Inagaki in 1992 as his 27th single.
It became his biggest hit, was covered by many artists, and in 2009 a duet version with Kohmi Hirose was also released.
There’s even a story that during the Christmas season, the instrumental of this song plays in supermarkets, making Inagaki so embarrassed that he can’t go shopping.
JAMTHE YELLOW MONKEY
For rock fans in their 40s, many of you may have admired THE YELLOW MONKEY, right? Yemon has produced countless classics, but the song I especially recommend as being easy to sing is JAM.
While it gives off an energetic vibe, its overall vocal range is quite narrow, from mid1C to mid2F.
In terms of singability, it’s a perfect choice.
However, because the range is narrow, it can be hard to create moments of excitement, so you’ll need to be mindful of rhythm and dynamics as you sing.
SakurazakaFukuyama Masaharu
Masaharu Fukuyama is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most iconic figures, both as a singer-songwriter and as an actor.
It’s truly remarkable that he has continued to release hit songs from the 1990s through the Reiwa era.
While each generation likely has its own “Fukuyama songs,” Sakura-zaka, released in 2000, is a quintessential Heisei-era classic that achieved a record-breaking double million in sales.
Some may find ballads challenging, but the simply crafted melody line makes it easy to sing, and the relatively low key makes it approachable for those with lower voices.
If you carefully follow the scale, you can definitely aim for a high karaoke score; at the same time, the song’s charm lies in its lower register, so if you’re not confident with low melodies, this is a great piece to practice with.
Kotodama of Love ~ Spiritual MessageSazan Ōrusutāzu
Southern All Stars’ classic song “Kotodama of Love ~Spiritual Message~.” Many people have probably heard it often at karaoke but didn’t know the title.
Among Southern All Stars’ songs, this one boasts one of the narrowest vocal ranges.
Not only is the range narrow, but it also centers on the low-to-mid register where male voices are most comfortable, so you’re unlikely to find it difficult from a vocal production standpoint.
The vocal line is gentle with little ups and downs, so be sure to give it a try.
Linda LindaZa Burū Hātsu
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.
crimsonX JAPAN
Opening with a melancholic guitar arpeggio, this song blends X JAPAN’s signature high-speed metal sound with a dramatic interplay of stillness and intensity that stirs the heart.
Released in September 1989 as their major-label debut single and included on the album BLUE BLOOD, it reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
The song was performed at the 1992 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and was also used in an NTT Docomo commercial.
It’s a track I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to feel the strength to keep moving forward while carrying sorrow and despair.
Like tonight’s moonElefanto Kashimashi
It’s a deeply moving masterpiece that powerfully sings of passion for the future while gazing into everyday feelings of emptiness and loneliness.
Set against the backdrop of a city at dusk, it portrays the solitude and struggles of people living in an urban landscape, yet conveys a strong will to keep looking forward and moving on.
The soulful vocals unique to Elephant Kashimashi and the melody that resonates with the heart are beautifully in harmony.
Released in July 1997, the song was used as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Because the Moon Shines at Night,” and was also included on the album “Run Toward Tomorrow – Moonlit Songs.” In 2017, it was performed in the band’s first appearance on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, winning over even more listeners.
It’s a track that will evoke deep empathy when you feel lost in life or spend a night thinking of someone dear.