Lovely karaoke song

Nostalgic Japanese Pop Hits That Get 40-Something Men and Women Excited

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

There are plenty of chances to end up at karaoke—whether it’s drinks with coworkers or reunions with old friends—but do you ever find yourself struggling to pick the right songs?

I’m not too familiar with recent hits, and if it’s a gathering of people from the same generation, I’d rather get everyone hyped with nostalgic tunes we listened to in our youth.

So in this article, I’ll introduce some great crowd-pleasers recommended for people in their 40s!

I’ve focused mainly on nostalgic songs from around the 1990s, so if you’re in your 40s, these tracks should bring back memories of your younger days.

Not only are they perfect for getting everyone in the same age group excited together, but they’re also timeless classics from the Japanese music scene—so there are plenty of songs that people of all ages can enjoy together!

Recommended for men (21–30)

Winter, againGLAY

GLAY / Winter, again

Winter, againGLAY

If you’re in your 40s, there’s a good chance you listened to and sang this song a lot, right? It starts with a gentle first verse that gradually builds up, and the chorus—where the emotions explode—is incredibly cool.

It’s by no means an easy song, but if someone confident in their vocal skills sings it, it’s sure to get everyone hyped!

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SaudadePorunogurafiti

Porno Graffitti 'Saudade' (“OPEN MUSIC CABINET” Live in Saitama Super Arena 2007) / 'Saudade (Live Ver.)'

SaudadePorunogurafiti

Ever since their debut single Apollo became a hit and put them in the spotlight, Porno Graffitti, a two-piece rock band, has remained at the forefront of the J-pop scene.

Saudade, the first song to incorporate what has now become their trademark Latin-inspired sound, has garnered high acclaim overseas as a popular track with numerous tie-ins.

The contrast between the densely packed lyrics in the verses and pre-chorus and the lyrical, emotive melody in the chorus makes it a joy to sing at karaoke.

It’s a passionate yet wistful number that we especially recommend for those in their 40s, the band’s generation.

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Hoshino Takashi

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In conclusion

We’ve packed in plenty of exciting song recommendations for people in their 40s. We focused on hits from the 1980s to the 1990s, so many of you probably felt a wave of nostalgia. Be sure to use the songs we introduced this time as a reference, and have a great time getting everyone pumped up!