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[A Must-See for Rock Beginners] KiYoshiro Imawano's Easy-to-Sing Songs

Kiyoshiro Imawano, a legendary figure in Japan’s rock scene.

Not only did he make his mark with bands like RC Succession and The Timers, but he also created many classic songs as a solo artist.

Even now, after his passing, his musical style and values continue to be loved by many listeners.

This time, we’ve picked out some of Kiyoshiro Imawano’s songs that are especially easy to sing.

We’ll also feature tracks from RC Succession and The Timers, so be sure to read to the end!

[A Must-See for Rock Beginners] Kiyoshiro Imawano’s Easy-to-Sing Songs (11–20)

JUMPImawano Kiyoshirō

With its light guitar riffs and sparkling piano, a soulful horn section, and Kiyoshiro’s signature full-throttle vocals and lyrics, this is a quintessential, no-questions-asked Kiyoshiro Imawano classic! Released as a single in 2004, “JUMP” was also used in the Acecook Super Cup 1.5 commercial, so many people have probably heard it.

The chorus, where the title is shouted with gusto, is easy to remember, and the lyrics—packed with Kiyoshiro’s biting message yet delivered in a fun, uplifting way—make it a song you’ll want to sing at karaoke.

The pitch may feel a bit high for lower-voiced men, but the melody line is straightforward, and you can sing it without trouble by adjusting to your own vocal range.

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Oh! RADIOImawano Kiyoshirō

The wistful sound of the harmonica and the nostalgic melody, along with the laid-back vibe, reveal a different side of Kiyoshiro from his rock ’n’ roll persona.

The song was originally created as a campaign tune to commemorate a radio station’s 20th anniversary and was provided to a group of popular musicians.

However, there exists a demo recording on which Kiyoshiro himself performed all the parts, and this posthumous work was released as a single in June 2009, one month after his passing in May of the same year.

The melody, sung in a relaxed, flowing style over a so-called 8-beat shuffle rhythm, sits generally on the higher side of the range, so men with lower voices might find it somewhat high.

That said, the pitch stays fairly consistent, so if you adjust it to fit your vocal range, you should have no trouble singing it at karaoke.

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Daddy’s SongImawano Kiyoshirō

Even people who aren’t particularly interested in the artist Kiyoshiro Imawano probably know this song.

Released in 1991 as his sixth single, Papa no Uta became widely known and popular after being featured in a Shimizu Corporation TV commercial.

With Shigesato Itoi’s lyrics that exude humorous affection and Kiyoshiro’s moving melody and vocals, the song likely gave confidence to working dads across Japan.

Despite its simplicity, it’s surprisingly difficult to sing: the range is wide and the pitch moves up and down quite a bit, so you may find it harder to perform than expected.

Since the mood shifts between the verse and the chorus, it’s a good idea to practice each section separately.

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In the night sky after the rainRC sakuseshon

When it comes to RC Succession, this is the song that many people think of.

The feel-good rock ’n’ roll number “Ameagari no Yozora ni” (“In the Night Sky After the Rain”) was co-written by Kiyoshiro Imawano and Reichi Nakaido and released as a single in 1980.

Nakaido’s dazzling guitar riff, Imawano’s soulful vocals, and the playful lyrics brought a fresh breeze to Japan’s rock scene.

Because the clear, enunciated vocal style differs from today’s J-pop, younger singers might find it unfamiliar at first—but if you ride the rhythm and sing its incredibly catchy melody, you’ll have a great time nailing it at karaoke.

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In conclusion

Among artists, Kiyoshiro Imawano has one of the most distinctive vocal timbres at the top level. As I mentioned in the rankings, if you lean too much into his singing style, it can actually make the song harder to sing, so I recommend performing within your own natural style. On Rag Music, besides this article, we also feature many easy-to-sing songs by various artists. Be sure to check those out too!