[Karaoke] A roundup of easy-to-sing songs by Yosui Inoue
One of the most indispensable singer-songwriters in the Japanese music scene, Yosui Inoue.
Since his debut as a singer in 1969, he has released numerous hit songs such as “Kasa ga Nai” and “Shonen Jidai.”
He came to be recognized as a leading figure in the genre known at the time as “New Music.”
Even in his more rhythmic numbers, his vocals and musicality have a distinctive, slightly ennui-laden atmosphere.
In this article, we’ve picked out some of Yosui Inoue’s songs that are especially easy to sing at karaoke.
Be sure to read to the end!
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[Karaoke] A roundup of easy-to-sing songs by Yosui Inoue (1–10)
Traveler,Inoue Yosui
If you heard this song without any prior context and felt like you’d heard it somewhere before, you’re probably quite well-versed in the Showa era—or from the generation that lived through it.
“Tabibito yo” was the B-side to Yuzo Kayama’s 1966 single “Yozora o Aoi de,” and the version introduced here is included on Yosui Inoue’s 2001 cover album “UNITED COVER.” Choosing the B-side rather than the A-side—now that’s impeccable taste.
The original, composed and arranged by Kayama himself and sung in a folk style with The Launchers, is reimagined by Inoue in a J-pop style, fully transfiguring it into the world of Yosui Inoue.
The melody is simple, the pitch easy to grasp, and the vocal range relatively narrow, so it should be quite manageable to sing without much difficulty.
mobile phoneInoue Yosui
Even if you say “mobile telephone,” it might not immediately resonate with younger people.
It’s a general term for telephones you can use while on the move—car phones, cell phones, PHS, and the like—and this song titled “Idō Denwa (Mobile Telephone)” captures the distinctive atmosphere of the 1990s, when the idea of carrying a phone gradually became ingrained for many.
Released in 1994 as Yosui Inoue’s 39th single, it was also used as the tie-in theme for the TBS drama “Yume Miru Koro o Sugitemo.” It’s a J-pop track that uses the so-called “hachiroku” (8-beat, 6/8 feel) rhythm, arranged by the one and only Takeshi Kobayashi.
While the overall vocal range isn’t particularly high, the pitch fluctuations are somewhat pronounced.
Moving from the calmly sung A section, through the gradually building B section, into the expansive, soaring chorus—delivering those contrasts can be a bit challenging.
It might help to practice each section separately.
Two People Who Can’t Go HomeInoue Yosui
In 1973, Yosui Inoue released his third album, Ice World.
The album presented new musical possibilities to the scene at the time, and among its hidden gems is “Kaerenai Futari” (The Two Who Can’t Go Back).
The combination of simple folk-guitar accompaniment and a calm, wistful melody is exquisite, and its structure makes it easy to sing at karaoke.
After warming up your voice with this song, we recommend following it with the album’s title track, “Ice World!”
[Karaoke] Inoue Yosui’s Easy-to-Sing Songs (11–20)
self-loathingInoue Yosui
“Self-Disgust” is a ballad with a wistful melody, included on Yosui Inoue’s third album, Ice World, released in 1973.
As the title suggests, this song expresses feelings of loathing toward oneself, making it a perfect choice to sing when you’re feeling frustrated with yourself over studies or work.
With its gentle, ephemeral, whisper-like vocal style, it’s easy to sing even if you don’t have much vocal power, and it’s also recommended early in a karaoke session when you want to conserve energy.
Farewell in MayInoue Yosui
This “May Farewell” is a beautiful medium-tempo ballad included on the hit album UNDER THE SUN, which topped the Oricon charts.
While using simple language, the lyrics vividly evoke inner landscapes and scenes of May with uniquely poetic, expressive phrasing that really resonates.
You’ll notice when you actually sing it: if you let yourself flow with the somewhat nostalgic melody, you should be able to sing without drifting off pitch.
Try singing it while savoring the meaning of the lyrics, cherishing each and every word.
The Meandering TownInoue Yosui
It’s a song that feels very Inoue Yosui—imbued with an indescribable pathos and the loneliness of the night.
Meisō suru Machi (The Meandering Town) is included on his sixth album, White, released in 1978, and it might be a track only devoted fans are familiar with.
When you think of Yosui and rain, many probably recall the classic mega-hit Kasaga Nai (I Don’t Have an Umbrella), but the rain depicted in Meisō suru Machi evokes a different image altogether.
As for singing it, it’s not particularly difficult; if you let the melody flow over a relaxed 6/8 rhythm, you can savor it comfortably.
To bring out the world of the lyrics, it might be good to sing as if you’re telling a story, drawing listeners into its narrative.
From the Land of the Dark NightInoue Yosui
“Yami Yo no Kuni Kara” (From the Land of the Dark Night) is one of Yosui Inoue’s early masterpieces, released in 1974 as his fifth single.
It was later covered by Saburo Tokito and used in a commercial, so some people may find it familiar.
Despite what the title suggests, it’s a very bright song with a lively folk-rock arrangement, so it seems like it would be a hit at karaoke as well.
The melody is poppy and easy to remember, the range is relatively low, and the overall pitch span isn’t very wide, so you should be able to sing it smoothly.