Challenge yourself with difficult songs at karaoke! Tracks that will earn you praise if you can sing them well
Even when you think, “I want to try this song at karaoke!”, once you actually give it a shot you sometimes run into unexpected hurdles—like a range that’s too wide or rhythms that are too complex.
What technical elements make certain songs difficult to sing? In this article, we’re featuring high-difficulty tracks that are especially rewarding to tackle at karaoke.
We also touch on which parts are challenging and what kind of vocal approach is required, so if you want to expand your expressive range as a singer, be sure to check it out!
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Challenge tough songs at karaoke! Tracks that earn you praise if you can pull them off (141–150)
INCONVENIENT IDEALDIR EN GREY
DIR EN GREY’s masterpiece “INCONVENIENT IDEAL.” This song does not feature their hallmark death growls.
Because of that, it’s a track that singers of various vocal timbres can attempt.
However, its difficulty is staggering—among the songs introduced here, it’s near the top by a wide margin.
The main reason is the vast range between the low and high registers.
Very low and very high notes are interwoven, and you also have to sing with power, so it demands considerable vocal ability.
a fact of lifeFACT
Representing Japan’s post-hardcore scene, FACT’s songs set complex emotions to a rhythmic sound that leaves a lasting impression on listeners.
Released in April 2009, this track particularly resonates when reflecting on the passage of time or reexamining one’s own truth.
The lyrics, as if piecing together fragments of the past, convey tightly wound emotions.
Tackling the rapid-fire sections is part of the fun.
With themes that many can relate to, it’s a work I can recommend to a wide audience.
star performerKing Gnu
This is the sixth single by the Japanese crossover band King Gnu, released in December 2020.
This may apply to all of their songs, not just this one, but the first hurdle when singing it is probably the A verse, which is delivered in a style somewhere between rap and vocals.
First, it’s sung quickly, so you need to keep up with the rhythm without getting tongue-tied, and if you sing it too melodically—in other words, if you try to trace the original melody exactly—you might end up ruining what makes the song great.
It’s hard to explain in writing, but I think it’s best to sing it with a nuance that sits halfway between rap and singing.
Doing so also emphasizes the contrast with the melodic chorus.
You can sense that the song was crafted with even that in mind, and this is where you can only say, “Bravo!”
Challenge difficult songs at karaoke! Tracks that will earn you praise if you can sing them well (151–160)
NEO UNIVERSEL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
It was released in 2000 as L’Arc~en~Ciel’s 19th single.
The song was used in a commercial for Shiseido’s lipstick brand “PN,” and it reached No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a very difficult song, featuring a chorus that requires high notes in mixed voice along with a clean, beautiful vibrato.
Thunderous applauseLiSA
Issai no Kassai was pre-released and included on LiSA’s album LANDER, which came out in November 2022.
It was chosen as the official theme song for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on ABEMA and TV Asahi.
The song has a driving feel and a high word count, so you won’t be able to sing it unless you precisely understand which syllables are matched to the finer notes.
You’ll also need falsetto for the parts in the chorus that shoot up in pitch.
There’s a key change right before the final, extended chorus as well, so make sure to listen closely to the band’s playing to catch your notes.
Crimson Bow and ArrowLinked Horizon
It was the first opening theme of Attack on Titan.
It was even performed at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Up to the first verse it isn’t too difficult, but after that the melody changes suddenly and it switches mostly to German, so it’s hard to keep up with the abrupt shifts.
Also, it’s a tough song to sing in karaoke because the on-screen display makes the lyrics hard to read.
Unforgettable DaysMISIA
I think switching between chest voice and falsetto in the chorus is difficult.
I recommend singing while clearly keeping in mind, “Up to here is chest voice, from here is falsetto.” This is one of MISIA’s signature songs, released in 1999 as her fourth single.