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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- [For Men] Tough Karaoke Songs: A collection of tracks that look cool if you can sing them!
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- Recommended for great singers! A collection of impressive songs if you can sing them
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- [Challenge] A compilation of Vocaloid songs that are difficult to sing
- [For Men] Masterpiece Enka Songs with High Difficulty
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- [For Men] Cool, Popular Songs That Impress at Karaoke
- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
- [Karaoke] Songs That Make It Easy to Score High | From Classics to the Newest Hits
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
Challenge yourself with tough songs at karaoke! Tracks that will earn you praise if you can pull them off (201–210)
Take It BackReiko
Born in 2002, REIKO was born in the Philippines and raised in Aichi Prefecture.
Although she narrowly missed passing SKY-HI’s audition program “THE FIRST,” SKY-HI himself later recognized her talent and helped her debut as a solo artist.
She is a highly anticipated young singer-songwriter.
Released in April 2025, her track “Take It Back” revives a distinctly New Jack Swing–inspired sound in a modern style, resulting in a killer tune that maximizes REIKO’s superb vocal ability and outstanding sense of rhythm.
Beyond the melody line that moves across a wide vocal range, songs like this demand a strong feel for groove; simply singing the notes as written will never capture the vibe.
Listen closely to the track and try singing with conscious attention to its groove.
LIFEKubota Toshinobu
A track from the album “Beautiful People,” released in November 2019.
Since it’s a song performed by Mr.
Kubota—one of the leading figures in Japanese R&B—it’s quite a formidable opponent for karaoke! First, there’s that bouncy 16th-note groove… and on top of that, the slow-ballad tempo is one of the things Japanese singers tend to struggle with most.
The soft high tones that make skillful use of mixed voice are also a major hurdle when singing.
If you’re going to try it at karaoke, start by making sure the groove doesn’t flatten out, and avoid forcing the high notes with sheer power.
If you’re not comfortable with mixed voice, boldly switching to falsetto is a perfectly valid option!
The Kouga Ninja ScrollsOnmyoza
It’s the Japanese band Onmyo-za’s 10th single, released in April 2005.
It was used as the opening theme for the TV anime Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls.
The song itself can be described as traditional HM/HR, but precisely because of that, the vocal skill required to sing it is considerable.
The way the singer deftly switches between chest voice and falsetto depending on the melodic passages and expression makes it quite difficult to casually reproduce at karaoke.
It’s also a track that really showcases vocalist Kuroneko’s exceptional singing ability.
BE CLASSICJO1
JO1 is a hugely popular group that can rightfully be called one of the driving forces of the music scene for Japanese boy groups from the 2020s onward.
Riding even more momentum with successful appearances at major festivals like SUMMER SONIC 2024 and overseas shows, they’re also known for their exceptional vocal and dance skills.
The title track of their best-of album released in 2025, “BE CLASSIC,” shocked listeners with its bold arrangement that quotes Beethoven’s Symphony No.
5, “Fate.” In recent years, there’s been a noticeable push to fuse classical music with pop, and this song blends elements of K-pop and hip-hop into a cool dance number that’s distinctly JO1.
It’s clearly very challenging to sing at karaoke—the rapid shifts between rap and melody make it hard for one person to cover—so we recommend trying it with multiple singers!
guidelinesUru
This is Uru’s 13th single, released in June 2023, and it serves as the theme song for the Fuji TV Monday 9 p.m.
drama “Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo 0.” From the very beginning, Uru’s richly resonant voice leaps out, immediately signaling that this song will be a formidable challenge to tackle at karaoke.
In practice, performing it requires a complete grasp of the vocal melody and the lyrics set to it, along with smooth shifts in vocal placement and dynamic control—essential techniques for singing well.
The song is highly demanding vocally, but precisely for that reason, it’s a piece I strongly encourage confident singers to take on.
crimsonX JAPAN
It’s famous as one of X Japan’s signature songs.
I bet many people have tried it and couldn’t make it through.
Hitting those high notes takes a lot of power and practice.
Be careful not to strain your throat and hurt yourself.
Yeah! I’m so stressed.Gōruden Bonbā
A lightning-fast, stress-themed song that’s quintessentially Golden Bomber.
The lyrics rattle off everyday frustrations, but in the latter half they shift to a positive message—an interesting structure.
Its unique phrases are catchy, and it’s a track that can lift your spirits right away.
Released digitally in December 2022, it’s included on the album “COMPACT DISC.” It’s also popular at karaoke, so give it a try.
Perfect for when you want to blow off steam or boost your energy.