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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- 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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- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
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- 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 (211–220)
oni; demon; ogre; spirit (depending on context)Kizu
Kizu, a band rumored to be the most skilled among today’s young visual kei rock acts.
Their new song Oni showcases just that.
This piece is extremely challenging, featuring quiet sections where a vocalist can’t hide any flaws, key changes, falsetto, and shouts—plenty of difficult vocal elements throughout.
Beyond fundamental technique, expressive ability is also required, so fewer than 1% of people could truly sing it well.
Give it a try.
BrotherhoodB’z
The tempo is relaxed, but if you don’t sing the melody’s rhythm with composure, you can lose track of it.
Especially the C section right before the guitar solo packs in a lot of words at a fast pace, and that’s where I often stumble.
Nail this part and the instrumental break into the final chorus becomes really dramatic! The chorus also has a string of high notes, and even with my high vocal range, a small mistake makes my voice crack right away.
The chorus part in the latter half shouldn’t be that difficult! If we can get a big sing-along going there, it’s sure to hype everyone up!
Brilliant RainKing Gnu
This is King Gnu’s sixth digital single, released in July 2022.
It was reportedly written as the theme song for the TBS Sunday drama “Old Rookie.” The track evokes the freshness of a clear sky after the rain, and it shines with vocalist Iguchi’s highly expressive performance, skillfully switching among various high-register tones.
Notably, beyond its diverse high notes, the song also features singing that seems to swim freely within the rhythm.
While it may be quite challenging for most people to fully recreate this in karaoke, that difficulty makes it all the more rewarding to try.
CarnivalMAZZEL
MAZZEL is one of Japan’s leading boy groups.
Their weapon is performances that rival the best of K-pop, and their catchy, stylish songs consistently rank high on the charts.
Among their work, the one I especially recommend is “Carnival.” This track is reminiscent of BTS and makes frequent use of high falsetto.
When singing it at karaoke, you’ll likely be performing it solo, so on top of the difficulty of the falsetto, you’ll probably also find breathing quite challenging.
mischiefReiko
REIKO is an artist with roots in the Philippines.
She’s one of the artists energizing the still-under-the-radar R&B scene, earning high praise from both aficionados and general listeners with her pure, high-caliber R&B.
Among her tracks, the one I especially recommend is “Itazura.” Beyond its wide vocal range, it’s quite challenging because it repeatedly switches between chest voice and falsetto.
There’s also some mid-voice in the middle section, so if you naturally have a high voice or can belt in the higher register, definitely give it a try.
gradationSUPER BEAVER
This is the 17th single by the Japanese four-piece rock band SUPER BEAVER, released in April 2023.
It was chosen as the theme song for the film Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween -Fate-.
It’s a track where you can fully enjoy vocalist Ryota Shibuya’s taut, powerful singing.
When ordinary listeners sing it at karaoke, the key points to watch out for are: clearly enunciating the lyrics in the slightly fast-paced A-melody, and not getting thrown off by the sudden key change in the chorus.
Keep those in mind and belt it out with strength!
Maplesupittsu
This is the 19th single by the Japanese rock band Spitz, released in July 1998 as a double A-side with the coupling track “Spica,” and it was used as the opening theme for TBS’s COUNT DOWN TV.
It’s a very relaxed ballad, but you can enjoy vocalist Masamune Kusano’s highly resonant falsetto, especially in the high notes of the chorus.
It seems likely he’s using a falsetto with a strong chest component—something close to what’s commonly called mixed voice—but in any case, it’s an excellent example of a male vocalist making effective use of falsetto.
Be sure to listen closely to the original and practice along.