Pick out the challenging songs that will earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke!
Have you ever thought, “I’d look so cool if I could get through this song at karaoke,” only to crash and burn halfway through?Songs that are hard to sing hide plenty of tough spots—wide vocal ranges, complex rhythms, and blisteringly fast phrases that barely leave room to breathe.But that’s exactly why the sense of accomplishment when you nail them is second to none.In this article, we introduce a wide variety of challenging songs that are worth taking on at karaoke.If you want to test your limits or are looking for a spark to help you level up your singing, let this guide you to your next song choice!
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A selection of challenging songs that will earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke! (231–240)
Gentle RedFukuhara Miho
This is Miho Fukuhara’s third single overall, released in November 2008.
It was used as the CM song for au’s “LISMO.” Miho Fukuhara possesses exceptionally strong vocal expressiveness, and I feel what further enhances her voice and expressive power is her use of falsetto—very soft yet never weak—as heard in the chorus of this track.
She switches from chest voice to falsetto with remarkable smoothness, and the way she gently lets the sound taper off at the end of phrases is something you’ll find quite challenging if you try it yourself.
Keep an ear out for those aspects, and be sure to practice with them in mind.
StoryAI
AI’s 12th single, released in May 2005.
It’s a song that powerfully conveys a sense of “message,” and what supports that is AI’s singing and voice—not just technically proficient, but deeply convincing.
The vocal melody itself is relatively simple, but precisely because of that, to sing this song you not only need to have mastered the basic vocal techniques; it also demands expressively rich singing and a deep understanding of the piece that delves into the lyrical content.
Pick up notoriously difficult songs that will earn you respect if you can pull them off at karaoke! (241–250)
thorn; brambleAdo
Ado’s 20th digital-only single, released in May 2023.
It was chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s “Mezamashi TV.” With a chorus melody that jumps dramatically in pitch, Ado’s somewhat hysteric-sounding vocals, and densely packed, slightly rapid-fire lyrics, it’s quite a formidable challenge for the average person to sing at karaoke! Be sure to listen closely to Ado’s original performance to study the details of the song before giving it a try.
Deep downAimer
Aimer is an artist known for her powerful vocal ability and distinctive voice.
The title track “Deep down” from her 2022 mini-album drew attention when it was selected as an ending theme for the anime Chainsaw Man.
In the A section, she mixes breath into her singing to produce a resonant, deep low register.
In contrast, the chorus features an appealing melody with large intervallic leaps that showcases her naturally wide vocal range, and the rapid, driving syncopation when she sings the title at the end of the chorus leaves a strong impression.
I beg youAimer
Aimer’s 16th single, released in January 2019.
It is the theme song for the second chapter of the film Fate/stay night [Heaven’s Feel], starring actress Minami Hamabe.
The melody, which makes extensive use of Arabic scales, is highly striking, and performing it well requires considerable vocal technique.
To sing it effectively, first learn the original thoroughly, and if possible, write the lyrics out on paper.
Create something like a blueprint for singing—decide which parts you’ll sing in what way and which vocal techniques you’ll use where—so that you’re always preparing for the next phrase as you sing.
This approach should make it easier to perform.
ONE AND LASTAimer
A single released digitally by Aimer on December 10, 2021.
It was written as the theme song for the film Anata no Ban desu: Gekijouban (Your Turn to Kill: The Movie).
Aimer has a remarkably solid and steady voice, so I feel it’s quite difficult for most people to get close to this kind of vocal production.
While the melody itself is relatively easy to remember and sing, if your voice comes across as weak, it will ruin the song’s atmosphere and fail to convey its message to listeners—so please be careful.
escalateAimer
This is Aimer’s 21st single, released in March 2023.
It was selected as the opening theme for the anime NieR:Automata Ver1.1a.
The most challenging and crucial aspect of singing this song in karaoke is how faithfully you can reproduce Aimer’s sense of tempo and timing—where she sings slightly behind the beat—against the somewhat up-tempo backing track.
Listen closely to the backing track, feel the beat firmly, and sing with that in mind.
And don’t forget to let your lower register resonate clearly.