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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- [For Men] Masterpiece Enka Songs with High Difficulty
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- [For Women] Masterpiece Enka Songs with a High Degree of Difficulty
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A selection of difficult songs that will earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke! (251–260)
MoreEARTHSHAKER
From the Japanese HM/HR band EARTHSHAKER, this song appears on their second album “FUGITIVE,” released in March 1984, and was issued as a single in June of the same year.
When EARTHSHAKER debuted, HM/HR tended to be relatively guitar-centric, often leaving vocals somewhat in the background.
However, thanks to vocalist Nishida’s outstanding singing ability and expressive power, the band’s vocals were highly praised; in particular, “MORE” showcases Nishida’s vocal prowess to the fullest.
His vibrato has a distinctive character, and imitating it for karaoke would be quite challenging.
When singing, pay attention to the high notes in the chorus and be careful not to strain yourself.
Dear My FriendEvery Little Thing
It was released in 1997 as Every Little Thing’s third single.
At the 39th Japan Record Awards, it received the Excellence Award.
It was used as the commercial song for Slim Beauty House featuring Naoko Iijima and became a hit.
Although it sounds like an up-tempo, easy-to-sing song, its high key makes it difficult.
SurvivalGLAY
It was released in 1999 as a video single by GLAY.
It reached number one on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
The song is packed with lyrics, and the chorus in particular is so fast that it feels like you might trip over the words.
It’s a very difficult song to sing in time with the rhythm.
MiracleGReeeeN
It was released in 2008 as GReeeeN’s seventh single.
The song was used as the theme for the TBS drama “ROOKIES,” which is about high school baseball, and it was selected as the entrance march for the opening ceremony of the 81st National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament.
It’s a very high-key song for male singers.
366 daysHY
This song, included on HY’s fifth album after their indie debut, “HeartY,” was released in 2008.
It was chosen as the theme song for Fuji TV’s drama and Toho’s distributed film “Red Thread,” and became a major hit.
Apart from the chorus, the melody stays low, then suddenly rises in the chorus; with roller-coaster-like pitch jumps in places, it’s a very difficult song to sing in tune.
ZIPANGHYDE feat. YOSHIKI
This song has a relaxed tempo, but that actually makes it tricky—most people gradually speed up as they sing.
In fact, slower tempos tend to reveal differences in sense of rhythm more easily.
Also, because the song builds up a lot in the second half, you need to be careful not to get too excited in the first half and lose momentum later.
KanadeJUJU
Originally released in March 2004 as Sukima Switch’s second single, the version introduced here is a cover by the female singer JUJU.
There’s a unique vibe to female singers covering songs originally sung by men, and it can be quite appealing.
Since JUJU is well known for her vocal prowess, I feel that the song’s difficulty level is, in many ways, higher than the original—thanks to her nuanced use of vocal timbre and phrasing throughout.
That said, because there are many cover versions of this song, it might be helpful to refer to those artists’ performances for any parts that seem difficult to sing.
Comparing JUJU’s cover with Sukima Switch’s original is a great reminder of how changing the singer and vocal approach can transform the overall impression of a piece.