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! (261–270)
Wherever You AreONE OK ROCK
A track from ONE OK ROCK’s 2010 album Niche Syndrome.
ONE OK ROCK has many songs that are very challenging to sing at karaoke, but I think this one ranks among the toughest of them all.
Not only do you need solid high notes, but there aren’t many Japanese singers who can fully deliver this kind of slow rock ballad.
When singing it at karaoke, a key point will be how well you handle the frequent breaks in the song—those moments when the backing drops out.
Of course, you need to memorize the song well, but it’s also crucial to understand it as you sing.
And be sure to pay attention to the pronunciation of the English lyrics, too.
AnarchyOfisharu Higedan Dism
Released as a digital single by Official HIGE DANDism on January 7, 2022.
The first major challenge when singing this song is that it features a slightly bouncy beat that many Japanese singers find difficult.
Keep a strong awareness of the snare drum accents and make sure your groove doesn’t become flat.
Also, the D section after the second chorus has a vocal melody with very large pitch leaps, so being able to switch registers smoothly is essential.
Be careful not to let your voice sound weak in the falsetto parts.
UniverseOfisharu Higedan Dism
This is Official HIGE DANDism’s fifth single, released in February 2021.
Many of their songs are quite challenging to sing at karaoke, and this track is no exception—it’s fairly tough.
While the key is a bit high for the average male singer (which can be managed by adjusting the key), many people will likely struggle to recreate the groove that emphasizes a 16-beat feel.
If you sing it without that tight 16th-note sensation, there’s a high risk the song will end up sounding rather dull—especially since the melody itself is simple and accessible.
When performing it, I recommend paying close attention to the sense of beat and rhythm.
This is Official HIGE DANDism’s fifth single, released in February 2021.
Many of their songs are quite challenging to sing at karaoke, and this track is no exception—it’s fairly tough.
While the key is a bit high for the average male singer (which can be managed by adjusting the key), many people will likely struggle to recreate the groove that emphasizes a 16-beat feel.
If you sing it without that tight 16th-note sensation, there’s a high risk the song will end up sounding rather dull—especially since the melody itself is simple and accessible.
When performing it, I recommend paying close attention to the sense of beat and rhythm.
FateOfisharu Higedan Dism
Shukumei is Official HIGE DANDism’s third single, released in July 2019.
Vocalist Fujiwara’s voice is notable and appealing for its highly resonant, clear high tones, and the song is crafted to maximize his “voice.” Another distinctive point is the effective use of mixed voice in sections like the A-melody and other verse parts, even at those high pitches.
Choosing this song for karaoke is quite advanced, but try to sing with as much free, expansive high tone as possible.
It’s also important to avoid making the highs sound like the edgy, piercing tones you might hear in HM/HR.
Picked difficult songs that’ll earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke! (271–280)
YELLOW YELLOW HAPPYPocket Biscuits
It was released in 1997 as Pocket Biscuits’ second single.
The composition was handled by Pappara Kawai of Bakufu Slump, who also produced the track, and it became a million seller.
The chorus is very high-pitched, but it’s a very fun song that you can sing along to with the rhythm.
BuddhaRADWIMPS
RADWIMPS’ 10th single released digitally in January 2009.
The song is built largely around fast, rap-like vocals, which makes it very difficult to sing at karaoke.
It’s not pure rap, though—there is a melody, albeit with little inflection, and that actually adds to the difficulty.
Even if you manage the rap-style parts, the original track uses heavy vocal processing, and it’s nearly impossible to recreate that vibe live at karaoke.
It’s probably best not to fixate on reproducing the original and just enjoy it as a straightforward rock song.
Even then, it’s a thoroughly captivating track!
Wings of SteelRADWIMPS
This is RADWIMPS’ sixth digital-only single, released on April 5, 2021.
It’s a very gentle ballad with a fair amount of range in the vocal melody, and I think it requires considerable expressive ability to sing it well.
The end of the chorus and the B-melody sections are particularly challenging.
Start by carefully tracing the original melody as you sing.
It’s an important song in which keeping a consistently soft, tender tone—without getting rough even in the high notes of the chorus—will make it sound really good.