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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- Karaoke songs popular with women that they want men to sing
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Challenge tough songs at karaoke! Tracks that will earn you praise if you can pull them off (311–320)
1/2Kawamoto Makoto
It was released in 1997 as Makoto Kawamoto’s third single.
The song was used as the opening theme for the Fuji TV anime “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story,” sold nearly 800,000 copies, and became her biggest hit single.
It’s a very challenging song, with the expansive “Makoto Kawamoto world,” rapid rhythm, and a high density of lyrics.
The day I surpass youFuse Akira
Akira Fuse meets KADOMATSU — a song that, in a sense, realizes a miraculous collaboration between Akira Fuse and Toshiki Kadomatsu.
It was originally included on Kadomatsu’s mini-album “Arugamama ni,” where Kadomatsu himself sang it, but in 1996 Akira Fuse released a cover version.
The melody itself is classic Kadomatsu—familiar and easy to remember—but Fuse’s slightly canzone-like vocal delivery and high-level singing technique give it a new allure.
I suspect that for many people, trying to imitate this resonant, expansive singing style would be quite a formidable challenge.
1995Hirai Ken
A track from Ken Hirai’s album “Anataninaritakatta,” released in May 2021.
In the original, he delivers the fast-tempo, densely packed lyrics with a superb mix voice.
The contrast between the rapid-fire, almost rapped verse sections and the more expansive, groove-driven parts that follow can be quite a high hurdle when singing it at karaoke.
At a casual listen, the vocal melody may not seem to have much range, but that’s a testament to Hirai’s masterful control of vocal production; many people will be surprised by the actual vocal range required when they try to sing it themselves.
First, try singing it while being careful not to fall behind the uptempo rhythm.
ParadiseHirai Ken
This is a high-difficulty song with multiple sections where it’s hard to sing without switching to falsetto.
Still, if you practice slowly step by step, I’m sure you’ll be able to sing it.
Glide through it smoothly and fill the karaoke room with a romantic vibe.
JupiterHirahara Ayaka
It was released in 2003 as Ayaka Hirahara’s debut single.
The song is based on one of the themes from Gustav Holst’s Jupiter (the fourth movement of his orchestral suite The Planets), and during the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake it was frequently requested on radio stations in Niigata Prefecture as a cheer song to encourage those affected.
Because the vocal range is very wide, it requires the ability to freely control both high and low notes.
Taking on Challenging Songs at Karaoke! Tracks That’ll Earn You Praise if You Can Pull Them Off (321–330)
God of RomanceHirose Kōmi
This was Kohmi Hirose’s third single, released in December 1993.
It became a huge hit after being used in commercials for the ski shop Alpen, so it’s now considered a staple winter song.
Interestingly, though, the lyrics don’t mention winter or Christmas at all.
When singing this at karaoke, the key point is how well you can reproduce Hirose’s powerful high notes.
Practice producing open, relaxed high tones and be careful not to strain your throat.
As you’d expect from a ’90s hit, the melody itself is easy to remember and sing compared to modern songs with increasingly complex vocal lines, so it also works well as a practice piece for high notes.
I want to seize happiness.Hirose Kōmi
It was released in 1994 as Kohmi Hirose’s fifth single.
The song was used in an “Alpen” commercial, and it reached No.
6 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Among Kohmi Hirose’s songs, it features a very high key and a distinctive rhythm, making it a challenging song to sing at karaoke.