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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- Recommended karaoke songs for male vocalists with high voices
Picking out difficult songs that will earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke! (311–320)
Mega Lover of LoveMakishimamu Za Horumon
The tricky part about Maximum the Hormone’s songs starts with the lyrics.
It’s tough to learn their unique phrasing that can sound like both Japanese and English.
Instead of relying on the lyric sheet, it might be better to just say what you hear.
Daisuke-han’s death growls are tough too!
March 9Remioromen
It’s a song that’s often sung at graduation ceremonies and the like.
The A and B verses are quite low, so it might be hard to sing, especially for women.
On the other hand, once the chorus begins it suddenly jumps high, making it a bit tricky for men who struggle with high notes—an interesting structure.
powder snowRemioromen
This is Remioromen’s seventh single, released in November 2005.
It was also used as an insert song in the Fuji TV drama “1 Litre of Tears.” To date, it has become a major hit with total sales of 850,000 copies.
Since the song requires fairly high tones—starting with the chorus title lyrics—many people may find it difficult to sing at karaoke in the original key.
However, in this song, if the highest notes end up in falsetto, it can significantly weaken the song’s power.
So if you do sing it, you should set the key to match your highest chest-voice note.
When aiming for high notes, if you squeeze your throat, you won’t be able to express the original’s “openness” or “resonance.” Try to support your upper body firmly with your abdominal muscles and produce sound with as little throat constriction as possible.
sympathetic tearsHitoto Yo
This was Yo Hitoto’s debut single, released in October 2002.
Although she has a Taiwanese father, her singing voice is highly technical, blending a clear, straight high register reminiscent of Japanese folk singers with skillful falsetto and middle voice.
Along with her vocal style, it’s one of those songs that’s extremely difficult to sing in karaoke in a way that approaches the original.
The melody develops in a very distinctive way, so it’s best to learn the song’s character well—less “Oriental” and more distinctly Japanese in flavor—before you sing it.
For the high notes, try to keep your voice as soft as possible so it doesn’t become too sharp or harsh.
Happy EndingKamishiraishi Mone
This song is characterized by its cuteness.
Since the accompaniment doesn’t carry the vocal melody, you’ll have to establish it yourself.
The chorus isn’t particularly difficult, but the other melodies are challenging.
Rather than aiming for a cute, high-pitched tone, you need to sing cutely with a slightly lower voice, so perform with the intention of showcasing your own charm.
It’s important to sing it confidently without getting shy.
Pick up challenging songs that will earn you respect if you can nail them at karaoke! (321–330)
LIFEKubota Toshinobu
A track from the album “Beautiful People,” released in November 2019.
Since it’s a song performed by Mr.
Kubota—one of the leading figures in Japanese R&B—it’s quite a formidable opponent for karaoke! First, there’s that bouncy 16th-note groove… and on top of that, the slow-ballad tempo is one of the things Japanese singers tend to struggle with most.
The soft high tones that make skillful use of mixed voice are also a major hurdle when singing.
If you’re going to try it at karaoke, start by making sure the groove doesn’t flatten out, and avoid forcing the high notes with sheer power.
If you’re not comfortable with mixed voice, boldly switching to falsetto is a perfectly valid option!
night after nightKurahashi Yoeko
It starts off fairly high, but in the chorus it goes even higher, making it difficult to stay on pitch.
It’s characterized by somewhat dark lyrics and a strangely catchy melody that sticks in your head, making it highly addictive.
It also drew attention for the high quality of an unofficial fan-made music video.