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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Taking on Challenging Songs at Karaoke! Tracks That’ll Earn You Praise if You Can Pull Them Off (321–330)
Cheer up.Eito
Included on Eito’s first album “Sukkarakan,” released in December 2020.
At first listen it feels laid-back and easy to hum along to, but faithfully capturing the song’s bouncy rhythmic feel while singing is actually quite challenging.
The relaxed mood can be misleading: the melody spans a fairly wide range, and if a sense of strain becomes apparent—especially in the high notes—it can ruin the song’s atmosphere.
It’s important to choose a comfortable key and practice beforehand.
Cherish the calm, easygoing mood when you sing.
And whatever you do, don’t rush the rhythm!
Challenge yourself with tough songs at karaoke! Tracks that will earn you praise if you can pull them off (331–340)
Starry NightYuka
This is singer-songwriter Yuka’s sixth digital single, released in February 2023.
It was selected as the theme song for the TV Asahi drama “A Night When Stars Fall.” It’s a slow-tempo ballad with a very gentle, soothing vocal tone.
As a vocal melody, there aren’t many particularly tricky parts for the average person to sing at karaoke, but faithfully reproducing Yuka’s delivery—resonant across both low and high ranges while never losing softness—seems quite challenging.
Be careful not to strain your throat on the high notes, and make sure to let your chest voice resonate solidly in the low parts when you sing.
Rock ‘n’ roll won’t stop.Shinsei Kamattechan
It’s a song that feels like the vocalist’s emotions are pouring out just as they are.
It was the breakthrough work of the rock band Shinsei Kamattechan and is one of their signature songs.
Rather than aiming for a perfect copy, I recommend singing it the way you feel.
FlamingoYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu’s ninth single, released in March 2018, comes with the background of his past as “Hachi,” a former Vocaloid producer.
As you’d expect from an ex-Vocaloid creator, the melody is quite difficult for a human to sing, and to pull it off in karaoke, the most important thing is to thoroughly understand and memorize the song first.
His actual vocal performance isn’t particularly advanced, so the key requirement is to learn the song well and keep up with the melody and rhythm.
M87Yonezu Kenshi
This is Kenshi Yonezu’s 12th CD single, released in May 2022.
It was written as the theme song for the film Shin Ultraman, which premiered on May 13 of the same year.
It’s a sophisticated pop song that you wouldn’t immediately associate with an Ultraman theme, isn’t it? Yonezu has long been acclaimed for his vocal ability and expressive singing, and the allure of his voice is fully showcased in this track.
His performance—freely moving from a powerful chest voice to a gentle falsetto—is truly remarkable.
The vocal melody itself has some quirks, making it quite a challenge to sing at karaoke, but I encourage you to study the original carefully and give it a try.
Pale BlueYonezu Kenshi
This is Kenshi Yonezu’s 11th single, released on June 16, 2021.
It was selected as the theme song for the TBS Friday drama “Rikokatsu,” and was released digitally ahead of the CD on May 31.
Known for his outstanding vocal ability, Yonezu’s voice and expressive power shine in this track as well.
He freely shifts from gentle, whisper-like singing to powerful high tones, fully conveying the song’s challenging melody.
Since the song begins with advanced mixed voice to falsetto singing, it’s a tough piece that demands full focus from the very start if you try it at karaoke!
canaryYonezu Kenshi
A track from Kenshi Yonezu’s fifth studio album, STRAY SHEEP, released in August 2020.
It’s a very gentle ballad that fully showcases Yonezu’s outstanding vocal ability and expressive power, so singing this at karaoke is likely to be quite challenging.
Beyond accurately tracing the melody, try practicing how to switch skillfully between falsetto and mixed voice in the high sections.