Karaoke songs to sing in January: classic and popular tracks to hype up the party
When you’re unsure where to go during the New Year holidays—after a New Year’s party with family and relatives, or with friends and coworkers—you might end up going to karaoke, right? Here are some perfect songs for the season: New Year-themed tracks and winter songs we’d love for you to sing at those gatherings! From bittersweet winter ballads to songs themed around “beginnings,” we’ve picked a wide range of popular tunes spanning the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras.
Even if you don’t usually go to karaoke but have plans to tag along for social reasons, feel free to use this as a reference!
Karaoke songs you’ll want to sing in January: classic crowd‑pleasers and popular hits (1–10)
Trending and classic winter songs!
Alright, let’s jump right into introducing songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke in January! First, we’ll present 20 carefully selected recommendations picked by our editorial team from a wide range of popular tracks. Starting with buzzworthy and classic winter songs, we also recommend tracks that everyone can get hyped about together during this season. We’ve handpicked songs perfect for January karaoke, so if you’re unsure, try choosing from this list!
SHOW-GUTSOmede-tai atama de nani yori
Brimming with humor, this track gives a playful push to those spending New Year’s lazing around at home.
It’s one of the title songs from the double A-side single “SHOW-GUTS / Daruma-san wa Korobanai” released on January 1, 2017.
The lyrics—urging listeners to spend the first three days of the year with more spirit instead of lounging under the kotatsu eating mandarins—make you laugh while giving you a boost of energy.
Featuring witty lines that riff on traditional New Year’s shrine-visit etiquette and an intense loud-rock sound, it was also chosen as the opening theme for TV Kanagawa’s music program “Ongaku-kan” in January 2018.
It’s the perfect song for anyone who wants to kick off the New Year with rock-fueled excitement or wow the crowd at karaoke!
Happy Happy GreetingKinKi Kids
This is a single by KinKi Kids released in 1998 that heightens the festive New Year mood.
Created by two iconic J-pop writers, Takashi Matsumoto and Tatsuro Yamashita, it’s a celebratory song packed with occasions throughout the year—New Year’s, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and more.
Its dazzling arrangement, featuring Japanese taiko drums and harp, along with chorus vocals by Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi, amplifies the feeling of celebration.
Sing it at year-end and New Year gatherings with family and friends, and you’re sure to ring in the start of a new year together!
last year, this yearandāgurafu
It’s a heartwarming song by Under Graph that, when sung at a New Year’s gathering, lets everyone present exchange smiles and greetings for the year ahead.
The lyrics carry the year-end atmosphere and the anticipation for a new beginning, with a chorus that rings out like a New Year’s greeting itself.
With Japanese tones and a gentle melody, it vividly portrays quintessential New Year scenes—going back to one’s hometown and reuniting with old friends.
Released in December 2012, the song was included on the following year’s album “7 + one ~Oto no Irodori~.” Sing it at karaoke, and you’re sure to create a special moment where everyone prays together for happiness in the year to come.
this winterMakihara Noriyuki
Noriyuki Makihara’s serene ballad depicting winter gently weaves in the season’s atmosphere alongside the quiet happiness of everyday life.
Through distinctly wintry visual motifs—like the cold and white breaths—you feel a tender gaze that contemplates the closeness of lovers and the accumulation of time, which truly resonates.
Included on the album “PHARMACY,” released in October 1994, and later selected for the 1997 best-of compilation “SMILING II ~THE BEST OF NORIYUKI MAKIHARA~,” the song may not be flashy, but it has long been cherished as a beloved winter staple.
It’s the kind of track you’ll want to play softly on a quiet night before the New Year, while spending time with someone special.
Mochi GirlGesu no Kiwami Otome.
With sprightly guitars, tight drums, razor-edged synthesizers, and Enon Kawatani’s soaring high vocals darting every which way, this track appears on the 2013 mini-album “If You Can’t Dance, Then Become Vile.” Using mochi—an iconic New Year’s ingredient—as its motif, it spins out archaic diction and wildly imaginative metaphors.
It’s a quintessential Gesu no Kiwami Otome song that shines with a blend of comedy and sophisticated linguistic flair—perfect for anyone looking to liven up the mood with a distinctive number!
BetelgeuseYuuri
A straightforward rock ballad that invites you to reflect on the bonds you share with someone important.
Released by Yuuri in November 2021, this song was created as the theme for Fuji TV’s Thursday drama “SUPER RICH.” It overlays “me” and “you” onto the stars of Orion twinkling in the night sky, powerfully singing about a relationship where both support each other even when apart.
With a wide vocal range, it’s a song that’s truly satisfying to sing—and if you give it your all, it’s sure to kick off the New Year with a bang!
snow jamRin Oto
This is a work by Rin-ne, a rapper from Fukuoka Prefecture.
It’s a winter song that became a massive hit through word of mouth on social media and is included on his first album, “swipe sheep.” It peaked at No.
20 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and its streams have surpassed 100 million.
The lyrics, written in down-to-earth language, feel familiar, and the smooth flow makes the track especially pleasant.
Why not draw on the power of this song to set a wintry mood at karaoke?