Great for karaoke too! Jazz classics you’ll want to sing at least once
Listening to jazz is great, but singing it… that’s a bit much.
I bet quite a few people feel that way, right?
Jazz has a reputation for being a high hurdle, but among all music genres, it’s actually one of the easiest to sing.
Here’s why!
Jazz generally has slower tempos, which makes it easier to add your own arrangements.
That’s why it’s beginner-friendly to sing!
This time, I’ve picked out songs you might want to try at karaoke and songs you might want to sing at a jazz bar.
There are some lesser-known tracks in the mix too, so it’s also great for anyone looking to discover good songs!
Also great for karaoke! Jazz classics you’ll want to sing at least once (1–10)
What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
This song, which has been used for many years in numerous commercials and TV programs in Japan and is familiar to many, was composed by Louis Armstrong, with lyrics by G.
Douglas and George David Weiss, who mourned the Vietnam War and longed for a peaceful world.
Precisely because the times are so difficult, this song may resonate deeply with listeners.
As a slow-tempo ballad, the lyrics move at an easy pace, making it a song that’s singable even for those not accustomed to English.
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home ToHelen Merrill
“You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To,” which was also a big hit in Japan as a commercial song.
It was written by Cole Porter, who composed many jazz standards, and Helen Merrill’s version is especially famous.
I imagine many people are fond of the intro in this arrangement.
My Funny ValentineElla Fitzgerald
Here’s a minor-key ballad from 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart that suits Japanese tastes.
The lyrics tell a pure love story: my beloved Valentine isn’t pretty and isn’t smart, but I want her just the way she is.
Both the melody and the lyrical flow are slow, making it an easy song to try.
Somewhere Over The RainbowRay Charles
Here is a song written for the 1939 musical film The Wizard of Oz.
Winner of the 1939 Academy Award for Best Original Song, it’s one of those tunes that even Japanese people unfamiliar with jazz will likely recognize and find easy to hum.
Judy Garland’s original version is wonderful, of course, but Ray Charles’s warm, embracing rendition is also outstanding.
It’s well received by listeners and is a song I can recommend to both men and women.
L-O-V-ENat King Cole
In addition to being well known as a jazz standard, this song has also been used in TV commercials, so many of you have probably heard it.
It’s a heartwarming song about love, and for those who aren’t comfortable with English, there’s also a Japanese version sung by Nat King Cole, so feel free to use that as a reference.