Sad songs I want to sing at karaoke

balladKetsumeishi

Ketsumeishi “Ballad”

A love ballad from Ketsumeishi that offers a different flavor from their usual cheerful image.

It’s a tear-jerker that gently yet poignantly sings of unfulfilled feelings for someone special, carried by a tender, aching melody.

With rap kept to a minimum and piano and strings that seep into the heart, this piece also surprised longtime fans as a bold departure.

Released in January 2011 as one half of a double A-side single and included on the classic album Ketsunopolis 7, it was also used as the theme song for Nippon TV’s information program Sukkiri!!.

If you sing it softly at karaoke—where upbeat tracks usually steal the show—its contrast will draw everyone in.

Why not showcase a new side of yourself with this hidden gem?

wedgeOku Hanako

Kusabi (Wedge) by Hanako Oku

A signature ballad by Hanako Oku that depicts undying feelings for someone you can’t forget.

The delicate piano tones express the unfillable hollow and sense of loss after parting from a lover.

Hanako Oku’s crystal-clear voice gently sinks into the heart, doesn’t it? Sung since her indie days, this piece was released as a 10th-anniversary single in July 2015 and is also included on the album Prism.

Despite having no tie-ins, it resonated online and became a hidden gem, amassing a total of 15 million video views.

It’s a heartbreak song, but perfect for creating a moving, mellow atmosphere.

With few key changes and easy emotional delivery, why not choose it as a song to touch the heart of someone you care about?

Blue amberback number

back number – Blue Amber [Theme song for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV Monday 10 p.m. drama 'From the Day I Took You']

This back number song gives you such an indescribable feeling, doesn’t it? I think Iyori Shimizu is a genius at creating a sense of heartbreak.

The harmonies in this track are mostly in the chorus.

It’s basically an upper harmony, but the way the ends of phrases drop an octave and other clever choices in the harmonizing really amplify the bittersweet vibe.

In the final chorus, there’s a key change and the pitch goes up, so I think it’s good to sing a bit louder in falsetto so you don’t get overshadowed by the lead vocal.

A lot of people sing back number, so be sure to add these harmonies to your repertoire!

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Kubota Mami

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Lovers AgainEXILE

EXILE / Lovers Again (Short Ver.)

It was EXILE’s 22nd single, released in 2007.

The song was used in the KDDI “au × EXILE Chapter 2 Campaign” commercial.

The lyrics, which lay bare a man’s lingering feelings after letting go of love and reveal his vulnerable side, bring out a new appeal in EXILE.

Song for…HY

Song for…

This song is included on HY’s third album after their indie debut, TRUNK, which was released in 2004.

It reached No.

1 on the Oricon album chart and helped make HY widely known.

The lyrics poignantly express the heartache of a long-distance relationship where the couple can hardly meet.

I long to see you now.MISIA

MISIA – Aitakute Ima (Official HD Music Video)

Released as MISIA’s 23rd single, this masterpiece ballad became a major hit as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama series “JIN.” The time and distance of not being able to meet overflow with emotions like anxiety, loneliness, and sadness.

Precisely because the desire to see the person is so pure, the inability to meet makes this a sorrowful song.

MPRINCESS PRINCESS

M – PRINCESS PRINCESS (Princess Princess) (Full)

It was released in 1989 as the B-side to Princess Princess’s seventh single, “Diamonds.” The lyrics, written by band member Kyoko Tomita, reflect her heartbreak after breaking up with a man whose name began with the initial “M.” It is celebrated as a classic that has been covered by many artists.