[Long Songs] Songs over 6 minutes long that you want to sing at karaoke

Messenger from Sunday↑THE HIGH-LOWS↓

Messenger From Sunday by THE HIGH-LOWS

This is a signature song by THE HIGH-LOWS, where a rock sound and heartwarming lyrics are perfectly matched.

Featured on their October 1995 album “THE HIGH-LOWS,” the track gained attention as the ending theme for the TV show “Downtown no Gotsu Ee Kanji” and as the theme song for the 2004 film “Zebraman.” The protagonist’s resolve to live with humor and kindness, without hurting others, makes it universally relatable and deeply appealing.

With a lively rhythm and friendly melody that make its roughly six-minute runtime feel short, it’s a song you can relax and enjoy even at karaoke—a tune you’ll want to sing to your heart’s content with good friends.

19 or 20yurayura teikoku

19 or 20

How about immersing yourself in a surreal, ecstatic world of rock? This is a track by Yura Yura Teikoku, a band that stood out in Japan’s rock scene.

It’s included on the album “Me no Car,” released in June 1999.

Though it runs for about seven minutes, its sticky groove and distorted guitar tones gradually pull you into a singular sonic space.

The lyrics, strung together with suggestive numbers, are highly mysterious and fire the imagination.

While it was never released as a single, it remains a fan favorite.

It’s perfect for sharing a deep, heady vibe with close friends or belting out alone in total immersion.

Give yourself over to the sound of the words and the groove, and your karaoke room might just transform into another dimension.

In a corner of Asiayoshida takurou

In a corner of Asia

It’s a more-than-12-minute epic by Takuro Yoshida, one of Japan’s quintessential folk singers.

One notable point is that only live recordings exist—most famously from his 1980 concert at the Nippon Budokan.

The sound has a dark atmosphere that seems to express sorrow and suffering, which in turn heightens the message of the lyrics.

The words embody the core of folk music: feelings of rebellion and discontent voiced by the powerless.

The dynamic, tempo-shifting vocal delivery is key, conveying a song in which emotions move and evolve in many directions.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Captain of the ShipNagabuchi Tsuyoshi

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi Captain of the Ship ① All Night Live in Sakurajima

Here’s one I want you to tackle with full spirit and pour your soul into.

It’s a song by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, a singer-songwriter from Kagoshima, and the title track of his 14th album released in 1993.

The vocals, sound, and lyrics hurl fighting spirit right at you, setting your heart ablaze.

It runs over 13 minutes, but perhaps because of its sheer intensity, it strangely feels short.

When Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi fans get together, karaoke practically turns into a live concert!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Araki Jakkan

Report a problem

The Lion Standing in the Windsadamasashi

The Lion Standing in the Wind

Here’s one you’ll want to sing as if telling a story, while feeling the vast African land beneath your feet.

It’s a song by Masashi Sada, a singer-songwriter from Nagasaki Prefecture, included on his album “Yume Kaikisen,” released in July 1987.

Framed as a letter from a doctor fighting on the medical front lines in Kenya to his lover in Japan, this is a grand-scale number.

It reportedly took about 15 years to complete.

Though it runs over eight minutes, the soaring climax is overwhelming and draws you in so completely you forget the length.

In 2015, it was adapted into a film starring Takao Osawa, and the song was used as the theme.

With its weighty theme that asks us to consider the preciousness of life, it’s perfect for moments when you want to deliver a heartfelt, gentle performance.

And it’s also a great choice to sing when you want to spur yourself on!

Epic Kayō-Rōkyoku ‘Okita Sōji’tatsumi yūto

Yuto Tatsumi “Epic Kayō Rōkyoku ‘Okita Sōji’” Lyric Video

This is a long-form kayō-rōkyoku epic that depicts the life of Okita Sōji, the Shinsengumi’s genius swordsman, on a grand scale running over 11 minutes.

It’s included as the coupling track on Type A of the single “Setsugetsuka,” released in January 2022.

The lyrics and music are by Minami Miyuki, the eldest daughter of Haruo Minami, and the structure—where singing, narration, and spoken lines blend into one to unfold the story—is nothing short of stunning.

From the fierce battle of the Ikedaya Incident to the fragility of his decline from illness, you’re drawn into a dramatic world that feels like watching a full-fledged period drama.

Frequently featured as a key piece in concerts, this work is recommended not only for enka fans but also for history enthusiasts.

Why not become the tale’s storyteller yourself and deliver it with passion at just the right moment?

AirHomecomings

Air

A Homecomings track that closes out the album “see you, frail angel.

sea adore you.” released in November 2024, running over seven minutes.

Now a trio following their drummer’s departure, they craft delicate, beautiful dream pop.

Quiet scenes on rainy days and a tender longing for moments that will never return resonate atop an expansive sound that weaves in strings.

As the finale to an album that includes the theme song for the film “Crescent Moon and Cat,” it carries a warmth that gently affirms your past self and your memories.

If you sing it at karaoke, it’s perfect for the end of a fun gathering or when you want to take your time and pour your feelings into it alone.

Let your heart’s tremors ride the music, and sing it at an unhurried pace.