A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
When you go to karaoke with people from the same generation—like at class reunions, year-end parties, or New Year’s gatherings—nothing gets the energy up like nostalgic hits! The real charm of these retro tunes is that only those who lived through the same era can sing and listen while reminiscing about those days.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected hit songs from the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s—tracks that were beloved back then and are still cherished by many today.
Use this as a guide when choosing songs for karaoke with friends from your generation!
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1970s–1980s (31–40)
Broken-winged angelNakamura Ayumi
Ayumi Nakamura is known for her powerful husky voice.
Her signature song “Tsubasa no Oreta Angel” (Broken-Winged Angel), released in 1985, remains highly popular today.
Its blend of a powerful melody and delicate lyrics beautifully captures a teenage girl’s journey toward adulthood.
Aoba Castle Love Songsatou muneyuki
This is the debut single by Muneyuki Sato, released in 1978.
The lyrics evoke the scenery and scenes of his hometown, Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture, and over time the song has come to be regarded as a song of Sendai itself.
It’s said that the phrase “Mori no Miyako” (City of Trees) gained nationwide recognition thanks to this song.
In Sendai, it has become a beloved classic, used as the train departure melody and as a cheer song for the Rakuten baseball team.
Midnight DoorMatsubara Miki
Miki Matsubara’s “Mayonaka no Door — Stay With Me” is a song that regained the spotlight as Japanese city pop, especially gaining popularity overseas.
Released in 1979 as her debut single, it was composed by Tetsuji Hayashi, a prolific songwriter behind many hits.
Its 16-beat guitar cutting creates a pleasant groove, making it easy to see why it became a hit in the club scene.
It’s a classic well known among younger generations too, so give it a try at karaoke!
Words of FarewellKaientai
This is the 16th single by Kaientai, a three-member folk group centered around Tetsuya Takeda, who continues to be active across a wide range of fields including dramas and variety shows.
It’s also known as the theme song for the TV drama “Mr.
Kinpachi in Class 3B,” which became a social phenomenon, and has long been sung as a classic graduation song.
Its beautiful melody, tinged with melancholy yet distinctly pop, is soothing to the heart no matter the era.
It’s a quintessential hit of the 1980s that’s guaranteed to liven up karaoke sessions with members of any generation.
applausechiaki naomi
This is an award-winning song from the 1972 Japan Record Awards and one of Naomi Chiaki’s signature numbers.
The lyrics, written from the perspective of someone mourning a deceased lover, are heartrending and captured the hearts of many fans at the time.
Its richly atmospheric, quintessentially Showa-era accompaniment pairs perfectly with Chiaki’s expansive, deeply resonant vocals.
Hugely popular at karaoke as well, this song can make you feel as if you’ve traveled back to the moment it was released.
