[2026] Classic Karaoke Songs That Liven Up Year-End and New Year Parties
Many of you probably go to karaoke for year-end or New Year parties, right? At company gatherings, there are times when you might struggle with song choices because you’re mindful of your boss or senior colleagues.
You can’t help but be cautious when you think, “What if I kill the mood…?” But if you pick songs that are widely known across ages and genders, or ones that everyone can join in on with choreography or call-and-response, you’ll be fine! Above all, it’s important to choose songs that everyone can enjoy together.
In this article, we’ll introduce foolproof karaoke songs for year-end and New Year parties—ranging from popular tracks that hit those key points, to the latest hits that drew attention this year, all carefully selected by our editorial team.
Be sure to use it as a reference!
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- [Recommended for women in their 30s] Japanese hit songs that hype up karaoke
For men (61–70)
Kiyoshi’s Zundoko SongHikawa Kiyoshi
It’s really tough to decide which approach to take to hype everyone up at a year-end party when most attendees are your seniors, isn’t it? In times like that, Kiyoshi Hikawa’s “Kiyoshi no Zundoko Bushi” is your best bet! Especially if you’re younger, go for a more old-school pick to get some laughs.
It’s familiar across generations, and it’s easy for listeners to chime in with call-and-response, which helps warm up the atmosphere.
If you want surreal laughs, try dancing full throttle with a straight face.
It could go either way, but you’ll definitely leave a strong impression!
For men (71–80)
horizonback number
This song is perfect for those who want a piece that really showcases vocal power—one that captivates listeners.
Back number’s “Suiheisen” (Horizon) is a message song created for high school students whose Inter-High Championships were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many people felt like nothing was going right and they couldn’t move as they wished.
It might be nice to sing this for those people.
And of course, you could sing it for yourself too, as a way to say, “I worked hard this year.”
wishsumika
Released in 2019, the song “Negai” was written specifically as the theme song for the hit drama Ossan’s Love -in the sky-.
It’s a track that really grabs you, with a melody that heightens the poignant, emotionally resonant lyrics—one of sumika’s signatures.
The lyrics evoke a wintry atmosphere, making it a perfect karaoke choice for year-end and New Year parties.
The first-person pronoun is “watashi,” which gives the song a female perspective when you listen, and its straightforward feelings about an unrequited love make it a tear-jerker.
SaraiKayama Yūzō & Tanimura Shinji
Released in 1992, this song is a gem of a masterpiece woven by Yuzo Kayama and Shinji Tanimura.
With lyrics themed around a “hometown of the heart,” it sings of distant homelands and cherished loved ones, resonating deeply with many.
It was created as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “24-Hour Television: Love Saves the Earth,” and has since continued to be traditionally performed during the program’s ending.
With its moving melody and lyrics, it’s perfect for farewells such as graduations or job transfers.
It’s also sure to unite participants and move hearts at year-end and New Year gatherings.
TRUE LOVEFujii Fumiya
Despite being a mellow ballad, this song has cemented its place as a karaoke staple.
Since you’re at it, don’t be shy—go all in with your best impression.
It’s guaranteed to hype up the room, and the “that felt pretty good” vibe you get afterward is a rare aftertaste other songs don’t quite offer.
Its surprisingly short length, given the image it has, also makes it perfect for karaoke.
WOW WOR TONIGHT ~Sometimes Start a Movement~H Jungle with T
A classic karaoke song guaranteed to get a big crowd going.
It’s the well-known 1995 mega-hit created through the collaboration of Masatoshi Hamada from Downtown and music producer Tetsuya Komuro.
It starts with a laid-back reggae-style groove, then gradually builds into a more rousing rhythm before exploding at the chorus—almost as if it’s designed to pull everyone in and hype up the room.
It’s an uplifting anthem that says, “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine,” a sing-along number that lets you feel a sense of unity with coworkers and friends.
Heroineback number
This is the 11th single by the three-piece rock band back number, whose bittersweet lyrics and vocals create a perfect atmosphere for the colder seasons.
The song was used in JR East’s “JR SKISKI” commercial and Kirin’s “Green Label” commercial.
With lyrics and a melody that evoke falling snow, it’s a love song that really hits home.
It’s also a great choice for karaoke at year-end or New Year’s parties in the heart of winter.
The overall key isn’t very high, so it’s easy to sing, but we recommend practicing thoroughly before performing so you can nail the band’s trademark, striking falsetto without going off pitch.
