[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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- [2026] The latest Japanese pop songs that liven up parties and performances: surefire crowd favorites
- [2026] Songs with Call-and-Response for Karaoke | Crowd-Pleasers to Get Everyone Hyped
- [2026] Crowd-Pleasing Songs Recommended for People in Their 50s: A Collection of Nostalgic Classics
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- [Easy] A Collection of Party Dances to Liven Up Year-End and New Year Parties
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- [Recommended for women in their 30s] Japanese hit songs that hype up karaoke
For men (21–30)
LemonYonezu Kenshi
A single by Kenshi Yonezu—the new-generation singer-songwriter who has dominated J-pop and enjoyed immense popularity since his days working under the Vocaloid producer name Hachi—this is his eighth major-label release.
Written as the theme song for the TV drama “Unnatural,” its poignant lyrics that evoke parting with a loved one and its superb melody made it one of the defining songs of 2019.
Because it’s a well-known hit, it’s perfect for karaoke at year-end and New Year parties, and since the overall key is low, it’s also easy to sing for men who aren’t comfortable with high-key songs.
However, the high notes in the chorus combine with melodic leaps and are easy to miss, so be sure to focus when singing.
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS
This song, which gained popularity as the theme for the 2016 film Your Name that became a major sensation, is familiar to many since so many people saw the movie and it was widely talked about at the time.
Its upbeat tempo makes it easy to get into, so you can count on it to get the crowd going!
HANABIMr.Children
Mr.Children has long led the J-pop scene and is loved by a wide range of listeners across generations! That’s why their songs are perfect for karaoke at year-end and New Year parties where people of various ages gather.
Among them, this song—which was also the theme for the drama Code Blue: Doctor Heli Emergency Lifesaving—has a relaxed tempo and is easy to sing.
The vocal range should be just within reach for men with a typical voice, so go ahead and give it a try!
Is there still anything that love can do?RADWIMPS
RADWIMPS gained a broader fanbase—not just rock band fans—after being chosen to perform the theme song for Makoto Shinkai’s film Your Name.
Following that, they created this song as the theme for Weathering with You! It drew a lot of attention, so many of you probably know it.
The contrast between the simple melody leading up to the chorus and the grand, beautiful melody of the chorus makes it a dramatic piece.
If you can sing it with a deep, rich voice like Yojiro Noda’s, you’re guaranteed to be a crowd favorite!
Runnerbakufū suranpu
An upbeat tune that lifts your spirits right from the opening guitar riff.
It’s a hit song by Bakufu Slump released in 1988.
Listening to this track makes you want to break into a run! The lyrics, beloved as a classic fight song, and the powerful presence of Mr.
Sunplaza Nakano’s vocals give you strength, too.
This song is moving—capturing the grit of giving your all and the image of passing the baton.
It would be fun to sing it in a relay style at a year-end or New Year’s karaoke party, with everyone taking turns like a relay team!
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka
Year-end and New Year parties bring together people of all ages, so it’s best to choose songs that are as well-known as possible.
In that case, this song is a perfect fit, isn’t it? It’s a song that not only suits the age group of your bosses, but is also well-known among younger generations! Plus, it’s recommended for men who say they can’t sing songs with high keys.
MiracleGReeeeN
GReeeeN’s 7th single, released in May 2008, topped the Oricon Singles Chart as the theme song for the drama ROOKIES and ranked 4th on the 2008 Oricon year-end singles chart.
The lyrics, which straightforwardly depict the love of two people who met as if by a miracle, are striking for their wordplay that calls their encounter a “miracle” while layering it with the “trajectory” of days they’ve walked together.
The melody, woven from a hope-filled message and beautiful harmonies, warms the heart.
Often chosen for special moments like weddings and graduation ceremonies, this song is also perfect for an end-of-year party karaoke session—singing it together could wrap up the year in a warm, uplifting atmosphere.