[Karaoke] Guaranteed to get the crowd going! A collection of up-tempo Japanese songs
There are plenty of chances to go to karaoke with school friends or coworkers, right?
What often trips people up at times like that is, of course, picking songs.
A lot of people probably feel like, “If I’m going to sing, I want a crowd-pleaser, but I don’t know what to choose.”
There are all kinds of hype songs, but in this article we’ll focus on up-tempo tracks and recommend lots of great picks!
They’re all guaranteed crowd-pleasers for karaoke, so if you’re ever stuck choosing, definitely use this as a reference.
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- [For Women] Easy-to-Sing and Crowd-Pleasing Karaoke Songs
- Recommended for high school students! Fun, crowd-pleasing songs for karaoke
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Upbeat J-Pop Songs (71–80)
NostalgiaAikawa Nanase
It was released in 1998 as Nanase Aikawa’s 10th single.
The song was used in the Hitachi Maxell “Maxell MD” commercial and became a hit, selling over 200,000 copies.
The lyrics were written by Nanase Aikawa and Tetsuro Oda, with composition and arrangement by Tetsuro Oda, resulting in an up-tempo rock number characteristic of her style.
MintAmuro Namie
Released in 2016 as Namie Amuro’s 44th single.
The song was used as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Boku no Yabai Tsuma,” starring Hideaki Ito, and it reached No.
4 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s a dance-rock number featuring cool vocals that deliver provocative lyrics with striking impact.
School HeavenKoizumi Kyoko
Originally a song by Finger 5, it became a big hit when Kyoko Koizumi covered it.
It’s an upbeat track with call-and-response parts with the vocalist, so everyone can get excited together.
It’s well-known across a wide range of ages, so anyone can enjoy singing it.
Driver’s HighL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
L’Arc-en-Ciel, who also made headlines with their 30th-anniversary live show in 2022, are known for producing many high-tempo tracks.
Among them, one particularly exhilarating song is “Driver’s High.” It captures the feeling of getting pumped up while driving.
With its classic rock melody, it’s sure to liven up the crowd when you sing it.
The vocals by hyde feature plenty of signature techniques like kobushi (vocal trills) and shakuri (slide-ins), so try to consciously imitate them.
XOXORepezen Foxx & SPRITE
A song everyone can vibe to while swaying together is Repezen Foxx’s collaboration with Thai rapper SPRITE, “XOXO.” Its high-energy message riding over an Asian-flavored melody really draws listeners in.
It’s got a slightly mysterious vibe, yet the more you listen, the more addictive it becomes.
There’s even some Thai in the lyrics—just what you’d expect from such a global act! Don’t be intimidated by the Thai; trust the groove and momentum, and sing it all the way through with confidence!
I am a HEROFukuyama Masaharu
Released in 2015 as Masaharu Fukuyama’s 31st single.
It was selected as the theme song for the second season of the Nippon TV Wednesday drama “Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out,” and debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
It’s an uptempo masterpiece whose lyrics express the desire to become the person you want to be.
READY STEADY GOL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
If you’re not confident singing at karaoke, why not try “READY STEADY GO”? It’s a song by the rock band L’Arc~en~Ciel, also known for being used as the opening theme of the anime Fullmetal Alchemist.
Although the vocalist hyde often sings high notes even in up-tempo songs, “READY STEADY GO” is sung in a low register throughout.
So even those who can’t use falsetto can feel at ease.