[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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[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Upbeat J-Pop Songs (71–80)
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.
Utakata LullabyAdo
It’s one of the insert songs from the movie ONE PIECE FILM RED and the only rap track! When I first heard “Utakata Lullaby,” I was shocked, like, “Can a human even sing this?” But thinking about it now, since the song was provided by FAKE TYPE., it all makes sense—“So that’s why it’s so rap-heavy!” The songs from the ONE PIECE FILM RED series are insanely popular, and I’ve taught them many times in lessons! Especially this “Utakata Lullaby”—we looked over the lyrics again and again and discussed with students which parts are actually sung and which aren’t.
There are tons of ultra-fast rap sections, and if you listen closely, there are places where there are lyrics but they’re not actually sung.
Once you notice that, you can lock into the rhythm, making it easier and more fun to sing! If you tried before and gave up, give it another shot!
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Up-Tempo Japanese Songs (81–90)
TemptationGLAY
Released in 1998 as GLAY’s 13th single.
Used as the campaign song for the “TDK MiniDisc XA Series,” it became a million seller and ranked No.
1 on Oricon’s annual singles chart for 1998.
With its cool rock sound, it’s a track you can really get into—so turn it up and enjoy.
NO MONEY DANCEYabai T-shatsu Yasan
Even when your wallet’s feeling tight, this track will get your body moving before you know it! It’s a super upbeat song by Yabai T-Shirts Yasan, with lyrics that are a raw cry of “I want money,” delivered over an insanely catchy rock sound—honestly, it’s the best.
It’s included on the album “You need the Tank-top,” released in September 2020.
Perfect for those times when you’re broke but still want to get hyped at karaoke!
LikeOCTPATH
“Like” is an upbeat yet stylish track.
It’s performed by the boys group OCTPATH, who also drew a lot of attention from the audition show that led to their formation.
The lyrics carry a message of having fun and getting hyped, making it perfect for karaoke.
There’s a high proportion of English in the lyrics, and there’s also a rap section, so be sure to check your pronunciation carefully.
Also, the striking vibrato at the very end is the biggest highlight, so make sure to practice that part too.
Charlesbarūn
When asked to name a famous Vocaloid song, many people would probably mention “Charles.” That’s how widely this track is loved—not just by VOCALOID fans, but by younger generations, too! It’s also hugely popular as a karaoke song, and there are likely many people for whom hearing “Charles” instantly gets the crowd hyped.
As a Vocaloid song, it’s relatively easy to sing, making it a great pick for first-time Vocaloid performers.
Women might find it easiest to practice with the original video, while men could get a better feel by practicing with Balloon’s self-cover video.
