[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.
- Upbeat, bright songs: a collection of tracks that lift your mood when you listen
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- This is a sure hit! Hype songs men will want to sing as the first track at karaoke
- Karaoke songs everyone can sing: Japanese tracks that are easy to enjoy with a group.
- [I want to sing out loud] Songs that feel great to belt and are fun for karaoke
- [For Men] This song is perfect for hyping up the crowd at karaoke!
- [For Men] Want to Hype Up the Karaoke? A Roundup of Recommended High-Energy J-Pop/Rock
- Get the Laughs! Funny Karaoke Songs That Hype Up the Crowd
- [2026 Edition] Songs You Can Scream at Karaoke: Recommended Japanese Tracks for Blowing Off Steam
- Hype to the max! Party songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- Cool songs that will go over well at karaoke
- [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 (41–50)
SenbonzakuraHowaitoFureimu feat. Hatsune Miku
Even if they don’t know about Vocaloid or Hatsune Miku, there are probably people who still know this song.
With an MV that evokes the Taisho romantic style, lyrics that are provocative yet build a unique worldview, and a melody that brilliantly fuses vivid piano with flashy rock sounds, its charms are countless.
As a karaoke song, it’s easy to sing, cool, and enjoyable for anyone.
Released in 2011, it went on to become a new karaoke staple.
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! Upbeat Japanese Songs (51–60)
Mela!Ryokushokushakai
A song by the rock band Ryokuoushoku Shakai, which is especially popular among younger generations, and also made waves as the CM song for Dariya’s “Palty Coloring Milk.” Just hearing the opening bars makes you want to listen to the whole track—there’s that kind of captivating pull! I think it’s thanks to Haruko Nagaya’s supple vocals and the easy-to-listen-to melody.
When you sing this at karaoke, make sure you practice until you can deliver it smoothly so you don’t end up breaking the catchy, pleasant melodic line by focusing too hard on keeping up with the tempo.
SeventeenYOASOBI
Set to a fast-paced, exhilarating melody, this song depicts a 17-year-old girl’s journey of self-discovery and growth.
Crafted by YOASOBI from a novel by Naoki Prize–winning author Miyuki Miyabe, it’s a richly narrative track released in March 2023.
It skillfully contrasts the protagonist with her counterpart in a parallel world and conveys her yearning to find where she truly belongs.
The song is also included on the EP “Hajimete no – EP” and the album “THE BOOK 3.” Perfect for those who want to fire up a karaoke session or are searching for their true selves.
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!
chantAdo
It’s the official theme song of Universal Studios Japan’s Halloween event—the one that became famous for the zombie dance! It’s an extremely challenging song packed with high-pitched shouts, low, spoken parts, and rap-like sections.
I learned it together with my students during lessons, too! Of course, once you can sing it well, it’s incredibly fun and satisfying! Some of the lyrics use difficult words, so I recommend listening to the original and memorizing them carefully one by one.
The tempo is very fast and you have to keep singing one line after another, but if you push too hard, you can wreck your throat, and if you hold back too much, it loses impact.
If you use your breath well and project your falsetto strongly, you can sing with a cool, powerful tone! Also, since it’s a dance track, once you feel more comfortable, try moving your body or swaying as you sing—you’ll lock into the rhythm, your voice will come out more easily, and it’ll be easier to add accents!
I want to keep smiling.ikimonogakari
It was released in 2011 as Ikimono-gakari’s 20th single.
The song was used in Nissan’s “New Nissan Serena” commercial and was created by combining two originally separate pieces.
It’s an up-tempo track and quite long, running over six minutes.
It’s a grand piece that can bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Stay closest to me.Daikoku Maki
It was released in 1995 as Maki Ohguro’s 11th single.
It’s an upbeat summer song with an impressive samba rhythm.
The track was used in a commercial for Meiji American Chips, and its lyrics are filled with a woman’s feelings toward a man.
I imagine many people can relate to it.