[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! Upbeat Japanese Songs (51–60)
Good luck!Utakata Pātīzu
It has a somewhat anime-like vibe, with a refreshing, easy-to-listen phrase that sticks in your head! The tempo is relatively fast, so it might be best to start by memorizing the melody.
When it’s time to sing, as long as you ride the groove properly, you’ll be set! The melody is quite straightforward, so you should get used to the song quickly.
There’s call-and-response in the A section, so if you look at the lyrics from the beginning, you should be able to learn it without getting confused.
Also, for the high notes in the chorus, rather than belting, sing lightly to match the song’s feel—aim to relax while keeping the rhythm with your body.
Since it’s an idol-style song, lifting your facial muscles into a smile will help you relax on its own.
After that, try singing without forcing it, imagining your voice lightly placed forward, around the area in front of your eyebrows!
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.
Go your wayRyokushokushakai
The song everyone can sing together and get pumped up with is Ryokuoushoku Shakai’s “Michi wo Yuke.” Released in 2022, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama First Penguin!.
Its lyrics encourage those about to take a step forward, saying, “Even if the road ahead is uncertain, go freely the way you believe!” Why not sing it out energetically with the feelings of “Let’s do our best again tomorrow!” and “Let’s live true to ourselves!” in your heart?
[Karaoke] Guaranteed to Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Up-Tempo Japanese Songs (61–70)
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.
VALENTIBoA
The singer BoA is from South Korea.
When it comes to her signature songs, “Valenti” comes to mind, right? It’s a track that portrays a cool, confident woman, so singing it can hype up the crowd while giving off a stylish impression.
There are lots of scatted parts, which makes it really enjoyable to sing—another great point.
By the way, while many people are familiar with the Japanese version, there’s actually a Korean version as well.
If you’re a K-pop fan, why not give that one a try?
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!