Overwhelm with vocal sustain! Songs with long tones that make you want to sing them at karaoke
Ever find yourself thinking, “I want to belt it out and feel amazing at karaoke!” or “How do they sustain their voice like that for so long?” Long tones—sustaining your breath while letting your voice resonate beautifully—are one of the elements that can seriously elevate how a song is received.
If you want to refine your expressiveness or sing with emotion and feel great doing it, you’re probably looking for songs that feature long tones and are perfect for practice.
Here are some songs where long tones really stand out—ones that will make you want to sing along.
Overwhelm them with vocal sustain! Long-tone songs you'll want to sing at karaoke (1–10)
I am the strongest.NEW!Ado
This is a song from the film One Piece Film: Red, written, composed, and arranged by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Released digitally in June 2022 as performed by Ado in character as Uta, it’s an insert song characterized by confidently powerful lyrics and a refreshing pop sound.
The sustained notes in the chorus really shine, and if you can lock in the pitch, the extended note at the end of the bridge should feel great to sing.
Parts that are sung in falsetto can feel even better if you can hit them in chest voice, so chest-voice singing is recommended.
CallingNEW!B’z
A 1997 single that served as the theme song for the drama Glass Mask starring Yumi Adachi.
It was a million-seller and a masterpiece that took over seven months to produce, fusing two different styles: ballad and rock.
The sustained notes in the rock part are really cool and memorable.
Inaba’s ability to switch between ballad and rock is incredibly impressive, so I think it’s a song that would really liven up a karaoke session.
When you sing it, keep your core engaged and focus on diaphragmatic breathing so your voice doesn’t waver, and project straight.
For the high notes, belting them out will definitely make it feel great to sing.
Crimson Lotus FlowerNEW!LiSA
The opening theme of the TV anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc, with lyrics written by LiSA herself.
It’s a rock number that conveys both strength and poignancy.
Since many people know the song, it’s sure to get the crowd going at karaoke—highly recommended.
The key long-tone showcase is the expansive chest voice in the chorus.
If you cut this short, it loses impact, so focus on diaphragmatic breathing and sustain it firmly to the end.
If you project your voice as if aiming into the distance, you’ll find it feels great to sing.
An endlessly continuing storyNEW!MISIA
This is a grand ballad created as NHK’s theme song for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, singing of a wish for peace and the strength to face adversity.
Composed by Toshiaki Matsumoto and arranged by Takayuki Hattori, it features a rich, full-orchestra sound and MISIA’s overwhelming vocal prowess.
Speaking of MISIA, her stunning vocal sustain is iconic.
In “Hatenaku Tsuzuku Story,” the chorus contains many long tones, so singing it in chest voice feels great and is sure to overwhelm listeners.
Make skillful use of your head voice as well to deliver the song effectively.
365 daysNEW!Mr.Children
A gem of a love song included on the 16th album “SENSE,” released in December 2010.
It portrays the bittersweet yet strong feeling of thinking about someone, and it also garnered attention as the theme song for NTT East and West commercials.
Spanning over five and a half minutes, it’s a grand, beautiful ballad full of love, and Sakurai’s signature long tones are wonderfully soothing to listen to.
The overall vocal range is A#2–C5, rising toward the chorus, with a distinctive long tone before the chorus and a raspy voice in the chorus itself.
Sing in a relaxed manner to avoid unnecessary tension.
About meNEW!Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Released as a single on January 9, 2019, this is a hymn to life written as the support song for the 97th All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.
It’s a grand ballad themed around self-affirmation that embraces realities like setbacks and efforts that don’t always pay off.
The song is generally high and might be challenging for many singers, but once you master falsetto, you’ll be fine.
As you sing it more often, your falsetto will grow stronger, so I encourage you to try it repeatedly.
The image is to sing your heart out as if you’re “delivering this song” in a wide-open space—your voice will soar more freely, which I highly recommend.
If you use your breath well and sing with sustained lines, it matches the song’s atmosphere and feels good for listeners too.
Clock StrikesNEW!ONE OK ROCK
A representative, fast-paced rock number included on their sixth album, “Jinsei x Boku =,” released on March 6, 2013.
It boasts high popularity, with its music video surpassing 100 million views, and is characterized by lyrics that blend poignancy and positivity along with a piano melody.
Early ONE OK ROCK songs feature many Japanese lyrics, so they’re recommended even for those who aren’t comfortable with English.
The long-tone highlights of this song are right before the final chorus and in the final chorus itself.
Be sure to watch the live performance on YouTube! Since Taka’s chest voice is very solid, try placing a hand on your chest and singing while feeling the resonance there.