Songs men like. Classic and popular Japanese songs.
It’s packed with songs that were used in dramas and anime!
There are also tracks from those dramas you admired back in the day and the anime and movies you were hooked on.
I think many of these are staple choices for men’s karaoke, so why not give them a look?
Songs Men Like: Classic and Popular Japanese Tracks (1–10)
Lovers AgainNEW!EXILE
A mid-tempo ballad by EXILE that sings of winter scenery and the bittersweet feelings toward a former lover.
The world the song paints—expressing a man’s wavering emotions—is truly wonderful, isn’t it? Released in January 2007 as their 22nd single, this track often appears in surveys targeted at women as a song they’d like men to sing.
The original key is a bit high, so the key point is to deliver it gently at a comfortable range.
As a first-rate ballad that’s hugely popular with women, it might just capture the heart of that special someone you’ve been thinking about!
What is emotion?NEW!This is LAST
A song that captures women’s hearts, filled with the loneliness of a love that has ended and the complex feelings of wishing happiness for the other person.
Released in March 2023, it was later included on the album “HOME.” It’s also known as a number by This is LAST, featured as an insert song in ABEMA’s “Hanataba to Ōkami-chan ni wa Damasarenai.” With its relaxed tempo, the track resonates deeply in the chest, making you empathize with its bittersweet romance.
This work is packed with a kind of sorrow everyone has felt before.
If you’re a guy going to karaoke with the woman you like, why not take the plunge and sing it?
loveNEW!back number
This is a song by the rock band back number, loved for its heartrending, relatable lyrics and friendly, expansive melody lines.
The lyrics reflect the bittersweet feeling of the end of student life and a straightforward, hidden affection.
Even with low self-esteem, you can’t help looking for the one you like… it’s the kind of content that makes your heart skip a beat.
Released in March 2012, the song was used as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Music-ru TV” that same month, and it’s also included on the classic album “blues.” If you sing it at karaoke, even a man who doesn’t usually voice his feelings might be able to subtly convey them to the woman he likes.
wrinkle alignmentNEW!Vaundy
A number whose warm message, affirming life’s confusion and pain, resonates with the heart.
Delivered by Vaundy, this work was released in April 2021 and was featured as the TV commercial song for Shuto Medical College, Osaka Medical College, and Nagoya Medical College.
It was later included on the album “replica” and has garnered enthusiastic support from fans.
If you’re a man planning to go to karaoke with the woman you’re interested in, why not give it a try? You’ll need to pay attention to tempo and pitch, but if you sing it with a natural vibe, she’s sure to be captivated! Your honest feelings might come across as well.
It’s love.V6
A poppy, refreshing love song that represents V6 in 1997—and I just learned this myself—the composer is Koji Tamaki.
The overall vocal range is wide and high, from D#3 to D#5, and both the intensity and the range build steadily toward the latter half.
Because the tempo feels good, you’ll need to project your voice while staying in the groove.
As you approach the high notes before the chorus, keep a tight, small body rhythm to line up your timing, use your body to add momentum, and accent the phrase.
Be careful not to tense up on the “n” sound in the song title; focus on carrying it with your breath and try singing with that in mind!
astronomical observationBUMP OF CHICKEN
BUMP OF CHICKEN is a four-member rock band formed in Chiba in 1996.
They made their major-label debut on TOY’S FACTORY with their first single, “Diamond,” and scored a mega-hit in 2002 with “Tentai Kansoku” (Stargazing).
They remain highly active today.
Line up before loveOfisharu Higedan Dism
Released on April 22, 2015, “Koi no Maenarai” is a representative early track.
It’s a refreshing pop-rock tune with both lightness and warmth, and its march-like rhythm makes it very easy to get into! In their early days, HIGE DAN didn’t stack tons of high notes, and the keys are set in a range that’s relatively singable for the average male vocalist.
If you like HIGE DAN but feel their songs are too high to sing, definitely start with their early work.
There are plenty of songs that feel distinctly HIGE DAN without requiring soaring high notes! That said, there are still some higher parts, so it might help to sing with your facial muscles lifted and imagine resonating in your head throughout.
loadTHE toraburyū
A massive hit that sold over two million copies in total.
Its poignant lyrics about heartbreak and parting deeply resonate with men in their 50s, making it a karaoke classic! It might feel a bit too mellow when actually sung at karaoke, but it’s perfect for when you want a break.
When singing, pay attention to breath flow and expressiveness for a better performance.
The song builds toward the chorus, so if you sing each phrase of the chorus with the image of growing intensity, it will add expressiveness and enhance the atmosphere.
The key is to sing carefully and delicately—avoid singing roughly at all costs!
Broken RadioTokunaga Hideaki
This was his 10th single and one of Hideaki Tokunaga’s signature songs.
It reached No.
5 on the Oricon Weekly Chart and became a huge hit ballad, selling a total of about 360,000 copies.
He also performed it at NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2006 and 2009, and it continues to be loved across generations.
Many people do impressions of Hideaki Tokunaga, but when you sing it at karaoke, I hope you’ll sing boldly in your own voice! The overall vocal range of the song is F#3 to A4, which may be comfortable for many male singers, but the chorus stays on the higher side, so if you’re not familiar with the song you might end up straining your throat.
It’s very important to keep your throat open and direct your breath toward the notes! Lift those facial muscles and sing with expression!
Silent majorityKeyakizaka46
Keyakizaka46 is a Japanese female idol group active since 2015.
Their debut single, Silent Majority, stands out for its music centered on minor chords and its strongly message-driven lyrics, projecting a powerful worldview together with its costumes and choreography.