[Men] Enka Songs That Can Score High in Karaoke
Karaoke is really so much fun, isn’t it?
This might be a bit presumptuous, but I have a feeling that many people who love enka also love karaoke.
What’s more, the more you sing enka, the more you can master its distinctive vocal style, making it a genre where it’s easy to feel yourself improving.
As you get better, you might find yourself wanting to use the scoring feature and aim for a high score.
For those of you who love enka and want to try for a high score at karaoke, here’s a special feature on songs that make it easier to rack up points—this time, focusing on male vocals.
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[Men's Edition] Enka Songs That Can Earn High Karaoke Scores (11–20)
Lost in the cityIwaide Kazuya
Singing straightforward, classic enka at karaoke might still be a bit tough… For those of you who feel that way, I recommend this famous song packed with kayō-pop flavor! Kazuya Iwade, an enka singer from Osaka known for his handsome looks and solid vocal skills, released “Tokyo Stray” in 2022.
Its easy-to-remember, instantly catchy chorus makes it a must-add to your karaoke repertoire.
The urbane, refined melody calls for holding back on the typical enka-style vocal ornaments, and in the especially exciting chorus, aim for a natural vibrato and a smooth, expansive delivery.
Casablanca GoodbyeToba Ichirō
Enka singer Ichiro Toba, popular for his wide-ranging musicality from male-voiced to female-voiced songs, has left many masterpieces.
Among them, Casablanca Goodbye is especially recommended as an easy song to sing.
While there are a few spots that feature kobushi (traditional enka vocal ornaments), overall the piece has a flavor closer to kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song).
It employs a very light mixed voice, but the high phrases aren’t very long, and it doesn’t demand much power overall, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
Its mood-rich melody is sure to get the crowd going!
festivalKitajima Saburō
Saburo Kitajima is a great enka singer who has left behind many masterpieces.
His distinctive, undulating kobushi and vibrato are especially striking.
Among his songs, the one I particularly recommend is Matsuri.
While the piece is memorable for its low register, it surprisingly spans a range from mid1 A to high C.
However, because the pitch changes within the kobushi are contained within two notes, it is classified as a work with a lower level of difficulty in terms of overall technique.
If you adjust it to your suitable key, it’s not un-singable, so be sure to identify your own vocal range carefully.
A Man’s LifeKitajima Saburō
A heartfelt, powerful song that reexamines the joys and sorrows of life and celebrates living with sincerity.
It carefully weaves together a half-life spent overcoming hardships and trials while valuing duty and truth.
Released by Saburo Kitajima in January 2011, this work conveys the sentiments of his more than 50-year career in show business with a mature vocal performance that deeply resonates with listeners.
While honoring the traditional flavor of enka, the song features contemporary arrangements that give it a profoundly moving quality that sinks into the heart.
It is a gem of a masterpiece to listen to when you stand at a crossroads in life or want to savor your gratitude toward someone important.
nostalgic personSen Masao
Among Masao Sen’s songs, “Natsukashi no Hito” is renowned as a particularly mood-rich piece.
While the arrangement prominently features traditional enka elements, the vocals lean closer to Showa-era kayōkyoku and folk, resulting in a simple, streamlined vocal line.
The range is somewhat wide, but there are no difficult techniques involved, and the tempo is relaxed, making it easier to sing than it might sound.
If you use the hiccup technique, where the voice flips, you can get even closer to the feel of the original, so give it a try for reference.
In conclusion
We’ve delivered a selection of enka songs for men that make it easier to score high in karaoke.
We picked songs that aren’t too high in key and have relatively gentle melodic ups and downs, making them easier to sing.
That said, you can’t skip practice entirely! Practice thoroughly and aim for a high score.
We look forward to hearing your high-score reports.