[Piano Solo with Vocals] Recommended for Piano-and-Vocal Performances! Hit Songs from the Heisei to Reiwa Eras
Singing while accompanying yourself on the piano—piano-vocal performances—are so cool and wonderful, aren’t they!
Many famous artists perform in a piano-and-vocal style, and every year brings a wealth of great songs.
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended songs for those who want to try piano-vocal covers, focusing on hits from the Heisei and Reiwa eras.
We’ve gathered a variety of tracks—not only songs originally written for piano-and-vocal performance, but also pieces with captivating piano timbres, songs where the piano isn’t the main instrument yet suit piano-vocal arrangements perfectly, and more.
Why not use this article as a starting point to make your own piano-vocal debut?
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[Piano and Vocals] Recommended for Piano and Vocal Performances! Hit Songs from the Heisei to Reiwa Eras (1–10)
On the Day of DepartureSakamoto Hiromi
A choral piece often heard at graduation ceremonies and school events, it was born in 1991 at Kagemori Junior High School in Saitama Prefecture.
Its scenes depicting spring sunlight and mountain ranges symbolically express the inner landscape of young people poised to open a new door.
Along with a gentle, melodious tune, it carries a prayer-like message that warmly supports graduates as they set off on their journeys.
Its warm musical character can evoke ample emotion even if you just sing one chorus up to the hook with a simple voice-and-piano accompaniment.
In 2007, SMAP used it as the song for an NTT East Japan commercial, bringing it widespread recognition as a piece that encourages those taking flight into society.
It’s a recommended choice for anyone thinking of taking on a piano performance or celebrating the departure of someone dear.
LemonYonezu Kenshi
This piece was released in March 2018 as the theme song for a TBS drama, distinguished by a piano melody that begins quietly.
Sung over a tender, heartrending piano tone about the sorrow of losing someone dear, it gently nestles close to the listener’s heart.
The piano’s solemn atmosphere blends beautifully with a melody that seems to softly embrace the pain of loss and farewell, creating a sacred mood as if offering a prayer in a church.
It is a song that conveys the strength to live on while holding close precious memories of the person who is gone and an unchanging love for them.
Performed in a sing-and-play style with beautiful piano tones, it is a perfect choice for those who wish to convey their feelings with heartfelt expression.
NovelbrightTsukimisō
This serene ballad, which opens with a moving piano intro, is a masterpiece that poignantly portrays the pain and lingering feelings of a broken heart.
Using the fragile evening primrose as a metaphor, it weaves in the emotions of someone unable to accept a farewell to a beloved.
In February 2021, it was selected as the Monthly Song for the weather segment of Fuji TV’s “Tokudane!”, capturing the hearts of even more listeners.
The piece delicately traces the scenes from first meeting to parting, vividly expressing the protagonist’s struggle to look forward while still bound by memories of the past.
With lyrics and melody that resonate deeply, it is a song that will comfort those who have experienced a painful goodbye or wish to sort out their feelings.
The gentle piano tones and memorable melody make it a perfect piece for savoring the essence of piano-and-vocal performance.
[Piano Solo with Vocals] Recommended for piano solo with vocals! Hit songs from the Heisei to Reiwa eras (11–20)
Letter ~To You at Fifteen~Anjura Aki
When it comes to singer-songwriters who perform with piano, many people probably think of Angela Aki.
Among her songs, the one I especially recommend you try is “Letter – Dear You, Fifteen.” Released in 2008, it’s one of Angela’s signature tracks, featured on NHK’s Minna no Uta and selected as a set piece for the NHK All-Japan School Music Competition.
The song is captivating for its dynamic piano accompaniment, and the rhythmic section in the middle offers a pleasing change in texture.
It’s a great choice for intermediate pianists—give it a try!
Let’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu
A warm ballad has been released as the theme song for the wedding magazine Zexy.
Set to gentle piano tones, the lyrics express gratitude to a partner and hopes for a future family.
The song portrays the difficulty of truly understanding one another and the acceptance of loneliness, while affirming a strong resolve to walk forward together—conveying that this is the essence of love.
When it was produced in 2011, amid a nationwide tour suspended due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, it carried a renewed focus on the importance of human connection and mutual support.
It’s a perfect piece not only for couples preparing to marry, but also for anyone who wants to share messages of family bonds and forms of love through piano and voice.
dogwood (flowering dogwood)Hitoto Yo
There are countless songs with impressive piano intros, and Yo Hitoto’s “Hanamizuki” is surely one of them.
A signature work by Yo Hitoto that reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart and remains a karaoke favorite, this song features a lovely piano accompaniment that supports her one-of-a-kind voice.
The careful shifting of the pianist’s position—alternating between higher and lower registers for each part—underpins the overall sound of the piece.
It’s a song you should definitely try and add to your sing-and-play repertoire!
Let me give you a songTakeuchi Mariya
Set to a gentle, warm melody, this medium-tempo ballad delivers a message that embraces life’s worries and vulnerabilities, resonating deeply with the heart.
Released in August 2024 as the theme song for the ABC TV/TV Asahi drama “Subarashiki Kana, Sensei!” (“What a Wonderful Teacher!”), it carefully portrays the emotions of facing one’s own weaknesses and tears.
While empathizing with the struggles everyone carries, it gently conveys the presence of unnoticed love around us and the importance of having the courage to take a step forward.
The beautiful harmony with Erika Ikuta adds even greater emotional depth.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to reflect on the meaning of living true to oneself, or who are looking for a heartwarming, encouraging song suitable for piano-and-vocal performance.