[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-vocal performances! Hit songs from the Heisei to Reiwa eras (31–40)
Sakura (Solo)Moriyama Naotaro
Released in 2003, “Sakura” is one of Naotaro Moriyama’s signature songs and a staple at graduation ceremonies and weddings.
The accompaniment for the solo vocal version is simple, making it great for piano beginners.
Intermediate players should try the arrangement performed in the music video, which differs from the single version and beautifully supports the vocal by hitting the right accompaniment points.
The piano phrases that come in between the singing are called obbligato—one technique for filling the musical space.
It’s a piece that both beginners and intermediate pianists should try!
Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo
Eigo Kawashima’s smash hit “Sake, Tears, Men and Women” is a folk-leaning song that’s strongly associated with acoustic guitar, but it’s also great for piano and vocals.
If you watch footage of Kawashima himself performing, you’ll see him singing and playing the piano solo—and it’s incredibly cool and soulful.
Even with somewhat clumsy piano, the rugged, powerful way he plays is undeniably appealing.
I believe beginners have their own way of shining, so by all means, try singing and playing “Sake, Tears, Men and Women” yourself!
A bouquet of flowers with loveSuperfly
When it comes to piano-driven power ballads, many people probably think of Superfly’s “Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo” (“A Bouquet With Love”).
Released as a single in 2008, it’s one of her signature songs and a million seller.
The track showcases Superfly’s powerful vocals.
There are also videos on YouTube of Superfly performing “Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo” in a piano-and-vocal style on TV programs, so be sure to check them out for reference!
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka
When it comes to piano ballads popular among middle-aged men, Yutaka Ozaki’s “I LOVE YOU” surely comes to mind.
Released as a single in 1991, it’s a love song in which Ozaki passionately sings lyrics centered on a bittersweet romance.
It reached No.
5 on the Oricon Singles Chart and has been covered by countless artists—a true classic.
The introductory piano phrase is very famous, so be sure to try your hand at a piano-and-vocal rendition!
rainbowSuda Masaki
The single “Niji” by Masaki Suda is known as the theme song for the film STAND BY ME Doraemon 2.
It’s a ballad with a memorable piano accompaniment, making it perfect for a piano-and-vocal performance.
It also stands out because it uses the most orthodox ballad style—playing in quarter notes—and it’s in F major, which features many white keys and makes the chords easy to play.
The chorus melody repeats the same note, so it’s easy to catch the pitch, making it an ideal song for a piano-and-vocal rendition.
[Piano Solo with Vocals] Recommended for Piano and Vocal Performances! Hit Songs from the Heisei to Reiwa Era (41–50)
The White LoversKuwata Keisuke
A song I’d love to hear done as a solo performance in winter is Keisuke Kuwata’s “Shiroi Koibitotachi” (“White Lovers”).
It was released as a single in 2001 and won the Gold Award at the 43rd Japan Record Awards—a true classic.
The image of Kuwata playing and singing at a grand piano as snow pours down in the music video is unforgettable.
The piano’s tone beautifully supports the lyrics about a bittersweet love, making it perfect for a solo vocal-and-piano rendition.
It’s also in G major with one sharp, so many of the chords center on the white keys, which makes them easier to play—another reason I recommend it.
sasanqua (Camellia sasanqua)SEKAI NO OWARI
Sazanka, which was the theme song for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics, is a ballad that really shines in a piano-and-vocal arrangement.
Released as a single by SEKAI NO OWARI in 2018, it reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
In the original track, the main accompaniment is handled by a Wurlitzer electric piano, intertwined with an acoustic piano that sounds beautiful.
There are also cover videos on YouTube where people sing with just an acoustic piano, so give it a try!