[2026] Start with this song! A collection of practice tracks for R&B beginners

LA LA LA Love SongKubota Toshinobu

Toshinobu Kubota – LA･LA･LA LOVE SONG with NAOMI CAMPBELL [Official Video Short ver.]

This is a single by Toshinobu Kubota, a leading figure in Japan’s R&B scene, released in May 1996.

It was used as the theme song for the Monday 9 p.m.

drama “Long Vacation,” starring Takuya Kimura and Tomoko Yamaguchi, and became a massive hit with total sales of 1.856 million copies.

Using metaphors like a merry-go-round and a pouring rain, it delicately depicts the exhilaration of love and the emotional changes brought about by meeting someone special.

The chorus melody is catchy yet tinged with a certain wistfulness, achieving an exquisite fusion of R&B’s characteristic groove and pop’s accessibility.

The keys are the clarity of the high register and the sense of rhythm, so start by slowly following the melody line.

Try adjusting the key at karaoke to experience Toshinobu Kubota’s sophisticated world of R&B.

First LoveUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada – First Love

A single cut from the first album First Love, released in March 1999, this gem of a ballad portrays the loss of a first love, beginning with a farewell kiss that tastes of cigarettes.

The lyrics gently envelop listeners, balancing the ache of a love that’s gone with a forward-looking resolve to cherish the “way to love” learned from that person.

Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama Majo no Jōken (Forbidden Love), it drew widespread attention for Hikaru Utada’s overwhelming vocal power at the age of 16.

Built around a simple piano accompaniment, the arrangement makes the flow easy to follow and the relaxed tempo easy to sing.

Be mindful of breathwork and volume control, and use it to practice singing with heartfelt emotion.

sparkleFuji Kaze

Fujii Kaze – Kirari (Official Video)

Composed in May 2021 as the CM song for Honda’s VEZEL, Fujii Kaze’s track brims with a driving energy that evokes dance music from the 1980s to the 1990s.

The lyrics portray moving gracefully through turbulent seasons and emphasize the importance of living with love as one’s driving force.

Because the song makes extensive use of falsetto, its difficulty varies from person to person.

If you’re not comfortable with falsetto, try lowering the key by one and singing it in chest voice.

It’s a highly recommended song for learning modern vocal techniques while also embracing elements of classic soul and R&B.

Say My NameDestiny’s Child

Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (Official Video)

As one of Destiny’s Child’s signature songs, it was released in 1999 as the third single from the album “The Writing’s on the Wall.” Its dramatic storyline is memorable: a woman calls her boyfriend, suspects infidelity, and presses him to “say my name.” The track deftly weaves R&B-style syncopated 808 drums with ’70s-inspired wah guitar, and features intricate harmonies centered around Beyoncé.

It won two awards at the 2001 Grammys and achieved major commercial and critical success, including reaching No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its 13th week.

With a relatively accessible melody line and chorus parts well-suited for practice, it’s a recommended pick for those looking to try R&B vocals.

Need You BadSIRUP

Need You Bad

In recent years, SIRUP has been at the forefront of the J-POP scene as an artist crafting contemporary R&B.

This track, which opens the EP “CIY” released in March 2020, was born from a session with producer STUTS and Atsushi Inoue of showmore.

The lyrics portray the conflicting emotions of dependence on a loved one and a yearning for freedom, conveying a mix of heartache and inner struggle.

Its appeal lies in the flow where rap and melody naturally intersect over a hi-hat-driven track, resulting in an urban, sophisticated sound.

By incorporating rap-like delivery into the first verse, you can learn a modern vocal approach that moves seamlessly between R&B and rap.

It’s very challenging, but definitely worth attempting.

WeakSWV

SWV – Weak (Official HD Video)

A signature song by SWV, the female trio that epitomized 1990s R&B, this love ballad poignantly describes the physical reactions of falling in love.

It portrays a woman so captivated by her partner that her knees tremble, her heart races, and she’s left speechless, all set to a slow beat and soulful harmonies.

The track showcases Coko’s soaring high notes and the group’s rich backing vocals, retaining the texture of the New Jack Swing era while shining with a timeless melody.

Released in April 1993 as the third single from their debut album, “It’s About Time,” it spent two consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was also featured in the film “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” Though its melody line is simple, it demands Coko’s delicate expressiveness, making it a great recommendation for those wanting to learn R&B phrasing and emotional delivery.

All of MeJohn Legend

John Legend – All of Me (Official Video)

If you’re looking for a beautiful, delicate love song, why not practice with this piece John Legend dedicated to his model wife, Chrissy Teigen? Released as a single in August 2013 and included on the album “Love in the Future,” it reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2014, becoming his first U.S.

number-one single.

Despite its simple arrangement—just piano, lead vocal, and backing vocals—it tenderly expresses unconditional love that embraces a partner’s imperfections.

With its slow tempo that makes it easy to sing with emotion and a relatively smooth melodic line, it’s an ideal track for honing R&B expressiveness.