Band Rankings Popular Among People in Their 40s [2026]

The sun rises again and again.Dragon Ash50rank/position

Dragon Ash “The sun rises again and repeats”

A single released in May 1998, this monumental work established Dragon Ash’s early style.

Chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime DT Eightron, the track features the trio fusing rap and rock to create a distinctive groove.

Kj’s message—both wistful and powerful—will likely resonate deeply with those who spent their youth wrestling with similar struggles.

Despite its epic length of over seven minutes, its relaxed tempo makes it comfortable to sing even at karaoke.

On your way home from work, sing it while recalling the passion of those days, and you’re sure to feel energized for tomorrow.

Midsummer FruitSazan Ōrusutāzu51rank/position

Midsummer Fruit

Southern All Stars’ “Manatsu no Kajitsu” (Midsummer Fruit) is a song released in 1990 as the theme for the film Inamura Jane.

Its gentle acoustic sound is striking, and the lyrics portray poignant summer scenes.

Among Southern All Stars’ many hits, it could be considered a signature ballad.

As for commercial use, it was featured in a Recruit TV ad for Weekly B-ing starring Keisuke Kuwata; the contrast between the sorrowful song playing and Kuwata’s rapid speech in the commercial left a memorable impression.

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kappamaki

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That’s important.Daiji MAN Burazāzu Bando52rank/position

Daiji MAN Brothers Band – That's Important

A passionate commercial features various teams—such as soccer and cheerleading—forming huddles.

Watching them speak about their goals and unite their voices lights a fire in our own hearts.

The song playing in the background of this wonderful footage is the classic cheer anthem “Sore ga Daiji,” which celebrates the importance of never giving up.

The original is a 1991 track by Daiji MAN Brothers Band, but this commercial uses a choral version.

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Hane Keisuke

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I miss youBEGIN53rank/position

BEGIN / Longing for you

It’s an extremely famous ballad as the debut single by BEGIN, a band from Ishigaki Island in Okinawa.

Carried by a melody tinged with the scent of the blues, Higa Eisō’s tender yet aching vocals resonate deeply.

The lyrics portray, with painfully real detail, the lingering feelings and overflowing regrets for a lost lover.

Even knowing there’s no going back, he can’t help but search for her traces—this broken-hearted song captures a man’s longing that truly hits home.

Released as a single in March 1990, it was also used in a Nissan commercial and as the theme song for the TV drama “Shin Konjiki Yasha: Hyakunen no Koi.” Celebrated on the show “Ika-ten,” this classic is a perfect pick for a quiet night, sipping a drink alone while reminiscing about past love.

To be happyFLYING KIDS54rank/position

FLYING KIDS – To Be Happy (Music Video)

FLYING KIDS is a funk band that shocked the Japanese music scene.

They helped popularize funk in Japan, where it was still unfamiliar, and gained popularity with their original and sophisticated sound.

Among their songs, the one I particularly recommend is Shiawase de Aru You ni (To Be Happy).

While the track carries elements of funk and R&B, it doesn’t feature advanced vocal techniques like scat or hiccups, so the overall difficulty is relatively low.

Try singing it with a low voice like the original.

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Ryo

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FlowerORANGE RANGE55rank/position

ORANGE RANGE “Hana” MV

This is ORANGE RANGE’s eighth single, released in October 2004.

I think it’s a track that really lets you enjoy the contrast between the rap-style sections and the melodic sections.

The melody in the melodic parts is very straightforward, easy to remember, and easy to sing, making this another recommended number for men in their 40s who don’t usually sing much.

If you take care to keep the rhythm and groove of the rap parts from becoming flat, it will come across even better, so listen closely to the drum part of the backing track and try singing while feeling the song’s beat.

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Kei Takahata

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Goodbye, Humanitytama56rank/position

Tama - Goodbye, Humanity

“Sayonara Jinrui” is the debut single by the folk-rock band Tama, which emerged from the TBS music program “Heisei Meibutsu TV: Yuji Miyake’s Ikasu Band Tengoku,” a launching pad for young bands around 1990.

With a uniquely toned vocal and unforgettable lyrics after just one listen, the song became a massive hit, debuting at No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and selling over 500,000 copies.

Because it has few high notes and minimal pitch variation throughout, it’s a recommended number even for men in their 40s who aren’t confident at karaoke.

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miyabi

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