[40s] Popular Songs Ranking by Generation [2026]

Banzai ~ So glad I loved you ~Urufuruzu78rank/position

Ulfuls – Banzai ~I'm Glad I Fell in Love~

This rock tune celebrating the joy of pure love is a fan favorite that showcases Ulfuls’ musicality to the fullest.

Its lyrics, which candidly express gratitude to a loved one, resonate deeply, and together with its bright, catchy melody, the song lifts listeners’ spirits.

Released in February 1996, it was included on the album “Banzai” and also drew attention as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Goddess of Victory.” Moreover, it won the Excellence Award at the 38th Japan Record Awards.

It’s a perfect track for getting pumped up at karaoke with friends or for reminiscing about special memories with someone important.

I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka79rank/position

I LOVE YOU – Yutaka Ozaki (Full)

It’s one of Yutaka Ozaki’s signature songs, released in 1983! I imagine many people in their 50s listened to it in real time back then.

It’s a ballad about the bittersweet love of young men and women, with a piano melody that really resonates.

Ozaki’s husky voice beautifully captures the loneliness and restlessness of youth.

After being included on the album “Seventeen’s Map,” it was released as a single in 1991 and was also used in a JR Tokai commercial.

It’s a song that everyone can get excited about at karaoke, so why not sing it together with people of all ages?

Snow BlossomNakajima Mika80rank/position

Mika Nakashima 'Yuki no Hana' Music Video

A poignant ballad about a winter romance themed around snow, its aching emotions resonate deeply.

Released in November 2003, it is one of Mika Nakashima’s signature songs, with lyrics by Satomi and composition by Ryoki Matsumoto.

Included on the million-selling album “LOVE,” it was also used in a Meiji Seika commercial.

The lyrics portray the joy of spending time with a lover amid snowy scenery, along with a premonition of a farewell that may come someday.

It’s perfect for a quiet winter night shared with someone special, and is also recommended for those looking to enhance the Christmas atmosphere.

This is my way of life.PUFFY81rank/position

PUFFY 'That's the Way I Live' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

This commercial shows two women stopping by McDonald’s after work to enjoy limited-time smoothies and frappés.

The way they sing happily is quite striking, isn’t it? The song playing in the ad is one of PUFFY’s signature tracks, “Kore ga Watashi no Ikiru Michi” (“That’s the Way I Live”).

The vocal range isn’t very demanding, and above all, the gentle melody flowing at a relaxed tempo makes it easy for just about anyone to sing.

It’s a song loved across generations, so it’s also a great pick to liven up karaoke sessions with a wide range of age groups.

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I won’t fall in love anymore.Makihara Noriyuki82rank/position

[Official] Noriyuki Makihara “I Won’t Fall in Love Again” (Music Video) [5th Single] (1992) Noriyuki Makihara / Mou Koi Nante Shinai

A signature song by Noriyuki Makihara, distinguished by its heartwarming melody that embraces both the ache of heartbreak and a brave front.

It gently portrays memories of a former lover and the nostalgia of everyday life, while the protagonist’s resolve to move forward resonates deeply with listeners.

Released in May 1992, it was chosen as the theme song for the NTV drama “After the Children Are Asleep.” Included on the album “Kimi wa Boku no Takaramono,” it became a major hit, ranking 7th on Oricon’s year-end chart.

This piece is a companion for those standing at life’s crossroads.

When you gather with friends for karaoke, its universally relatable lyrics and melody are sure to warm the heart.

LOVE PHANTOMB’z83rank/position

B’z / LOVE PHANTOM

It was released in 1995 as B’z’s 18th single.

Serving as the lead single from their eighth album, LOOSE, it was chosen as the theme song for TV Asahi’s drama The X-Files (Season 1).

The song was a million-seller, and its lyrics are said to have been written with the image of an unusual protagonist’s love—such as Frankenstein or Dracula—in mind.

MUGO… so sexyKudō Shizuka84rank/position

Shizuka Kudo / MUGO… n… Irresistibly Sexy [Official Video]

This work, with its weighty arrangement and wistful melodic lines, has an irresistible charm that draws you in.

Shizuka Kudo delivers the protagonist’s delicate emotions—an inexpressible inner tremor and a quiet attempt to communicate through the eyes—with her distinctive husky voice and expressive singing, gripping the listener’s heart.

Released in August 1988 as Kudo’s fifth single, it was also used as the Kanebo Cosmetics “’88 Autumn Promotion Image Song.” The track reached No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart and was performed at the 39th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the end of the same year.

For karaoke, try singing it with a restrained, inward passion and a subtle hint of allure to deepen the song’s world even further.