PRIDEImai Miki1rank/position

Miki Imai - 'PRIDE' Music Video

This piece resonates with lyrics that portray deep love for a partner and the will of an independent woman, carried by a warm melody crafted by Tomoyasu Hotei.

You don’t need to belt it out, and the melody moves gently, making it a great choice even for those who aren’t very confident in their singing.

Released in November 1996 as Miki Imai’s 12th single, it also became well known as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “Doc.” As a tender, soothing ballad, it’s recommended for the latter part of a karaoke session or in a calm setting.

Simply following the melody carefully will make it sound lovely, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

PIECE OF MY WISHImai Miki2rank/position

Miki Imai – PIECE OF MY WISH

“PIECE OF MY WISH,” renowned as one of Miki Imai’s classic ballads, is a spot-on generational anthem for many women in their 50s.

In live performances, it’s sometimes sung a cappella, which shows how complete the vocal line is.

The range is on the narrower side, from mid1 F# to hi C, and the pitch movement isn’t very extreme.

However, because of Miki Imai’s vocal timbre, the song uses a lot of mixed voice and falsetto, so when actually singing it, you’ll need to adjust the key to suit your own voice.

If you’re not confident in your singing, try setting the highest notes so they sit around the boundary between mixed voice and chest voice.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Blue RainImai Miki3rank/position

Miki Imai – “Blue Rain” [TV Asahi drama “A Woman of the Crime Lab” theme song]

A track from Miki Imai’s 20th original album, “Sky,” released in June 2018.

It’s a very gentle, mellow ballad, sung quietly as if murmuring or whispering, so it may be one of the best choices for women in their 40s to sing.

It’s true that when you really pursue this kind of “soft singing,” it can be more difficult to master than songs that call for belting, but if you’re just enjoying it at your usual karaoke, there’s no need to worry that much.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Kei Takahata

Report a problem

short-sleevedImai Miki4rank/position

Short Sleeves – Miki Imai

Miki Imai’s “Hansode” (Short Sleeves), despite her many hit songs, centers on a woman involved in a forbidden love—the man is married and has children.

She secretly goes to peek at his home, and when she sees “him” and his “wife” laughing in the early-summer garden under the dazzling sunlight, her chest tightens so much she feels she might collapse.

Although it’s a quiet ballad, you can palpably feel the heat of the protagonist’s inner resolve—“Even so, I will go on loving him.” The song was included on the 1990 album Retour and was not released as a single.

She and TIP ON DUOImai Miki5rank/position

She and TIP ON DUO

This is a famous song by Miki Imai that leaves a strong impression with its portrayal of an independent woman who gracefully moves on from heartbreak.

The lyrics were written by Yasushi Akimoto and the music composed by Chika Ueda, and the urban, smooth sound is wonderfully stylish.

While acknowledging where her former partner is now, the lyrics depict her stepping forward flexibly into her own future; combined with Imai’s transparent vocals, it’s a song that seems to breathe a refreshing breeze into the listener’s heart.

Released in August 1988, the track was used in a Shiseido campaign and became a major talking point.

Jun Sato, who arranged the piece, is also known for winning the Arranger Award at the 30th Japan Record Awards for this sophisticated production.

Why not enjoy this song as background music for a weekend drive or a relaxing café time?