Ranking of Popular Band Songs Among People in Their 40s [2026]

A Little Love SongMONGOL80057rank/position

MONGOL800 / A Small Love Song

A straightforward love song by MONGOL800, a rock band from Okinawa.

Its pure lyrics remind us just how precious the people close to us truly are, touching the hearts of many.

Released in September 2001 and included on the album MESSAGE, which sold over 2.8 million copies, the song spent 14 consecutive weeks at No.

2 on the Oricon karaoke chart.

Its enduring popularity is evident in its use as the ending theme for the TV anime Teasing Master Takagi-san and as a motif for a 2019 film.

Put it on as driving music, and you’ll find yourself singing along under the blue sky.

The hottest summer in the worldPRINCESS PRINCESS58rank/position

Princess Princess 'The Hottest Summer in the World'

PRINCESS PRINCESS opened the door for girls’ bands.

Many women in their 50s probably admired them.

Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is “The Hottest Summer in the World.” This track is notable for its extremely catchy vocal line.

While the range is relatively high at mid2A to hiD, it’s quite narrow.

Since there aren’t any difficult phrases in any section, if you can keep your pitch steady, it’s definitely possible to aim for a score in the 90s at karaoke.

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Ryo

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A third of pure-hearted feelingsSIAM SHADE59rank/position

A third of pure-hearted feelings

Do you know the passionate love song that colored the late-’90s J-Rock scene? Released as a single by SIAM SHADE in November 1997, it was used as the ending theme for the hugely popular anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story and became the band’s biggest hit.

Also included on the album SIAM SHADE IV: Zero, this classic masterfully fuses hard-edged instrumentation with a catchy melody.

One of its greatest charms is that, despite the band’s high level of musicianship, the chorus is so familiar and easy for anyone to sing along to.

It’s incredibly well-known—just the intro is enough to trigger cheers.

Try singing it when you want to create a sense of unity at a get-together with friends from the same generation!

huge nuisanceUNICORN60rank/position

Unicorn - “Great Nuisance”

Reunited in 2009, UNICORN has continued to captivate fans with their energetic activities.

Their signature song “Dai Meiwaku” (Great Nuisance) was released as a single in 1989, the first year of the Heisei era.

The song features a businessman who’s just bought his dream home only to be assigned to a solo post away from his family, and it comically portrays his mix of joy and sorrow with an uptempo beat.

It’s a highly popular track among both younger generations who discovered the band after their reunion and longtime fans alike.

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utatane

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It’s fine.Urufuruzu61rank/position

Ulfuls – Ee nen

Wulfuls is the rock band that gives everyone a boost, right? “Eenennen” was created to celebrate the return of John B.

Chopper, who had left the band for a time.

Its lyrics, which fully affirm who you are, give courage to everyone.

It’s guaranteed to hit home for men in their 40s in middle management! It’s a number that lets you blow off steam by singing it at karaoke while also encouraging those who listen.

If you’re unsure what to pick for karaoke, definitely add this song to your repertoire.

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miyabi

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balladKetsumeishi62rank/position

Ketsumeishi “Ballad”

Ketsumeishi is known for having lots of bright songs with plenty of hip-hop and rap elements, but they actually have ballads too! With gentle melodies over piano and string-backed arrangements… this side of Ketsumeishi is really satisfying to listen to, and it looks cool to sing as well! The song runs close to seven minutes, so it’s on the longer side, but it’s highly recommended when you want something mellow.

Of course, there’s rap in it too, but the tempo is relaxed, so it’s easy to learn and easy to groove to.

It seems best to sing while moving your body in a big, open way.

The chorus is a real highlight, so if you sing each phrase carefully, you can really put your feelings into it.

There are spots where it slips lightly into falsetto, which adds a surge of poignancy.

The latter half of the chorus is a sweet spot for singing, so don’t hesitate—project your voice with confidence!

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Kubota Mami

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to youMONGOL80063rank/position

To You by MONGOL800

Among people in their 40s, those in the early half may be more familiar with Japanese rock.

In particular, I think many were fans of MONGOL800.

With that in mind, I recommend their song “Anata ni.” The vocal range for this track is quite narrow, from mid1 D to mid2 G.

While mid1 D is slightly low and doesn’t leave much room to lower the key, men with naturally low voices will likely find the original key comfortably singable, so it shouldn’t be a major issue.

The pitch stays fairly consistent, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

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Ryo

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