[For People in Their 60s] Karaoke Songs That Get the Crowd Going: Ranking [2026]

Don’t give upZARD16rank/position

"Don't Give Up" Music Video

This hit song by ZARD, emblematic of the 1990s, is an uplifting anthem marked by Izumi Sakai’s gentle vocals and positive message.

Its lyrics, which convey compassion and courage, and its up-tempo yet warmly embracing melody resonate deeply.

Released in January 1993, it was chosen the following year as the entrance march for the Spring High School Baseball Tournament, and it has been broadcast annually on Nippon TV’s “24-Hour Television.” This track is a go-to favorite for livening up karaoke with friends.

Its universally known melody and Sakai’s clear voice evoke moving feelings that transcend generations.

Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenKawashima Eigo17rank/position

Eigo Kawashima – Sake, Tears, Men and Women

Even men who always act cool sometimes feel like letting loose and forgetting everything.

“Sake, Tears, Men and Women,” which captures those feelings, was Eigo Kawashima’s solo debut single released in 1976.

Originally, it was included on the debut album Jinrui (Humanity), released in 1975 by the group Eigo Kawashima & Homo Sapiens, to which Kawashima belonged.

Men in their sixties who have tasted both the bitter and the sweet of life may also have things they’d rather forget, just like in this song.

At times like that, sing this tune and let it all out!

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SAKI

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TouchIwasaki Yoshimi18rank/position

Touch – Yoshimi Iwasaki (Full)

Released in September 1985, this song portrays the aching heart of youth.

Famous as the theme song of the anime Touch, it is one of Yoshimi Iwasaki’s signature tracks.

Its lyrics, which depict love and heartbreak, have left a deep impression on many listeners.

It is included on the album Touch, which also features other anime-related songs.

There’s even an anecdote that it was treated as a children’s song until a commodity tax was imposed in 1986.

Among Showa-era anime songs, it remains especially popular and is a karaoke staple.

How about singing it nostalgically with friends, or belting it out to relieve stress?

Pink sighTakahashi Mariko19rank/position

Pink sigh

It is a masterpiece that fuses an exotic, Mediterranean-like atmosphere with an urban, sophisticated sound.

The song dreamily portrays a woman who blossoms like a flower when embraced by her lover, expressing both the beauty and the fragility of love.

Mariko Takahashi’s delicate yet powerful vocals further deepen the work’s unique world.

Released in May 1984 as the commercial song for Sanki’s “Camellia Diamond,” it was also included on the album Triad.

Highly acclaimed—including winning the Lyrics Award at the 26th Japan Record Awards—it became a long-running hit.

With a quiet mood that hints at hidden passion, this is a perfect track for spending peaceful moments with someone special.

Tokyoyashiki takajin20rank/position

Tokyo

Released in March 1993, this mood-kayō song fuses tearful enka with sophisticated urban pop.

Through Kansai-dialect lyrics, it movingly portrays a romance and breakup with a man she met in Tokyo, along with her complex feelings toward the city.

Takajin Yashiki was an artist who was active mainly in the Kansai region, also serving as a host of the popular program “Sei! Young.” This piece became a hit as requests on cable radio surged, ultimately selling a total of 600,000 copies.

In live performances, he would sometimes change the place name in the chorus to match the concert location, valuing a sense of unity with the audience.

When singing it at karaoke, it’s recommended to sing at an easy, relaxed pace while thinking of your hometown and the special people you’ve met.