[2026] Recommended karaoke songs for women in their 70s: from enka to Showa-era pop

Lingering Snowiruka

Dolphin [Iruka] / Nagori-yuki [Lingering Snow] (Single Version) Official Audio with translation

This is a song whose charm lies in a melody that evokes the arrival of spring and lyrics that touch the heart.

Set on a train platform, it vividly portrays a man and a woman parting ways amid the fleeting snow of early spring.

Beautifully depicting the moment of farewell and a love left unfinished by youth, the piece is filled with the bittersweetness of adolescence and the process of growing up.

Iruka’s rich, resonant vocals carry a warm, heartfelt quality that reaches deep within.

First included on the March 1975 album “Iruka no Sekai,” it was released as a single in November of the same year and reached No.

4 on the Oricon chart.

It’s a beloved, well-known song that many remember; humming along as you recall old memories is sure to make for a delightful moment.

It may also inspire lively conversations among older listeners as they reminisce about those days.

Midnight RequiemTeresa Ten

Midnight Requiem

In the era when Teresa Teng was active, both kayōkyoku and pop music were popular.

As a result, many of her songs tend to incorporate elements of more avant-garde genres even within kayōkyoku.

Among such works, I recommend “Midnight Requiem.” It strongly reflects elements of adult contemporary and kayōkyoku, and while it has a smooth feel, it’s characterized by the uniquely rich, lingering vocal phrasing typical of kayōkyoku.

The vocal range itself is narrow, and there are no phrases requiring complex pitch movements like ad-libs or melismatic turns, so if you carefully track the pitch, it’s possible to aim for a high score at karaoke.

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Dance with sorrowTeresa Ten

Dance with sorrow

With lyrics by Toyohisa Araki and music by Takashi Miki—a golden duo—“Kanashimi to Odorasete” is a single released by Teresa Teng in 1991.

It’s a masterpiece from the later period of her career, unveiled near the end of her life.

The mellow sound that straddles enka and kayōkyoku, though a product of the early Heisei era, is something I’d love younger listeners interested in Showa-era pop to hear.

While the chorus reaches slightly higher notes, the melody unfolds straightforwardly and the overall range isn’t that wide, so it’s very comfortable to sing at karaoke.

lover; mistress; extramarital partnerTeresa Ten

Aijin

Teresa Teng has many songs with adult themes, and among them the classic “Lover” is especially known for its mature, bittersweet character.

As one of her signature works, it’s still frequently sung at karaoke today.

While the song features a richly expressive vocal line, its range is surprisingly narrow, staying mostly in the mid or mid-high register.

The development of the melody is also typical of kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), making it a very singable piece, especially for those of a certain age.

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Let yourself go with the flow of timeTeresa Ten

Leave oneself to the flow of time / Teresa Teng (with lyrics)

Teresa Teng, the Asian diva who conveyed life’s deepest emotions through moving melodies.

This song tells of how meeting a beloved person dramatically changed her life, and of her resolve to devote herself completely.

Set to a gentle, warm major-key arrangement, her clear, translucent voice resonates in the heart.

Released as a single in February 1986 and included on the album “Toki no Nagare ni Mi o Makase,” it won the Grand Prix at the 19th Japan Cable Radio Awards that same year.

With its beautiful, easy-to-remember melody, it’s perfect for everyone to hum along to while sharing fond memories.

school daysPegī Hayama

school days

A song filled with youthful memories comes back to life in the voice of Peggy Hayama.

Released in 1964, this piece richly portrays student life at a mission school.

Prayers in the chapel, memories with friends, studying in the library, and fleeting first love—nostalgic scenes come vividly to mind.

It was performed on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1965 and went on to become a million-seller.

Beloved as a standard song for graduations and reunions, it may prompt older listeners to reflect on their own school days.

Why not hum along, together with your cherished memories?

Izakaya “Showa”Yashiro Aki

Aki Yashiro – Izakaya “Showa”

Aki Yashiro’s classic “Izakaya ‘Showa’” leaves a strikingly somber impression.

Yashiro is renowned for her ‘men’s songs,’ and among them, this piece is exceptionally rugged and refined.

True to enka style, there are solid kobushi (ornamental turns), but most of them shift only one or two scale degrees, so it shouldn’t feel difficult.

Rather than a clean vocal tone, this song benefits from a weathered, husky quality, so it’s recommended to sing it when your voice feels a bit worn.

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