Sing-Along Hits! Karaoke Songs That Get Women in Their 70s Excited

airportTeresa Ten

airport

With lyrics by Michio Yamagami and music by Kimihisa Inomata, this classic song—released by Teresa Teng in July 1974—marked the beginning of her brilliant career in Japan.

Its poignant scene of a farewell set in an airport and the feelings the protagonist keeps hidden in her heart deeply move listeners.

The song earned the New Artist Award at the 16th Japan Record Awards and became widely beloved on radio and cable broadcasts.

Its gentle, moody kayōkyoku style is perfect for older adults who want to savor the world of the song at karaoke.

Moreover, as a timeless classic loved across generations, it’s a wonderful choice to enjoy together with family and people of all ages.

foreignerKUBOTA Saki

Saki Kubota "Ihōjin" Animated Music Video

It’s a signature work by Saki Kubota, notable for its grand, beautiful melody that evokes the Silk Road.

Released in October 1979 as her debut single, the song was written and composed by Kubota herself, reportedly inspired by everyday scenes viewed from the Chuo Line train window.

The lyrics deftly convey the feelings of a traveler in a distant foreign land—tinged with a quiet loneliness yet filled with longing for the unknown.

Widely loved as a Sanyo Electric TV commercial song, it became a million-seller classic.

It’s also included on the album “Yume-gatari.” When singing it at karaoke, preserving the clear, translucent vocal quality and the richly scenic worldview will make its charm shine even more.

It’s lovely to sing it at a relaxed pace while picturing nostalgic landscapes.

Jindo MonogatariTendō Yoshimi

[MV] Yoshimi Tendo / Jindo Monogatari (full ver.)

Inspired by the mysterious phenomenon in Jindo, Korea—where the sea parts and a path appears—this masterpiece movingly conveys the earnest longing to reunite with a loved one far away.

No matter the hardship, the feelings for a beloved never cease, and the strong prayer that one day they will meet again deeply resonates with listeners.

Released as a single in February 1996, it became YOSHIMI TENDO’s first million seller.

It won the Best Vocal Performance at the 38th Japan Record Awards that same year and was performed at the 48th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 1997, becoming a song cherished across generations.

Sung with heartfelt emotion at karaoke, it’s sure to spread warmth and inspiration to those who listen.

My castle townKoyanagi Rumiko

Rumiko Koyanagi – My Castle Town (1971)

It’s the debut song by Rumiko Koyanagi, often described as “wakon yōsai,” where the elegance of Western music melds with the sentiment of Japanese tradition.

She sings tenderly of scenes that revive fond memories—an old castle town at dusk, the nostalgic view through lattice doors, and a faint love kept quietly in the heart.

Released in April 1971, the piece won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist and gained widespread popularity in step with JNR’s “Discover Japan” campaign.

It’s also included on the album “My Twelve Songs: A Collection of Japanese Lyric Songs.” This is a perfect tune for savoring at a relaxed pace while reminiscing about days gone by.

Its gentle melody is sure to be comfortable to sing.

Scat at DawnYuki Saori

Yoake No Scat

It’s a quintessential masterpiece of the Showa era, with Saori Yuki’s voice—often called a “sobering tonic”—resonating deeply in the heart.

The beautiful humming at the beginning delicately evokes the stillness before dawn and a faint hope for the new day.

Rofu Yamagami’s richly poetic worldview also sinks deeply into the listener’s soul.

This piece marked Saori Yuki’s fresh new start in March 1969 and was loved as the theme for TBS Radio’s late-night program “Night Ballad.” Its status as a million seller with over 1.5 million copies conveys the fervor of the time.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to relax into music or spend a gentle moment reminiscing about the past.

In conversations with people of the same generation, this beautiful melody is sure to bring a warm, easygoing atmosphere.

Tangled HairMisora Hibari

Tangled Hair

This is a gem of a song released in December 1987 as the first work marking the phoenix-like comeback of Hibari Misora, a defining figure of the Showa-era pop scene, after a long period of recuperation.

Against the backdrop of waves surging and receding, the helpless feelings of a woman who does nothing but pray for the happiness of the lover who left her tighten the listener’s chest.

The image of her heart growing ever more emaciated as the seasons turn—so much so that the obi that was double-wrapped in spring becomes triple-wrapped in autumn and still has slack—is truly a breathtaking display of expressive power.

It is said this piece was recorded in one vigorous sweep together with an orchestra, and you can feel Misora’s extraordinary intensity in her vocals.

When you tackle this classic at karaoke, try to sing with a picture in your heart of the heroine’s deep sorrow and her earnest determination to face forward nonetheless.

It will surely resonate deeply with those who listen.

Pineapple Princesstashiro midori

Pineapple Princess - Midori Tashiro

How about lending an ear to that bright tune that beckons you to a tropical paradise? As the lively sound of the ukulele begins to flow, it’s as if the sweet-and-tart scent of pineapple gently spreads through your heart.

Listen closely to the singing, and you can picture the scene of the protagonist dancing with joy on a sun-sparkling island.

Sung by Midori Tashiro in 1961, this song is a cover of American singer Annette’s number and was extremely popular in Japan at the time.

Give it a listen, and you may forget the summer heat and feel refreshed.

For older listeners, it will surely bring back happy memories of their youth and brighten their hearts.