Easy-to-sing songs recommended for men in their 70s: A collection of classic hits you’ll want to sing at karaoke

Journey of the Heartchūrippu

Kokoro no Tabi / Tulip (with lyrics)

This is the song that you can’t help but hum during the season of departures.

It’s a signature work by Tulip, a band formed in Fukuoka Prefecture, and a classic released in April 1973 as their third single.

Its melody, which evokes the poignant feelings for a lover far away and the scene of setting off by train, truly resonates.

In fact, just before release, the lead vocal was changed from Kazuo Zaitsū to Tatsuya Himeno, and the structure was altered to start with the chorus—changes that led to a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Oricon charts.

Beloved as a TV drama theme and in commercials, this piece has been cherished across generations.

As you reminisce about youthful journeys together, raise your voices and sing “Kokoro no Tabi.”

Traveler,Kayama Yūzō

Voyager / Yuzo Kayama

It’s a classic song that offers encouragement to a young traveler crossing a late-autumn grassland.

Yuzo Kayama’s powerful yet warm voice resonates deeply with listeners.

Released in 1966, it was also used the following year as an insert song in the film “Let’s Go! Wakadaisho.” It’s a ballad with a folk-style melody, featuring a distinctive performance by Yuzo Kayama and The Launchers.

While depicting the beauty of nature and feelings for one’s hometown, it carries the message: no matter the hardship, don’t forget your dreams.

The melody is characterized by gentle lines with few large leaps, and the tempo isn’t fast, so it’s quite easy to sing.

Until we meet againOzaki Kiyohiko

Mata Au Himade

Kiyohiko Ozaki’s 1971 song is a landmark love ballad that sings of profound love and the emotions of parting.

It focuses on the emptiness and loneliness that farewells bring, vividly conveying the feelings of that moment.

It’s a masterpiece I especially recommend for men in their 70s to sing, and its gentle melody line makes it easy to perform.

Shining with the aesthetics of the Showa era, the song appears on albums such as “Kiyohiko Ozaki Second Album” and the best-of compilation “GOLDEN☆BEST Kiyohiko Ozaki.” It drew attention when he opened for the White Team at the 22nd NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, and it also won the 13th Japan Record Award—truly a song that symbolizes its era.

City LightsSakai Masaaki

City Lights

A gem of a ballad by Masakazu Sakai that portrays loneliness, solitude, and the warmth of love.

It beautifully depicts how, even while carrying loneliness, one can be saved by a faint bond that arises in an unguarded moment.

The lights floating in the night city gently illuminate the instant when love begins to bud—you can almost see the scene before your eyes.

Released in 1973, this song is one of the masterpieces born during Sakai’s distinguished career as an actor and host.

Why not sing it with a wish to think of someone dear and keep the light in your heart from ever going out?

Dream-Chasing SakeAtsumi Jirō

Dream-Chasing Sake

Known as one of Jiro Atsumi’s signature songs, this gem portrays the feelings of easing the pain of lost love by entrusting it to drink.

Released in February 1978 as his third single, it initially drew little attention, but thanks to promotional efforts such as a nationwide tour, its popularity grew, earning the Fighting Spirit Award at the Japan Cable Radio Awards that December.

The following year, it became a massive hit, topping Oricon’s annual chart.

It’s a track that fully showcases Atsumi’s vocal prowess, conveying profound sorrow and loneliness.

While the melody is gentle and unhurried, it features the dynamic contrasts and expressive vibrato characteristic of enka, so keep those nuances in mind when you sing it.

Scorpio womanMikawa Ken’ichi

Kenichi Mikawa “Woman of Scorpio (New Recording)” (Official Audio)

Kenichi Mikawa’s song is a work imbued with deep emotions, depicting straightforward love and a cold, calculated thirst for revenge.

It brilliantly captures the passionate expressions of love of a Scorpio woman and the calm resolve for revenge when betrayed.

Sung seven times on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, it is a masterpiece that has had a major impact on Japan’s music scene.

With its gentle, singable melody line, it’s an easy piece to try in karaoke.

If you’d like to sing a song that conveys deep love and complex emotions, give it a try.

Sūdara-bushiUeki Hitoshi

Hitoshi Ueki “Sūdara-bushi” ANALOG RECORD MUSIC

The Sudara-bushi playfully portrays everyday mishaps like drinking too much, gambling losses, and heartbreak.

With its catchy phrases, the song was released as a single in August 1961 and remained high on the charts into the following year.

It has been used in films and commercials and is widely known.

Its humorous singing style makes it easy to try, even for those who aren’t confident singers.