[Recommended for people in their 70s] Songs that get everyone excited. Songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke.

Examinee BluesTakaishi Tomoya

Examinee Blues (Single Version)

A masterful folk song that portrays the agony and inner conflict of exam-takers with humor and irony.

Goro Nakagawa, then a third-year high school student, wrote the lyrics during a remedial class, and Tomoya Takaishi completed the piece by setting them to a lively, country-style melody.

Vividly depicting a day in the life of a student preparing for entrance exams, the song sharply expresses the emptiness of a life consumed by studying.

Released in February 1968, it became a hit with total sales of 900,000 copies.

It still resonates today and is often sung at parties and gatherings with friends.

It can be considered a valuable work that allows people across generations to look back on the exam wars that symbolized Japan’s rapid economic growth era in the Showa period.

The Song of KemekoZa Dātsu

The Darts / Kemeko’s Song (1968)

This work transforms a poem about feelings for a ninth-grade classmate into a charming yet bittersweet pop song.

Sung from the perspective of someone enamored with a girl who excels at chemistry, the song’s unique appeal lies in its twist: the love confession initially succeeds, only to take an unexpected turn.

The intro, which boldly quotes the scat from a Neil Sedaka classic, is also striking.

The Darts’ version, released by Nippon Columbia in February 1968, reached No.

2 on the Oricon chart and sparked a major craze, being featured on Fuji TV’s “Owarai Tag Match” and even adapted into a film.

It’s a perfect pick for those who want to bask in sweet-and-sour memories or liven up a party.

What’s your name, Antiene?Toni Tani

Tony Tani, what's your name?

A comic song that delivers laughter and warmth in a unique style blending English and Japanese.

From Martians on the far side of the moon to cages at the zoo, its nonstop, unpredictable twists are sure to make you smile.

It’s a lively, humorous piece that briskly portrays encounters with a parade of colorful characters.

Used in 1962 on “Avec Song Battle,” it was performed by host Tony Tani to the beat of hyoshigi clappers.

Re-released in July 2005, this work is sure to make warm moments with family and friends even more enjoyable.

Best enjoyed in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with people you know well.

Tokyoyashiki takajin

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.

The Splendor of the PrairieAgunesu Chan

The Shine of the Grasslands / Agnes Chan (with lyrics)

Amidst nature’s rich scenery, a name echoes and the wind’s sound brings tears.

While listening to the babbling of a brook, this moving song by Agnes Chan celebrates moments spent in a meadow scented with lotus blossoms.

As wild strawberries are picked, pure thoughts of a dearly loved one far away blend beautifully with her clear, translucent voice.

Released in 1973, the song became a major hit with sales exceeding one million copies, and it was chosen as the entrance march for the spring National High School Baseball Invitational in 1974.

As a springtime song that evokes the beauty of nature and the season of new journeys, it’s a perfect nostalgic tune to hum together with older listeners.