Cool songs from the Showa era. Masterpieces from Showa that shine with sensuality, passion, and rugged charm.
The Showa era gave birth to a wide range of timeless hits.
With the global city pop boom and more, classic songs from the Showa era continue to attract attention today.
This time, we’ve handpicked especially cool tracks from among those Showa classics!
From the intense coolness of rock to the smooth coolness of city pop, we’ve selected standout songs from a variety of angles.
We’ve highlighted both male and female artists, so feel free to use this as a go-to list for karaoke as well!
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Cool songs from the Showa era: classic Showa masterpieces that shine with allure, passion, and rugged charm (11–20)
Silhouette RomanceOhashi Junko
Junko Ohashi is a singer known for her moody songs brimming with a sophisticated, adult atmosphere.
One of her signature tracks, “Silhouette Romance,” was released in 1981 and has been covered by numerous artists.
Its warm yet heartrending jazzy sound is truly moving.
Her comforting vocals, which embrace every emotion, are soothing as well.
Take in the alluring, female-perspective lyrics.
You can savor the beautiful melodies that colored the Showa era.
Dancing HeroOginome Yōko
A magical track that invites you into the world of disco! Released in November 1985, it became her first entry into the top 10 on the Oricon weekly chart.
You can almost picture the Cinderella boy racing across the dance floor in shimmering outfits and silver shoes.
The lyrics, depicting a dreamlike night, perfectly capture the free and liberating vibe of disco.
Paired with Yoko Oginome’s powerful vocals, it captivates every listener.
A massive hit with total sales of 700,000 copies, it remains beloved by many to this day.
Perfect for a weekend karaoke night with friends!
Body and soulDaun Taun Bugiugi Bando
The Downtown Boogie-Woogie Band’s classic “Mi mo Kokoro mo” (“Body and Soul”) has a cool, crying guitar intro.
The Downtown Boogie-Woogie Band, with their sunglasses and slicked-back pompadours, is a rock band overflowing with manly spirit.
“Mi mo Kokoro mo” is the title track of an album released in 1977, and it was the band’s first work recorded overseas.
It’s a rock ballad with vocals by Ryudo Uzaki that really moves the heart, and its plaintive minor-key sound resonates deeply.
Lonely ChaplinSuzuki Kiyomi with Rats & Star
Here’s a cool Showa-era duet that keeps getting sung stylishly at sophisticated clubs and popular snack bars: the famous “Lonely Chaplin.” It’s also a hit on impression shows—seems like every impressionist loves to perform it.
Seimi Suzuki’s distinctive, Tina Turner–like look was a hot topic back then, too.
The powerful, female-perspective lyrics—basically “My ex is definitely coming back to me”—are awesome as well.
Might be fun to find a partner and perform it at a year-end or New Year’s party.
Fill it in blackYazawa Eikichi
When it comes to Japan’s quintessential rock ’n’ roller, you can’t leave out Eikichi Yazawa.
The single he released in 1977, “Kuroku Nuritsubuse” (“Paint It Black”), is a high-velocity rock ’n’ roll track that was also included on his album “Doa o Agero,” which reached No.
2 on the Oricon charts.
Listening to Yazawa’s powerful vocals makes your self-doubt vanish and makes you feel like you can do anything.
In 1998, he self-covered the song on the album “SUBWAY EXPRESS,” remaking it with a modern sound that incorporates synthesizers and more.
DESIRE -Passion-Nakamori Akina
The “DESIRE style,” combining traditional Japanese attire, a short bob, and distinctive choreography, became a social phenomenon.
It’s a song where you can really feel Akina’s bold side.
Singing with a slightly lower, cool tone should match the atmosphere very well.
The range doesn’t venture much into high notes, and the A-melody is quite low for many female singers.
If you imagine pushing out a mass of breath in front of you and release your voice slowly, your body will resonate and it becomes easier to produce the sound.
For the chorus, open up your voice with a stylish, confident flair! It always gets the crowd going, so it’s highly recommended.
Cool songs from the Showa era: Classic hits from Showa where sensuality, passion, and rugged charm shine (21–30)
As time goes bysawada kenji
Kenji Sawada, an idol who represents the Showa era.
He’s an artist for whom the word “charisma” fits perfectly.
Among his many famous songs, the one I especially recommend is “As Time Goes By.” It’s a track that exudes Showa-era allure and conveys a passionate, romantic feel, yet it has a narrow vocal range and the pitch is easy to catch, so even women in their 50s who struggle with pitch should find it easy to sing.
Since the original key may be hard to project in, make sure to figure out your own key before you sing.
