A roundup of songs that start with “U.” Perfect for shiritori or picking tracks at karaoke!
When you’re playing word-chain games using J-POP song titles, or doing “shiritori karaoke” where the next song is chosen by the last letter of the previous one, some of you might search for something like “songs that start with XX,” right?
So in this article, we’ll introduce a whole bunch of songs that start with “u.”
There are lots of words that begin with “u” that are commonly used in song titles—like umi (sea), wedding, uso (lie), and utsukushii (beautiful).
We’ve picked out a wide range of songs across different eras and by artists of all genders, so use this as a reference for choosing your next track!
- Vocaloid songs that start with 'U'
- Masterpieces with titles that start with 'A'
- [Easy to Sing] A Compilation of Recommended Vocaloid Songs for Karaoke
- A compilation of Vocaloid songs with titles that start with “Yu”
- Collection of Vocaloid songs with titles starting with 'dzu' (づ)
- A roundup of songs that start with “ku.” Perfect for shiritori or picking karaoke tracks!
- Songs with titles that start with 'yu'
- Songs whose titles start with 'I'. Masterpieces that begin with 'I'.
- A roundup of songs with titles that start with “bu.” Handy for shiritori or playlist-making.
- Discover new songs! A collection of tracks whose titles start with “Wa”
- [I want to sing out loud] Songs that feel great to belt and are fun for karaoke
- A roundup of songs with titles starting with “zu” (rare!)
- A roundup of songs with titles that start with “pu.” Great for shiritori or picking songs!
A roundup of songs that start with “U.” Perfect for shiritori or choosing karaoke tracks! (151–160)
It’s not a lie.Mrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a track from the album “Attitude,” released in October 2019.
It has a relaxed tempo and a classic band feel, so I think it’s relatively easy to memorize.
The vocal range is A2–D5—wide, in typical Mrs.
style—but since it’s not a song where you have to belt much, it should become easier to sing if you pay attention to where you resonate the sound! I get the impression that songs from the five-member era of Mrs.
are more challenging, with especially frequent switches between chest voice and falsetto.
I’ll explain how to make those transitions a bit easier, but the truth is, you don’t pitch with your throat—it’s basically your glabella (between the eyebrows).
If you watch Omori closely, you’ll notice his eyebrows are always raised; this expression naturally makes it easier to hit pitches.
With a blank face you can’t hold pitch and you won’t get high notes out! Simply lifting your eyebrows and facial muscles lets you “take the pitch” from the glabella, which makes singing easier.
It’s simple, so give it a try!
Rabbit TearsKumorigahara
It’s an absolutely stunning track where complex, labyrinthine odd-time riffs intersect with heart-wrenching Japanese vocals.
As people often describe Kumorigahara’s sound as “King Crimson meets Doji Morita,” it brilliantly fuses intellectual structural beauty with raw lyricism.
The intense impatience and inner turmoil borne by a fragile soul are rendered dramatically over a growling organ and a weeping Mellotron.
The song was included on the maxi single Dokugen Dokushō released in February 2016, and reached a wider audience with the December 2021 album KUMORIGAHARA.
In concert, it can stretch past eleven minutes and even feature a guitar-and-keyboard solo battle.
How about giving it a listen on a night when you want to immerse yourself in deeply narrative rock?
Ura-Namba BluesMizuki Kei
This is a blues enka by Kei Mizuki that conjures up the bustle and neon of Osaka’s backstreets in Ura-Namba.
Known as a “high-spirited Naniwa girl,” she sings a one-night-only love story.
The lyrics, which even drop the names of modern cocktails, are filled with the regret of not exchanging contact information and the aching feelings of a woman who can’t forget the person she spent just one night with.
If you have an unforgettable love memory, or on a night when you want to sink into a touch of sentimentality, listening to this will surely tighten your chest at the heroine’s endearing earnestness.
Street Corner of BetrayalKai Band
The Kai Band, a group that gained popularity with a distinctive musicality that blends elements of Japanese kayōkyoku into rock.
Many men in their 60s were likely drawn to their unadorned, rugged sound.
Among Kai Band’s songs, one I particularly recommend is “Uragiri no Machikado” (Street Corner of Betrayal).
The song spans mid1 C# to hi A#, which is somewhat wide, but since the average pitch is quite low, anyone who can produce brief mid-to-high notes should be able to sing it without issue.
However, because there are relatively few rests compared to the many long tones, it’s necessary to make adjustments—such as lowering the key slightly or tucking the chin—to avoid over-projecting your voice.
With YouNishino Kana
With You, released in May 2025, is easier to sing compared to Kana Nishino’s other songs because the chorus doesn’t go very high and you can mainly use chest voice.
The song’s range is G#3 to C#5, staying in the mid register, and the track itself is short at about two and a half minutes, so it should be easy to memorize! The highest note, C#5, appears in those occasional ad‑lib-like English phrases.
It’s perfectly fine to use falsetto there.
For the verse (A), pre-chorus (B), and chorus, pay attention to the rhythm in each section.
In the A section, there’s a spoken feel, so value the space between phrases.
The B section is distinctive—think “ta-taa ta-taa ta-taa ta-taa,” taking the rhythm carefully one by one.
In the chorus, be mindful of the ends of the beats.
Stay calm and work through each part step by step!
LiarUeto Aya
Aya Ueto delivers a moving song that delicately portrays a person trying to move forward after a breakup while hiding their true feelings.
The folkloric, wistful melody and her clear, translucent voice vividly express the emotions of someone putting on a brave face yet still thinking of their former partner.
Released in November 2004 as Ueto’s 10th single, the song was written and composed by Tetsurō Oda and included on the album “Re.” It’s a track that many who are striving to stay positive after heartbreak—while keeping their deepest feelings hidden—will deeply relate to.
Her vocals convey both strength and aching tenderness, sure to leave your heart feeling warm.
A roundup of songs that start with “u.” Perfect for word-chain games or karaoke picks! (161–170)
Around the season of urizun (the early springtime in Okinawa, literally “the time when melons begin to grow”)Sakamoto Fuyumi
This is a famous song by Fuyumi Sakamoto whose title evokes the early summer of Okinawa and resonates deeply.
It portrays the poignant feelings of a protagonist who, heartbroken in love and dreams and weary of city life, remembers the warm southern breeze and beautiful sea of their hometown.
Carried by the sound of the sanshin, Sakamoto’s rich, lustrous vocals gently seep into the listener’s heart.
Originally included on her 2001 album “Fuyumi Renaissance,” the track was released as a single in September 2002 after topping a fan poll, timed with the 30th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan.
It was also used as the theme for the weather forecast on Okinawa TV, suggesting how widely it was cherished.
It’s a warm song that offers comfort to those striving far from home.