RAG MusicKARAOKE
Lovely karaoke song

Karaoke songs in Western music that are easy to sing even for people who are tone-deaf

A roundup of easy-to-sing Western karaoke songs even for the tone-deaf!

I know many people feel intimidated by Western music.

In Japanese pop, techniques like vocal runs or shouts aren’t used very often.

Especially vocal runs—similar to what we call “kobushi” in Japan—aren’t typically attempted.

Because we grow up with that kind of musical culture, many Japanese people end up lacking a strong sense of rhythm or melodic phrasing.

This time, I’ve picked out songs that even those with a very “purely Japanese” musical sensibility can sing and still sound cool!

Of course, I’ll also highlight specific tips for each song!

We’ll cover some technical points too, so if you want to get better at singing, don’t miss this!

Karaoke Songs in Western Music That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf (31–40)

Wake Me UpAvicii

Avicii – Wake Me Up (Official Video)
Wake Me UpAvicii

Avicii’s famous song “Wake Me Up.” Although Avicii also handled vocals, his ability as a vocalist wasn’t particularly strong.

In other words, many of his songs are easy to sing even if you’re not a great singer.

This time I chose this popular track from his catalog, and the thing is, there’s almost no vibrato in it.

But if you sing it in a weak, wobbly way, it’ll just sound bad, so even if you’re not confident, sing clearly and loudly with crisp diction!

Top of the WorldCarpenters

The Carpenters – Top Of The World — HQ Audio — Lyrics
Top of the WorldCarpenters

“Top of the World” is a song released by the Carpenters in 1972.

In 1973, it reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the duo’s second Billboard number-one single.

Originally, the Carpenters’ version was intended as an album track, but when Lynn Anderson covered the song and reached No.

2 on the U.S.

country singles chart in mid-1973, it likely highlighted the country-style touches heard throughout the arrangement—an anecdote that makes a lot of sense in retrospect.

In Japan as well, the song has numerous cover versions and has even been used as a TV drama theme, so many listeners here have probably heard it.

Like many Carpenters songs, it’s sung with exceptionally beautiful and clear English pronunciation, making it an excellent practice piece for those who have hesitated to sing Western pop due to language concerns.

Vocally, there aren’t any particularly difficult parts, so it’s a track I highly recommend for many beginners to Western-song karaoke.

Shape of YouEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You (Official Music Video)
Shape of YouEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” was a massive hit worldwide.

If you know the song, you might have noticed that it doesn’t weave in advanced vocal techniques.

Whether it’s vibrato or “fake” (similar to the Japanese technique known as kobushi), such elements don’t appear very often.

However, because the song is sung in a whispery tone throughout, vocal stability is required.

Western pop can be hard to sing for those who are tone-deaf, but I still think this track is one that many can manage to sing.

Can’t Help Falling In LoveElvis Presley

Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling In Love (Official Audio)
Can't Help Falling In LoveElvis Presley

The Japanese title is “Suki ni Narazuni Irarenai.” As everyone knows, it’s Elvis Presley’s classic ballad! Its triplet-based swinging rhythm feels wonderfully pleasant.

And when it comes to pronouncing the English lyrics, there aren’t any parts that force you to rush, so it’s a very friendly song even for us Japanese people, who often struggle with English.

Personally, when I listen to this song, I picture a romantic sunset on a southern island—somewhere like Hawaii.

It’s a piece that excels at evoking vivid imagery, so as you sing it, try conjuring up your own scenes in your mind.

What Makes You BeautifulOne Direction

One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful (Official Video)
What Makes You BeautifulOne Direction

A track from One Direction’s 2011 release, included on the album featuring “What Makes You Beautiful.” It’s also a song that won many awards, including Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards in the U.S.

Although this article recommends songs under the theme of “Western songs that are easy to sing even if you’re not good at singing,” to be honest, I don’t think this particular song really fits that description (lol).

It’s a medium-tempo, very upbeat, easy-to-groove-to track, so I hope you’ll just enjoy singing it without worrying too much about the details, including English pronunciation! Melody-wise, especially the chorus, it’s very simple—mostly just repeating the title—so I do think it’s ultimately easy to sing even for those who aren’t confident singers!

Karaoke Songs in Western Music That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf (41–50)

Rock N RollAvril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne – Rock N Roll (Official Video)
Rock N RollAvril Lavigne

A song by Canadian female singer Avril Lavigne from her self-titled fifth album, released in November 2013.

It was released as a single ahead of the album in September of the same year.

Now, this track has been selected under the theme of “easy to sing even for the tone-deaf,” but it doesn’t exactly have the kind of straightforward, melodic pop feel you find in Japanese kayōkyoku, so it might feel a bit hard to approach for Japanese listeners.

Still, the song itself is a very simple rock tune, so if you don’t obsess over precision and just go with the groove, there’s a good chance you’ll end up sounding cooler than you expect.

There are parts that require quite a high register if you try to sing it like the original, so if high notes aren’t your strong suit, it’s better to lower the key a bit.

It’s also great material for learning the kind of “vocal embellishments” often found in Western music, so approaching it from that angle could be interesting.

How Deep Is Your LoveBee Gees

Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love (Official Video)
How Deep Is Your LoveBee Gees

This classic has the feel of quintessential pop music, wrapped in a light and gentle melody.

Its lyrics, which explore the depth of love, leave a strong impression, and it was released in 1977.

Featured on the album Saturday Night Fever, it also won a Grammy Award.

With relatively few dense English lyrics and a vocal line that doesn’t require a wide range, it’s an easy song to sing.

You can perform it like the original, but trying a softer singing style is also recommended.

With its tender atmosphere, this is a heartwarming track that makes you want to listen to it with someone special.