Vocaloid fans are well aware of how notoriously difficult some Vocaloid songs are. Afterall, one of the reasons that Vocaloid producers started using the program is because they’re able to pull off music that’s not humanly possible. But that hasn’t stopped anyone from covering their favorite Vocaloid tracks over the years. It led to the rise of utaite on Niconico, and even popular hololive VTubers continue to put out their own versions.
If you want to bring some Vocaloid songs to karaoke—or maybe even become a professional performer one day—we have the playlist ready to get you started! We’ve made a ranking of beloved Vocaloid classics ranging from easy ballads to extreme vocal challenges depending on how hard you want to go for your karaoke session.
NOTE: Most Japanese karaoke systems require kana input (i.e. hiragana and/or katakana) unless they are originally romanized. For songs with commonly known English titles, we’ll refer to them using their English titles with their Japanese counterparts (e.g. YOASOBI’s “Idol” アイドル).
Stage 1: Beginner / Warm Up
Ease into Vocaloid karaoke with these songs whether it’s your first attempt at karaoke or you just need to get your vocal chords ready to go hours with the mic.
“Dawn and Fireflies (夜明けと蛍)” - n-buna
The song’s mild tempo is easy to keep up with to get you started. While it has some high notes, it’s a safe pick for most people.
“Love Trial” (恋愛裁判) - 40mP
“Love Trial” offers a step up in speed, but the song’s key and range aren’t too much of a challenge just yet.
“Matryoshka” (マトリョシカ) - HACHI
When you’re ready for a slightly more intense warmup, “Matryoshka” has the upbeat tempo and key changes to prepare for Hachi’s harder songs like “Sunanowakusei” and “Donut Hole.”
“KING” - Kanaria
Get ready to try more challenging songs by practicing breath control and support with Kanaria’s “KING.” Then have a shot at other popular Kanaria songs like “QUEEN” or “Yoidoreshirazu” to level up.
Once you’ve gotten those songs in the bag, you’re ready to take on a number of Vocaloid staples. By this point the songs are going faster, cover a wider vocal range, and require better pitch and breath control.
(Want to learn more about Vocaloid and J-Pop? Check out our previous article on artists who started their careers producing Vocaloid music!)
Stage 2: Intermediate / Level Up
A tip for these songs: listen to covers and Project Sekai versions! Many Vocaloid producers have also released their own self-covers, and of course other musicians have taken on the challenge, too. Even if you’re just doing these songs for fun at karaoke, you can pick up ideas on how to adapt the song to your own style and learn techniques by hearing pros.
“Phony” (フォニイ) - tsumiki
Be ready to do a bunch of key changes as the song progresses. The “phony phony phony” bits will also require good pitch control as they go higher.
“Charles” (シャルル) - balloon
Although it doesn’t have as many key changes compared to “Phony,” the chorus in “Charles” will have you jumping notes quite a bit. And keep breathing technique in mind as you follow the beat.
“World Is Mine” (ワールドイズマイン) - ryo (supercell)
If you’re going to sing Vocaloid, you have to take on this classic. The difficulty comes in timing and being able to remain expressive during the spoken parts of the song. But if it’s a bit intimidating to try alone, follow Cosmic Princess Kaguya’s example and turn it into a duet for two.
“magnet” - Takahiro Minato (RyūseiP)
Speaking of duets, “Magnet” is a great one to do at karaoke. Timing is everything with this song just like any other piece that needs two or more singers. It’s also a good start if you want to collaborate with other people and learn how to sync up with each other.
“Shōjo Rei” - Mikito P
Compared to other songs at this level, “Shōjo Rei” might seem easier. But this is where your ability to add nuance and feeling can develop to deliver an emotionally powerful song. Once you’re ready to speed it up, switch over to “Roki” for a more rock approach to vocal expression.
“Hibana” - DECO27*
We can’t have a Vocaloid playlist without a Deco*27 song in the mix. And taking everything you’ve worked on up until this point, “Hibana” is the perfect song to put it all to the test. Try to stay with the song’s quick beat while putting on an emotive rock performance. And if you can keep that momentum up with other iconic Deco*27 songs like “The Vampire” (ヴァンパイア) and “Monitoring” (モニタリング), you’re ready to go to the next stage.
Stage 3: Expert / Boss Fight
Being able to execute songs well at this level can lead to a really impressive performance. But remember you can always change the key or slow the tempo while you work on improving your technique.
“Darling Dance” (ダーリンダンス) - Kairikibear
“Darling Dance” is a pretty high song. Start by practicing at a lower key until you’re comfortable enough to try the original.
“Kyu-kurarin” - Iyowa
Aside from the range and tempo, the tune of “Kyu-kurarin” really requires familiarity and practice. It’s good to keep a lyric sheet in hand to add annotations for where music takes sudden turns.
“Ego Rock” (エゴロック) - THREEE
The fast pace of this song calls for a lot of breath control and being able to articulate the lyrics well during those moments.
“Meltdown” (炉心融解) - iroha(sasaki)
If you’re looking to really push yourself to hit high notes, “Meltdown” can get you there. It’s not as fast as other songs at this level, but that way you can focus on working on your pitch control.
“Tetoris” (テトリス) - Hiiragi magnetite
“Tetoris” covers a wide range. So prepare to go really low or really high if you plan to change the key. The tempo is also quite fast which calls for good enunciation of the lyrics to make the song sound clear.
“God-ish” (神っぽいな) - PinocchioP
Variety is the highlight of “God-ish” and also what makes it hard to master. Not only does the song have a wide range with different vocal styles throughout, but it also switches between fast and slow parts. But mastering this means you’re that much closer to tackling some of the hardest Vocaloid songs, like PinocchioP’s “Non-Breath Oblige.”
“The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku” (初音ミクの消失) - cosMo@Bousou-P
This song sounds impossible, but it’s been done. Our karaoke abilities here at TOM aren’t at this level of Vocaloid singing skills yet, but there’s no doubt it takes a ton of practice, technique, and dedication.
And remember to have fun! Don’t stress out about nailing these songs perfectly on your first try. That’s all we’ve got for this edition of TOM’s karaoke playlist. Tag us with your favorite Vocaloid covers or share your own rendition of these songs!
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Written by Alon Bramble for TOM News, with special thanks to staff karaoke expert Hayley
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