Wether you have only ever sung in the shower or you’ve been training your whole life on Sing Star, somehow, someway you will find yourself at karaoke. It’s a frightening, harrowing experience for some and triumphant for others. The prevailing key for nailing a successful karaoke hit is a song that everybody knows. If half the crowd is singing along then you only have to do half the work. Here’s a list of the 10 best karaoke songs of all time.
If you nail it you become a karaoke god, but you have to choose a song to suit your strengths and more importantly, you have to be drunk.
Fancy showing off your vocal chops or getting an entire crowd to participate in a drunk chant? We’ve got you covered with the best karaoke songs.
While it’s perfectly acceptable to find some of the entries on this list cheesy it won’t matter when the whole bar is singing along at the top their lungs. Plus isn’t karaoke a little cheesy in general? It’s time to unashamedly belt out those guilty pleasures you only sing in the shower.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
If you’ve seen the video a 65,000+ crowd sing Bohemian Rhapsody while waiting for Green Day to play then you know why this is at the top of the list. No one can sing like Freddie Mercury of course, but thankfully you won’t have to when literally every person in ear shot sings along, especially after the release of the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic earlier this year.
Queen’s high note of 80s art-rock will save the day every time, at any karaoke sing-a-long.
2. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
Another sure fire killer, Whitney Houston’s 1987 smash hit is sure to help you find that dance floor soul mate. Her powerful vocals sailing over the scintillating synth lines and third act key change are no doubt tough to emulate. However, you’re never alone in karaoke and the only thing that will be louder than the bar cheering you on is the eternal glory of this 80s synth pop classic.
3. Let’s Get It On – Mavin Gaye
Every good karaoke session needs a tender, sensual moment and it’s hard to go past Marvin Gaye. Throwing away the traditional; verse and chorus structure, Mavin opts for a loose jam to give him the vocal freedom to unleash those sensual wails.
So have fun with it and keep the form free because your chances of leaving the bar alone just vanished entirely.
4. Evil Woman – Electric Light Orchestra
If you’ve ever heard a DJ play ELO then you know why this is on the list. The undeniable piano groove is enough to get the boogie started before the stickiest sing-a-long chorus of all time comes sailing down. Also a great song if don’t necessarily have the best range.
5. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
If you wanna belt out an 80s rock anthem then you can’t go past Livin’ On A Prayer. You may not have the lungs for it but it won’t matter as the whole bar belts it out with you. To be honest almost any 80s anthem is a pretty safe bet when you’re doing karaoke but Bon Jovi definitely sits at the top of the list.
Frequently cited as the best song of the 80s; thew 1986 hit topped the charts making it one of the best karaoke songs of all time.
6. Hey Jude – The Beatles
Channel your inner Paul McCartney with this timeless Beatles classic. It’s fairly easy to sing and has very memorable lyrics earning it a safe spot on this list. It’s the perfect song for anyone feeling a little timid when when they step up to the mic and it’s quite something to get a whole bar chanting the famous ‘na na na na na’, swaying to and fro.
7. Valerie – Amy Winehouse
Perhaps the most recognisable chorus of all time, it’s a treat to sing walking down the street and it’s even better in a karaoke club. Originally written by The Zutons, Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson made Valerie famous in 2007 and it’s been a gold plated hit ever since. Maybe practice nailing that chorus before you put down a few drinks though.
Check out this stunning live version live in London 2007 below:
8. Love Shack – B52’s
Something about the weird male and vocals and sensual female vocals make this a trademark B52’s number. It definitely has the makings of karaoke banger with a chorus sure to get any crowd on their feet.
Perfect for anyone who hasn’t got the vocal elasticity to nail an Amy Winehouse number, the sassy barking of Fred Shneider will save the day for anyone who’s knocked back a few too many. You may just want to invite a few punters on stage to cover the Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson parts.
9. (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
The ultimate song for any divine woman feeling the love. Not for a faint hearted vocalist it will definitely lift the spirits of anyone in earshot and send the crowd into a swoon. Can you pull off the empowered, feminine, deified glory of Aretha Franklin‘s spine tingling vocals? Pour your heart out if you dare.
Check out a magnificently empowering live version from 2015 below:
10. Space Oddity – David Bowie
Released nine days before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, David Bowie‘s existential drive to expand the consciousness of rock n roll collided with humanities own interstellar explorations as well as their explorations to expand the self in the late 60s.
The initial countdown is magnificent as is the tune itself, earning it a definitive spot as one of the best karaoke songs of all time. Get ready for lift off with Space Oddity.
