Top 20 Best Karaoke Songs

Duets are just one reason why karaoke can be fun, so it’s important to pick a song with which you and your partner are familiar. This track from the musical and movie “Grease” should be a sure fire hit with the crowd, so long as your team is prepared to sing relatively high. Additionally, it’s important to be in sync when singing “Summer Nights,” because both John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John harmonize a lot. When it comes to this song, a little preparation will go a long way in ensuring that your version of “Summer Nights” will be the best.

A little nostalgia always gets the karaoke bar or club going, and this next entry will definitely appeal to the closet pop fan in us all. “Wannabe” is unapologetically cheesy and kitschy, but not really in a bad way. Instead, this Spice Girls jam will likely get the crowd dancing and singing along, even if they weren’t Girl Power believers back in the nineties. It’s amazing what a little time will do in easing the memory of a once-inescapable earworm, and a karaoke crowd will likely welcome a rendition of “Wannabe” with open arms (and ears).

Unfortunately, it isn’t always a given that someone singing karaoke is doing so just to have fun and goof around with their friends. There’s also a section of singers who legitimately may have some steam to blow off, or some emotions to channel through their song choice and performance. “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood is a great choice for one of those nights, although the song isn’t exactly easy to sing. Instead, the song demands some passion and pathos to be successful, the more the better. If you lean into “Before He Cheats” with some self-righteous catharsis, we’re willing to be the audience will respond in kind.

Think of this next entry as sort of a spiritual sibling to “Wannabe,” a harmless slice of boy band pop that’s gonna hit your karaoke audience right in the feels. Beyond this, however, can we agree that it’s kind of amazing how well arranged and catchy “I Want it That Way” sounds so many years later? We realize that many hands go into the pot of creating a smash pop song, but the Backstreet Boys material seems to have aged much better than most. Plus, if you get a good group together, there’s the possibility for boy band choreography to happen…which is always a good thing when it comes to a karaoke visual.

Karaoke brings in folks from all walks of life onto that imaginary stage to sing their favorite songs, and momentarily step into the shoes of their musical icons. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA will surely tap into the memories of singers of a certain age, who likely danced the night away at their local disco back in the seventies. From the opening piano sweep, it’s all sequins and satin as “Dancing Queen” leads the charge with the powerful female vocal team of Agnetha Faltskog (ang-nay-tah felt-skoag) and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (awnny freed LING-stawd). Although this isn’t exactly an easy song to sing, experienced karaoke professionals are encouraged to make this one their own.

Earnestness is key when it comes to our next entry. The music of Bruce Springsteen means a lot to a lot of people, so it’s more than likely that you’ll have some members of the karaoke audience listening and waiting for you to mess up on “Born to Run.” It doesn’t help that this rock classic by the Boss possesses a lot of lyrics, and requires the singer to really belt out the final third for proper dramatic effect. However, if you’re prepared, and give “Born to Run” the respect it deserves, we’re willing to bet that you’ll be able to silence any doubters out there with a commanding karaoke performance.

Another breakup song, this one, and a track that’s tailor made for the sort of hyper-dramatic, tears-in-your-beer karaoke night we’ve all had at one point or another. “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers isn’t a long track, but it packs a lot of emotional punch within a relatively short amount of time. Singers will have to deliver some sustained notes and reach deep down to hit those emotional peaks that Brandon Flowers did on the Killers’ original. We have faith in you, though: get up there, sing your heart out and leave it all there on the stage.

Eighties hair metal is always a good choice when it comes to karaoke night. There’s just something about the excessiveness of the arrangements, the big choruses and the sing-a-long-ability of the genre that makes everyone smile. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” isn’t the best hair metal song. Heck, it isn’t even close to being the best Def Leppard song, BUT: it has one important thing going for it: memorability. Everyone knows it, and that means everyone can sing along. Plus, who are we kidding? A few drinks in and you’re not gonna care whether you’re singing a Def Lep deep cut or not. Bring it on!

Sometimes, it isn’t about picking a dramatic song to sing at karaoke, or a fun party song. Sometimes, you just wanna sing a great song. Case in point? “Wonderwall,” by Oasis, a track that pretty much everyone can agree is an Oasis classic, and a track that everyone probably likes, whether they want to admit it or not. Additionally, Liam Gallagher’s laid back, raw and tinny vocal style means that it shouldn’t be hard to replicate “Wonderwall” in a karaoke setting. Plus, you can imitate that classic Liam Gallagher stage presence for extra authenticity appeal!

You can blame the Boston Red Sox for our next pick. Contrary to what you may think, the words “So Good” have absolutely nothing to do with the original version of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” If you’re singing this at karaoke night in New England, however, get ready for the crowd to pepper your rendition with this call-and-response. Of course, this added touch to the Diamond classic differs from place to place, with some fans just choosing to echo the orchestral arrangements by singing along with a “bah bah bah!” Wherever you sing it, just know that “Sweet Caroline” is definitely a group song when it comes to karaoke.

Simple, but oh so effective. “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: a perfect karaoke jam if there ever was one. This is because the song is deliberately composed with a punk-ish glam approach, a “less is more” aesthetic that hangs its hat more on attitude. As a result, singing this one at karaoke is surprisingly easy, even for the most novice of singers. All you need to do is project, bring that swagger and believe in the power of rock ‘n roll. Joan Jett will do the rest!

There’s absolutely NO way you can sing “Love Shack” at karaoke and not have a good time. Heck, we’re cracking a smile just thinking about the classic music video, never mind the fun you’ll have getting down with this B-52s classic. For best effect, have a friend on hand to hit all the backing vocals while you do Fred Schneider’s lead work. Oh, and be sure to plan the moment when everyone can shout along to the “Tin roof! Rusted!” bit that Cindy Wilson sings. We guarantee you that it will bring down the house.

If “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard was a hair metal song everyone can sing, “Livin’ on a Prayer” is a hair metal song that only the brave should sing. Karaoke beginners would perhaps be better served choosing something like “It’s My Life” before tackling “Livin’ on a Prayer,” because this Bon Jovi classic demands more than a little stamina. There are some legit high notes to hit, and a fair amount of power required to evoke the sort of electricity possessed by the JBJ original. If you feel up for it, though, we’re right there to sing along with ya!

Who doesn’t love doing a little dance with their karaoke? “Y.M.C.A.” has a built-in visual aid during its chorus, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a room that doesn’t wanna do their own Village People impression when this song hits. The actual verses aren’t too strenuous, either, making “Y.M.C.A.” a great song for the end of the night, or when you know you’ve had a bit too much to drink, but still wanna sing anyway. Oh, and bonus points if you bring a cop uniform or a construction worker’s hard hat to the stage.

They may say that “misery loves company,” but sometimes all it really needs is a good song. “Piano Man” is just one of those quintessential karaoke songs, a tune that’s bittersweet and melancholic, but at the same time cathartic when sung in a group setting. The lyrics are observational and witty, and everyone knows them. Plus, the verses are just long enough so that when the lead-up to the chorus is finally over, the entire bar is shouting along with you to “sing us a song, you’re the Piano Man!” This Billy Joel classic may be a bit sad, but we struggle to stay down when this many strangers are making us feel this good up on stage.

Ok, so this one is totally goofy, but still a stone-cold karaoke killer. Hip-hop can be a tough sell at karaoke, mainly due to the preparation involved for handling all of the lyrics. This roadblock isn’t as present when tackling old school hip-hop, however, such as Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.” Sure, there’s some quicker sections here that can get your tongue twisted, but the lion’s share of Mix-a-Lot’s jam is just too fun to resist. Pro tip: if you tackle this one in a group, it’ll be even easier to hide behind your friends if you stumble over some of the words!

The next entry on our list isn’t only one of the best and most iconic karaoke choices, it’s one of the best breakup songs EVER. That’s because Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” never wallows in self-pity, nor does it bring the room down. Instead, it’s a massive disco anthem of strength, resilience and self-empowerment, a song that the recently single should sing with absolute freedom and joy. It’s not really easy, but not impossible, either: it just requires a little practice. After all, there’s a reason why “I Will Survive” continues to be a cornerstone for the karaoke community: it’s just that damn good.

This next one’s for the old timers. Sure, we could’ve gone with “(Theme From) New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra for our number three entry, but we decided instead to go with something a little more difficult. “My Way” may seem deceptively easy from the slow burn opening, but make no mistake: this iconic performance from the Chairman of the Board is not for the faint of heart. “My Way” gradually increases in intensity and power as it goes along, meaning that you’ll never make it to the end, if you don’t pace yourself. Let the record show: only the most seasoned karaoke champs can bring down the house like Ol’ Blue Eyes.

Ok, so does it really matter at the end of the day if you can properly sing a song at karaoke? Some would argue no, and those same people will be the ones who’ll give you a pass if you tackle this Queen classic at your next karaoke party. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is just insanely difficult for the average singer to perform alone, but karaoke isn’t the same as being in a band, so here, it’s fake it till you make it, baby. Besides, the average, drunken karaoke audience just wants to imitate “Wayne’s World” and bang their heads to the heavy part, so why not just give them what they want?

Before we name our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions!

“Jolene,” Dolly Parton
Make Sure to Do Dolly Proud

“Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” Meat Loaf
A Picture-Perfect Choice for a Duet

“Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen
Go on…You Know You Want To

“Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd
Fun, and Not Too Difficult to Sing

“Shallow,” Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Only Experts Need Apply

It’s been performed and parodied to death, but we don’t care: we’ll sing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” any time, any place. The song is sort of the karaoke world’s unofficial national anthem, a rallying call for professional, part-time and novice singers alike to join in, regardless of skill level and embrace music. After all, isn’t that why we’re here in the first place? Let’s ignore the fact that most of us will never be able to do “Don’t Stop Believin’” any justice at karaoke. It’s not so much the destination, but the journey that makes singing this song Karaoke 101 for just about everybody.