Think about it, concerts are how we connect with our favorite artists, but karaoke is how we really bond with our favorite songs and friends.
What makes a great karaoke song? Is it a song that’s easy to sing? Is it a loud song? Is it one you and your entire group can jam to? Some songs may not be popular for karaoke because their vocals are too challenging or, some because they don’t have that live-bar feel to them.
More often than not, our favorite karaoke songs are familiar, accessible, simple without being predictable, and reminiscent of a specific time and place without being stuck there. Most importantly, they all sound great at loud volume and questionable pitch, and they all invite you to join in the fun with them.
Billboard has released their list of the 100 Greatest Karaoke Songs of All Time. It is a “road-tested set of classics you can find in most karaoke songbooks that are guaranteed to set the room on fire,” according to the magazine’s online article.
This morning on The Preston and Steve Show, the gang went over the top 20 songs. Surprisingly, “Sweet Caroline” didn’t make the cut! But number 6 even had Kathy Romano singing. Number 5 was definitely….a choice for a karaoke bar. And no one expected what song number one was going to be!
Scroll below to see the top 20 karaoke songs according to the new list.
20. The B-52s - “Love Shack”
Type: Anything Goes
19. 4 Non-Blondes - “What’s Up”
Type: Solo / Crowd-Pleaser
18. Carly Rae Jepsen - “Call Me Maybe”
Type: Group Sing-Along
17. Bon Jovi - “Livin’ on a Prayer”
Type: Crowd-Pleaser
16. Aretha Franklin - “Respect”
Type: Duet (because no ONE voice can do it justice)
15. Céline Dion - "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
Type: Solo / Crowd-Pleaser
14. Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
Type: Group Sing-Along
13. Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
Type: Crowd-Pleaser
12. Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"
Type: Solo / Crowd-Pleaser
11. Elton John & Kiki Dee - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
Type: Duet
10. Brandy & Monica - "The Boy Is Mine"
Type: Duet
9. Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Type: Anything Goes
8. Garth Brooks - "Friends in Low Places"
Type: Group Sing-Along
7. Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"
Type: Group Sing-Along
6. Alanis Morissette - "You Oughta Know"
Type: Solo / Crowd-Pleaser / Group Sing-Along
5. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - "Shallow"
Type: Duet
4. Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Type: Anything Goes
3. Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"
Type: Solo / Group Sing-Along
2. Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way"
Type: Group Sing-Along
1. Shania Twain - "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"
Type: Crowd-Pleaser
