“Check, please!”
If you want one to bring the room to life, the answer is “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. It kills 100% of the time–everyone will sing along. You can’t help it.
Nah, Sweet Caroline is far more effective
BAH BAH BAH!!!
GOOD TIMES NEVER FELT SO GOOD
So good! So good!
I’m sorry, but could you tell me why?
I wish you’d just believe when I say…
A-ha - Take on me
every time
I went to a karaoke night one where there were actual talented singers. There was a lady who did this song, nailing all the high notes.
Her friend followed up with Beyonce - Love on top, and nailed every key change.
Not to be out done, one of their BF’s/Husbands followed that With Bill Withers - Lovely Day, and held all the notes…
My friends and I left. We did not know it was that type of party.
The first time I was at a bar that had karaoke, this dude went up and did ice ice baby. As soon as he starts, five buddies run up there and they all did THE dance, the entire way through, 100% on point. It was amazing.
That earns a pitcher for the table, for sure!
If you want a fun karaoke night, first song(s) need to be something that will get most everyone singing. Younger crowds: something like Tayor Swift “Shake It Off”. Middle age crowds, something like Nirvana or Aerosmith. Older crowds any Beatles #1.
I personally like Cyprus Hill “Jump Around” if you’re willing to learn it well enough beforehand as to not butcher the lyrics. I’ve seen Vanilla “Ice Ice Baby” also get a similar reaction of everyone knowing the song and enjoying it enough to give you kudos for choosing it.
After everyone’s over the initial hesitation, go belt all your love songs and power ballads; but get the party started first.
The Champs - Tequila
Funky Town
My go-to’s are:
Blind Melon - No Rain
Fra Lippo Lippi - Light and Shade
Sting - Englishman in New York
Seal - Kiss From A Rose
I was gonna say Kiss From A Rose, but only because nobody would see that shit coming.
I have friends who try to convince me to sing, I always tell them “Look, there’s only one song I can do and I guarantee they don’t have it…”
“Come on man, they have thousands of songs, they have to have it…”
“Fine, if they have it, I’ll do it. Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs.”
And man, they’ll run and look for that song… then they argue…
“I don’t think it’s a real song!”
“I know it is! I’ve heard of it!”
The song:
To be fair, that isn’t a song its just music, so they were right lol
Last time I did this, I dedicated (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman to my now ex-wife.
And I’d do it again!
I think I’ve got enough goofy charm to pull off 24 Hour Cinderella… or at least, I will think that after a few drinks.
Puscifer - Conditions of my Parole
I’m playing the Doom theme and fighting my way to the exit as I am clearly in hell.
Whenever I’m in a rather Yee-Haw place, and bars are filled with folks wearing camo and baseball caps, my go-to is Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show, it gets people riled up.
Later in the evening, once folks have had a few drinks in them, Take Me Home Country Roads is unquestionably the song to end with.
See also: Friends in Low Places. They played it at a AAA baseball game here and the whole place was chanting it lol.
Halfway through there’s a drunk woman and her reluctant husband/boyfriend/male friend/drafted stranger who sings “Picture” by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.
Anything by Supertramp or Bad Company.
Probably a random Russian, Ukrainian or Italian song I know, because I like to sing in these languages.
