We have a karaoke party to go to this Friday. What's the ideal song to choose? Per our determination, it should make your head nod with the beat, should be well known and short. If your head doesn't bob but rather you sway, it's too chill. If it's a deep cut or too obscure people tune out.
What do you think? What should we sing?
What was the last song you sang at karaoke?
Bohemian Rhapsody and Piano Man are the worst choices. people don't realize piano man is like 50 billion verses long and they don't know them.
One time, in music class we were singing Christmas Carols for a fun day. I requested "Frosty the Snowman." My music teacher asked me "The whole song?" to which I stupidly replied "Yes" without knowing what I was getting everyone into. There are a gillion verses. Nobody knows them all. Our music teacher made us sing them ALL, without song books. It was hell.
It's been YEARS since I've done legitimate karaoke and not just drunkenly serenading the dog, but I always thought that Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" was a good karaoke song. It's upbeat, not very long, most people know it. and enjoy singing along during the "lalalalala"s.
The Strokes' "Last Nite" is the only song I've found that I sound decent singing. Once you've had enough to drink, the Julian Casablancas impression comes naturally.
I once went to a karaoke bar with a bunch of friends where a middle age woman sang "The Lapdance Is Always Better When The Stripper Is Crying" with both a forced seriousness and a forced southern drawl. I don't think I'll ever see that topped.
I spend way too much time thinking about what song to choose, but usually I just end up singing the ones I feel like doing in the moment. Everywhere by Michelle Branch is the song that I've found that has that good sweet spot of widest appeal with all ages and audience impact. I also think Since You Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson is a really good crowd pleaser. And fuck it, Mr. Brightside is never not catchy. My last one was Zombie by The Cranberries, which went lukewarm, because yeah, it was too obscure and was more sway.