You HAVE TO do the spinning Janis Joplin rockin’-out dance, of course. Watch any footage of her dancing around the stage, and imitate. It definitely helps if you’re drunk. After all, she was too.
I tried it. It didn’t work. Bad times.
My wife and I like to sing “Love Shack” together, but since there are more female vocal parts than just Kate Pierson, it’s better if you have two or three others to join in and sing the girls’ lines.
I’ve done “You Might Think” by The Cars and “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone. I haven’t had enough practice with “Fly Me To The Moon;” I still get confused on the timing between the Frank Sinatra version and all the covers by the voice actors from Neon Genesis Evangelion. which I am [sadly?] more familiar with.
We always sing along with The Donnas and Bowling For Soup when they’re on the stereo. Unfortunately, the only chance we had to do karaoke was a “modern hits” compilation that had BFS’s “1985” and a bunch of crappy songs on it for $25.00. I didn’t have that kind of money to flush.
Kelliebeans and I both like to sing along to Pat Benetar’s “Heartbeaker.” I actually did it karaoke at a club in north Dallas once the night before we got married.
If I could only find a karaoke disc with the Lou Bonnevie version…
At one Dallas Dopefest I sang ‘Centerfold’. That is my only public (sic) singing appearance to date - lets just say the requests for more songs were not coming.
If you can do that one, I admire the hell out of you. The vocal range covered by that song (as with most Roy Orbison songs) is ridiculous.
Wow, 25 replies and no mention of Margarittaville? I figured that was a repetoire requirement for anyone taking the stage. 
The ones I enjoy doing:
Every rose has it’s thorn, Poison.
Just a Gigolo, David Lee Roth
Still Rock and Roll to me, Billy Joel
You & Me & the bottle makes three, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Stray Cat’s Strut, Stray Cats
Jack and Diane, John Couger Mellencamp
And just to throw out another “gender bender”, I’ve got a (male) friend who does an outstanding version of Toxic by Brittany Spears (no, really, it’s good when he does it).
I couldn’t believe how winded I was after doing that one one night. I suppose it was the first time I had sung it all the way through. What a workout.
It would also be my favorite, but I’ve only done karaoke once, and we sang American Pie, and Eight Days a Week.
Bird Man and I *ROCK *Love Shack. It’s our song. 
Mountain of Love - Johnny Rivers
Is This Love - Bob Marley
Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
I prefer to sing mostly ballads:
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
Day After Day - Badfinger
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Platters?
Sukiyaki - Taste of Honey
One In a Million You - Larry Graham
Along the line “Whatever” Man songs, I wonder how Piano Man would be. For some reason, it is really popular among college students, especially when somewhat drunk. And at least I kinda know the lyrics.
If they’ve got The Offspring, I could do several of those almost from memory. But it would help if I had a hot girl filling in the few vocals on Pretty Fly (For A White Guy).
My absolute favorite is Chantilly Lace by Big Bopper.
If someone else can do the main vocals, I’m awesome with the backup to “Blue Moon.”
I mostly like oldies, but I have a pretty deep range, so there’s not much I can do solo. But I do enjoy it from time to time.
It’s Raining Men - the Weather Girls
Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox
Twist in My Sobriety - Tanita Tikaram(my personal arrangement that I will bring on CD)
Love to Hate You - Erasure
Fever - Peggy Lee
“Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin, which is my favorite song ever. And since I’ve fallen in love since the last time I sang karaoke, next time is “Blue Skies” by Bobby Darin.
Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you’re in love, my how they fly
And if you think I’m disgustingly happy and saccharine now, just wait until you see me drunk enough to sing karaoke.
Regular twice-a-month kinda guy checking in:
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin
- Mack the Knife
- The Music of the Night
- Vincent
- My Way (when I’m pissed)
Songs I will sing if I can find them:
- The Very Thought of You
- The Air That I Breathe
I’ve got three favorites…
- Minnie the Moocher
- Closer
- The end of the world as we know it
The REM will impress if you go out of your way to not look at the words.
Which one’s the REM, and what are you doing up at 3.30am anyway. Drunk again, or drawing up workplace wardrobe guidelines?
Top choice. Must see if they’ve got it next time.
Which one’s the REM? O boy…Your karaoke privilages are revoked untill you can figure that one out on your own.
Nah…there are precious days when I’m both sober & awake late at night. But after seeing some of the articles Pope Benedict is strutting down the runway, I’m thinking of instituting some new clothing regulations.
Oh, and I rock any and all Chris Issak songs at karaoke. If you don’t believe me, just let me know when & where the next Straight Dope karaoke contest is & I’ll prove it.
Tequila
And trust me, the people listening are thankful all they had to hear was one word.