# What are your karaoke songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2007, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321 "2007-03-17T09:04:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/1 "2007-03-17T09:04:08Z")
I’ve noticed that people that do karoke regularly or semi-regularly have songs they sing frequently, especially if they’re in a new place. (People who do it more often seem to have more confidence doing new ones, especially in a safe environment.) Mine are: Magic Man - Heart (I sometimes do “Crazy On You” but only if my throat feels really good - it’s a little high for me) Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads Respect - Erasure So c’mon and sing out - what do you sing? For fun, include gender, since some of us cross over (like me - I’m a girl, but my voice is kind of low). ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/2 "2007-03-17T11:14:35Z")
“Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley “Summertime Blues”, the Alan Jackson cover version. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/3 "2007-03-17T11:25:45Z")
I’ve only done karaeoke once or twice, but I like ‘Big Spender’ by Shirley Bassey. It’s just a fun song. (Oh, and I’m female.) ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/4 "2007-03-17T11:52:37Z")
Sunny It’s my wife’s English name. Male, and I can’t sing. I totally destroy that song ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/5 "2007-03-17T12:30:08Z")
The Calling - Wherever you will go I love karaoke, but so far that’s my only regular song. ---
**Author:** ![leafrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@leafrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leafrog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/6 "2007-03-17T15:59:07Z")
Oh, Darling–Beatles (though I will sing most any Beatles song) These Boots are Made for Walking–Nancy Sinatra I will Survive–Gloria Gaynor Wish I could find a Karaoke bar which has more showtunes, there are a lot of those I would love to belt out! One thing I learned early on is that liquid courage makes me a much worse singer. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/7 "2007-03-17T16:38:56Z")
I don’t regularly do kareoke out where _people_ can hear me, but it tends to show up at family gatherings since there’s a DJ in the family. So I’ve learned which few songs are easiest for me to sound okay on, which comes in handy on the odd occasion I’m out somewhere. Show Me the Way - Styx Someone to Watch Over Me - Whichever standard version’s available Harper Valley PTA - Jeanne C. Riley Nobody - Sylvia XXX’s and OOO’s (American Girl) - Matraca Berg ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/8 "2007-03-17T17:23:44Z")
Three Dog Night - Joy To The World Meredith Brooks - Bitch Merril Bainbridge - Mouth And if they have it: Farmer’s Daughter - Cornfields or Cadillacs ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/9 "2007-03-17T17:55:06Z")
Michael Buble: _Feelin’ Good, Home, Try A Little Tenderness_, working on adding _The Summer Wind_ James Taylor: _Fire and Rain, Your Smiling Face_ Paul Simon: _You Can Call Me Al_ Billy Joel: _The Entertainer, Honesty, An Innocent Man_ Neil Diamond: _Longfellow Serenade, September Morn_, (a favorite of **kaylasmom** ) _Beautiful Noise, Morningside (For My Children), Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show_ Sinatra: _I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Night and Day, You Make Me Feel So Young_ Weird Al Yankovic: _Yoda_ Roy Orbison: _Crying, Only the Lonely_ Blood, Sweat & Tears: _And When I Die_ Perry Como: _Hot Diggity Dog (Ziggity Boom)_ – a favorite of Michaela’s Show Tunes: _The Music of the Night (Phantom of the Opera), Love Changes Everything (Aspects of Love)_ Duets with **kaylasmom** : _All I Ask of You (Phantom), Endless Love (Ross and Richie), (With You I’m) Born Again (Preston and Wright), Somewhere Out There (Ronstadt, and Ingram)_ ---
**Author:** ![stucco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@stucco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stucco)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/10 "2007-03-17T18:14:29Z")
Sweet Home Alabama. Sure it gets repetetive, but it’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/11 "2007-03-17T18:28:26Z")
Cat Stevens - Sitting, Moonshadow, I Can’t Keep It In Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees, High and Dry, Street Spirit Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh), Under the Bridge If my voice isn’t feeling up to par but I want to sing anyway, my standby is “Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker. I am convinced that 96% of everyone on the planet could sing this and sound just fine (the same holds true for “Margaritaville”, but I patently refuse to sing it). ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/12 "2007-03-17T19:53:58Z")
I usually sing several Toby Keith songs, because my voice matches his voice almost perfectly. _Shoulda Been a Cowboy_ is kind of my signature song, and I do a killer rendition of _Stays in Mexico_. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/13 "2007-03-17T20:46:09Z")
I can’t sing well and I know it, so I use audience participation songs to help me overcome that. The songs I always do, and the only songs I will ever do are: David Allen Coe: Y_ou never called me by my name._ Hank Williams Jr.: _Family Tradition_ Jimmy Buffet: _Why don’t we get drunk_ All are easy for the crowd to sing along to, and I have fun with all three. Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/14 "2007-03-17T22:01:40Z")
Baby Got Back Ice Ice Baby Bust A Move I’m Too Sexy It Takes Two (Rob Base N Dj EZ Rock) Grapefruit Diet Beat It Just A Friend ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/15 "2007-03-17T22:07:44Z")
I’m in awe of people who can sing with anyone else listening. I can sing with my cats in the room, and I can sing in the car with my son with me, but nobody else. NOBODY. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/16 "2007-03-17T23:20:23Z")
I’m a closeted karaoke singer. I usually sing to the karaoke music on Comcast’s _On Demand_. My favorite songs are songs by the **Cars.** (I do a pretty good Ric Ocasek.) Some of my favorite ones this month are “You Might Think”, “Take The Long Way Home”, and “More Than A Feeling” (which takes on extra meaning with the death of Brad Delp). I also like to sing most **Billy Joel** and **Bruce Springsteen** tunes as well as some **BTO** and **Eagles**. In short, just about most classic rock tunes. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/17 "2007-03-18T02:54:43Z")
I used to cringe at the very thought of karaoke, until the navy decided to station me in Japan for three years – karaoke is ubiquitous over here! Since then, I’ve steadily built up a repertoire of “old faithfuls” that I can rip into even while stone cold sober 😉 It’s different over here, though – they give you a microphone and you sing from wherever you’re sitting, viewing the lyrics (with the obligatory nonsensical video behind it, what’s up with those crazy videos anyway?) on an overhead TV screen above the bar; this is much more preferable to the karaoke I’ve experienced in the states, in which you actually get up on a stage in front of everyone – far more intimidating! Alice in Chains - Man in the Box Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut Roy Orbison - Crying, Blue Bayou Aha - Take On Me _(need to be at least buzzing to do this one, heh)_ U2 - With or Without You Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) _(this one gets all the ladies dancing, every time – a real show-stopper!)_ Simple Minds - Don’t You Forget About Me Journey - Open Arms, Don’t Stop Believin INXS - Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart B-52s - Love Shack _(duet with whichever lady I happen to be buying drinks for at the time, usually the bartender)_ Plenty of others I’ll try depending on my level of intoxication. Oh yeah, and it seems “The Picture” duet (Sheryl Crow/Kid Rock?) has to be done every night. At least 5 times. In each and every bar. I can’t get away from it! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/18 "2007-03-18T03:22:16Z")
[QUOTE=Headrush042] I used to cringe at the very thought of karaoke, until the navy decided to station me in Japan for three years – karaoke is ubiquitous over here! … It’s different over here, though – they give you a microphone and you sing from wherever you’re sitting, viewing the lyrics (with the obligatory nonsensical video behind it, what’s up with those crazy videos anyway?) on an overhead TV screen above the bar; this is much more preferable to the karaoke I’ve experienced in the states, in which you actually get up on a stage in front of everyone – far more intimidating! [/QUOTE] Huh. When I was in Japan and our group went to a Karaoke joint, we were set up in a private room, so the only people who were listening were us. anyhoo - for me it’s: “Girl from Ipanema” - (which I was actually persuaded to do acapella once) or “Hit me with your best shot” ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/19 "2007-03-18T04:00:38Z")
As my name might indicate, I’m a gal who really loves to sing (that’s the reason I chose the name, after all!). Here are some of my favorites: _These Dreams_–Heart (but only because they can lower the key for me–otherwise I’d rupture something trying to sing it!) _The First Cut Is The Deepest_–Sheryl Crow _He Called Me Baby_–Patsy Cline _Somebody Loves You_–Crystal Gayle _Sad Songs (Say So Much)_–Elton John I sing weekly at the local American Legion–I have a few custom CD’s, so I actually sing a lot more than this, but these are the ones I hit pretty regularly. (I’ve even been told that I do a pretty kick-ass version of ELO’s _Don’t Bring Me Down_!) ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321/20 "2007-03-18T04:03:12Z")
[QUOTE=Pixisis] Huh. When I was in Japan and our group went to a Karaoke joint, we were set up in a private room, so the only people who were listening were us. [/QUOTE] I haven’t been to a dedicated karaoke joint yet, but I’ve heard about them from friends who have (and a scene from Lost in Translation actually takes place in one). I’m just talking about walking into a random bar for some booze – unless it’s a strip bar / brothel, there will almost always be a karaoke machine behind the bar (and there will almost always be someone singing “The Picture” at some point in the evening). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-karaoke-songs/396321.md?page=2)