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.
I’m sorry, but could you tell me why?
I wish you’d just believe when I say…
Nah, Sweet Caroline is far more effective
BAH BAH BAH!!!
GOOD TIMES NEVER FELT SO GOOD
So good! So good!
“Check, please!”
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
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!
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
A-ha - Take on me
every time
Puscifer - Conditions of my Parole
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.
Anything by Supertramp or Bad Company.
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.
Train - Hey, Soul Sister
Horse With No Name. Has a limited vocal range, and the humans will give no love.
