Seasoned karaoke tourist
I have heard a lot of karaoke. I’ve certainly been a lot of times, though more than a few were bars I stumbled into that happened to have it. Possibly thousands. Karaoke is held in dives, Thai food joints, piano bars, work parties, Chinese restaurants, and hotel lobbies all over the place.
I have noticed, regardless of whether karaoke is going on at a tiki bar, an Irish pub or a Mexican restaurant, the same songs always seem to end up in the rotation. It isn’t guaranteed you’ll always hear these songs, but if I were a gambling person, I’d even put out guaranteed loans on these being at nearly every karaoke event.
10. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
Karaoke “regulars” don’t do this song. Veterans know the song is 9 minutes in length, and that’s kind of rude to take up that much time. A first time karaoke goer who loves “Wayne’s World” and doesn’t get the idea that they aren’t the first one to do it, will undoubtedly sing this one anyway.
9. ‘Black Velvet’
I can understand why “Black Velvet” gets so much stage time at karaoke joints. It’s fun to sing, and it makes you look kind of cool in a rock and roll way.
8. ‘Hey Jude’
Much like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” this song is a bit long as a karaoke selection. It could be that people who pick this number forget that half the song is just “na na na na na na” which gets old. The song is great, but singing it will result in half the audience watching you, and the other half checking their watches.
7. ‘Tiny Dancer’
Elton John songs are very common during karaoke, and “Tiny Dancer” seems to be the Elton John picker’s favorite.
6. ‘Summer Nights’
Songs from movie soundtracks, and specifically “Grease” songs, often make their way into the karaoke rotation, but none so often as “Summer Nights.”
5. ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot’
For women who want to rock out, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benetar is the go-to choice.
4. ‘Sweet Caroline’
Neil Diamond is, of course, a very popular choice at karaoke, especially when there’s a more mature crowd. “Sweet Caroline” is the most popular of the Neil Diamond selections. If you account for the popularity of Neil Diamond, and his biggest hit, this translates to a lot of karaoke singers selecting it.
3. ‘Friends in Low Places’
This Garth Brooks song is similar to the Neil Diamond situation. Popular artists plus popular song equals lots of people slurring along with the performer. It’s a crowd-pleaser.
2. ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’
For some reason that I can’t explain, people from all different demographics love to sing this song. I have heard people of all ages and both genders belt out, screech out and slur out this song. For some reason, really bad singers often choose this song. If you are a frequenter of karaoke events, this song is going to be ruined forever.
1. ‘Picture’
Every time a man and a woman get up to sing a duet together, I shudder because I know what’s coming. The first duet of the night, as least male/female, regardless of location, is inexorably always “Picture.” I once saw someone sing this song when there were only eight other people present. I’d put the chances of this song at any karaoke event at about 100 percent.
