18 Perfect Songs for Your First Karaoke Night
The saying “You never get a second chance at a first impression” applies to more than just how you present yourself to the world. Your first experience with a new hobby can be the deciding factor in whether it becomes a one-off misadventure or a lifelong passion. Nothing can make or break a karaoke night like your song choice. Whether you’re finally taking the mic after months of practice or joining friends for a spontaneous night of fun, you’ll want to choose the right song to rock the night.
What Makes a Great First Karaoke Song?
So, what makes a great first song? First and foremost, you want to choose a crowd-pleaser. Specifically, you want to select a song that most people in the audience will not only know but will want to sing along to or get involved in some way. An enthusiastic and involved crowd will have a bigger impact on your first karaoke experience than how perfectly (or imperfectly) you sing. Generation-spanning crowd-pleasers are particularly good choices. Think songs like “Sweet Caroline,” “Mama Mia,” or “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Second, you’ll want to choose a song you know you can sing, even one you find easy. Nerves can cause your voice to crack, make it harder to get the full breath needed for a high note, or even cause you to forget the lyrics. If you know a song like the back of your hand, you're less likely to forget the lyrics and simpler melodies are easier to nail even if you’re short of breath. We recommend sticking to songs with limited ranges, meaning the highest and lowest notes aren’t that far apart. Of course, if showing off your vocal chops makes you feel like a diva or divo, go for it!
Making the Most of Any Song
Practice
Choosing the right song isn’t the only way to ensure you have the best time possible on your first karaoke night. Taking a little time to prep can help you feel more relaxed and confident while holding the mic. Even if you don’t completely memorize it, take some time to learn the words and melody of your song by practicing at home. Look for karaoke versions of your chosen song so you can experience singing the tune without the support of the original vocalist. YouTube channels like Sing King are a great resource.
Entrances are one of the most common places for singers to make mistakes. We recommend spending time specifically focused on these sections so that you’re confident about when and on what note you should start singing. Count the number of beats in the intro and any musical breaks throughout the song.
Come prepared
It’s a good idea to have the lyrics for your song of choice on your person. Most karaoke spots have a screen where they’ll project lyrics but some smaller bars don’t or you may find the screen difficult to read. Saving them in a note app is a tried and true method. However, anything that doesn’t require an internet connection - even writing the lyrics out on a notecard - will do the trick.
Have more than one song ready
Both first-timers and seasoned karaoke aficionados alike will often have a selection of six or seven songs ready to go. Having even two to three songs prepared that you can choose from can allow you to be more spontaneous on your first karaoke night. You might enjoy your first time on stage so much that you want to sing a second song, someone might sign up to sing your planned song before you (and some karaoke DJs have rules against repeating songs), or your first choice song may not even be available as an option. If you only have one song prepared, any of those scenarios can put a damper on your karaoke fun.
Sing with friends
Singing a duet with a friend can make performing more fun and help you feel more supported and less exposed during your first karaoke performance. Some singers find they have less of the uncomfortable ‘all-eyes-on-me’ feeling when they’re not the only person on stage. Plus, singing with a friend is just plain fun. There are some great, easy-to-sing duets you can choose from, but any song can become a double act. You can trade off who sings each verse, sing in unison, or make up harmonies.
Don’t take it too seriously
Finally, commit to having fun. Singing in front of others can make you feel self-conscious about your singing, but it’s important to remember that this is just karaoke, not a paid gig. People don’t go to karaoke bars to see professional quality performances; they go to experience karaoke. It’s ok to miss entrances, sing wrong notes, and fumble lyrics. Laugh it off and keep going. Try to make it about how much fun everyone in the room is having rather than the quality of your performance. The goal of karaoke is to have a good time, and if you’re laughing and singing along with your friends, you’re doing amazing karaoke no matter how well you sing.
Our Song Recommendations
Below are eighteen songs recommended by Zelda. The list focuses on multi-generational crowd-pleasers with easy-to-sing melodies. We’ve divided the songs into male and female vocal ranges and duets. This isn’t to say that you can’t sing a “female” song if you identify as a man or vice versa; rather, it’s meant to help you find a song that fits your vocal range. You can sing a song an octave up or down or perform a solo song as a duet. Some karaoke bars even have the option to adjust the key of a song, but this is far from universal, so we don’t recommend choosing a song that you can only sing with a key change. As a final disclaimer, this list isn’t exhaustive. There are too many great songs to fit in one article, so if your favorite isn’t on here, that doesn’t mean it’s not a great choice for your first karaoke night.
Female Solo
Man, I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain
Why we love it: This decade-defining Shania Twain hit is a crowd-pleaser with lyrics sure to pump up your audience. The playful “ohs” in the chorus are easy to sing along with, encouraging crowd participation, and the melody stays in an easy range.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Why we love it: This playful pop song is a little rangier than some of the other tunes on this list but is still catchy and easy to sing. The fun lyric invites both you and the audience to sing (or shout) along.
I Love Rock N’ Roll - Joan Jett
Why we love it: If you’re looking for a song with a memorable melody that’s easy to sing, this is the one. The attitude of the lyrics is perfect for getting in a rockstar headspace and the chorus has great sing-along energy.
These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ - Nancy Sinatra
Why we love it: This generation-spanning song has been covered by many artists in various genres, including a thrash metal version by the band Megadeth. The confident lyric is a blast to perform, and the melody is simple with a small, singable range.
Jolene - Dolly Parton
Why we love it: Originally released in 1973, this song got a fresh wave of popularity in both 2000 when White Stripes recorded a scorching version as a B-side of a single, and when Miley Cyrus covered it in 2022. The melody is dramatic and mournful without being complicated or rangy, and the story-telling lyric provides an amazing opportunity to act and emote.
The Best - Tina Turner
Why we love it: The simple, ascending melody in the verse builds tension and creates drama without adding complexity. With a relatively narrow range and slower tempo, this song manages to feel high-energy while remaining relatively easy to sing. There’s also plenty of room to improvise and show off your vocal skills if you want to.
Male Solo
Sweet Caroline - Neal Diamond
Why we love it: If you want to get the bar singing along, choose this song. The tune is pretty straightforward, and although the iconic “ba ba ba” line isn’t actually in the lyrics, the recognizable melody is sure to get folks of all ages shouting along.
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
Why we love it: The Proclaimers’ distinct Scottish accent is part of what made this song a global hit, but its simple melody and exuberantly romantic lyrics are what give it staying power. The call-and-response “da da das” after the chorus provide a great opportunity to get the crowd singing with you. While this is a good solo song, it can also make a great duet, especially if you or your singing partner are comfortable singing harmonies.
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Why we love it: This generational anthem is sure to have almost every Millennial in the bar singing along. The simple melody is supremely singable with straightforward rhythms. Just watch out for the key change after the bridge; if you’re practicing this song ahead of time, we recommend devoting some time exclusively to that transition. This is a great solo song but also makes for a good duet or group performance.
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
Why we love it: Johnny Cash’s 1963 hit song has been covered by more artists than we can count in genres ranging from country to punk rock, keeping the song relevant for generations. Its singable melody is well-known and well-loved but a little rangy. Make sure you’ve got the low notes before taking the mic. This song lends itself to simple harmonies if you want to make it a duet.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
Why we love it: This song has been a crowd-pleaser since 1972. The melody is simple, almost spoken, making this an accessible song even if you’re not confident in your singing skills. There’s also an extended break of “doo doo doos” that makes for easy audience participation. Just keep in mind that this song was written in the early 70s, and some of the language reflects that.
We Are The Champions - Queen
Why we love it: It’s hard not to feel like a rock star while singing this song. The triumphant chorus will have the bar singing with you. However, this song is more challenging to sing than many of the others on this list. “We Will Rock You” is a great alternative if you’re looking for a more accessible Queen tune - and the stomp-clap percussion makes for excellent audience participation.
Duets
Mama Mia - Abba (female and female)
Why we love it: This 1975 global hit has remained relevant for generations, from the 1999 cover by the A-Teens to the delightfully campy Mama Mia! film series and Broadway musical. The hooky melody has a small, singable range and simple rhythms. The duet is mostly sung in unison, so there’s no need to learn complicated harmonies - unless, of course, you want to. It also makes an excellent solo song.
Islands In the Stream - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (male and female)
Why we love it: This romantic classic features impactful but simple harmonies, with each singer having the opportunity to take the lead. An expertly written mid-song key change keeps the song comfortable for both male and female vocalists but may be tricky for some singers. While originally written as a male-female duet, we can say from personal experience that Kenny Rogers’ part can be sung by someone with a low alto or contralto range.
Love Shack - B52’s (male and female)
Why we love it: A lot of this song is more “talking enthusiastically” than singing, making it a great option if you want to focus on performing rather than hitting high notes. The lyrics are playful and sexy, and even the sung sections are simple enough for beginner singers.
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee (male and female)
Why we love it: This 1975 duet has a fun call-and-response lyric that encourages you to interact with your singing partner. While you could add harmonies if you want, you can sing in unison while keeping the original spirit of the song. Although originally performed by male and female vocalists, both melodies have the same range, meaning this could easily be performed by two tenors or two altos.
Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down) - Chumbawamba (male and female)
Why we love it: The chorus of this hit begs to be sung along to and is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser that will have a lot of your audience singing (or shouting) along with you. Most of the lyrics are spoken with a short sung line in the verses, making this quintessential party song an easy choice regardless of your skill level.
Jackson - Johnny & June Carter Cash or Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood (male and female)
Why we love it: This song was recorded by Johnny and June Carter Cash in February of 1967 and by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood in July of the same year. It was repopularized in 2005 when it was featured in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. The sassy duet has a memorable melody that can be complemented with simple harmonies, and the back-and-forth lyric provides an opportunity for some playful interactions with your duet partner.
Ready to make the most of your first karaoke night?
We hope you’re feeling more prepared for your first karaoke experience. If you want to make karaoke your new hobby, working with a vocal coach can help you level up your experience. Set up a discovery lesson to get help choosing and prepping your perfect karaoke song. Whatever tune you choose, have an amazing time, and don’t forget to love your voice.