20 Easy and Crowd-Pleasing Karaoke Hits
It’s not a lack of talent or ability that keeps people from diving into karaoke, it’s the fear that they might lack talent or ability. The secret is that confidence matters far more than skill when it comes to rocking a microphone (karaoke or otherwise). There are plenty of ways to build confidence from affirmations to voice lessons, but perhaps the best way to feel like a rockstar on karaoke night is to choose the right song.
A crowd-pleasing karaoke performance is more about being fun and entertaining than performing wild feats of vocal acrobatics, and there are plenty of hit songs that don’t require great (or any) vocal chops to turn up the energy in a room. Below, we look at twenty songs that both you and your audience will have a blast singing along to, regardless of whether you’ve got diva vocals. We’ve included links to the original music videos whenever possible as well as a link to a karaoke version so you don’t have to wait for karaoke night to start singing.
A General Note On High- versus Low-Voice Songs
We’ve divided our list into high voice and low voice song choices, with high voice generally corresponding to songs made popular by female artists and low voice referring to songs popularized by male artists. Songs aren’t limited to one sex or gender identity and you can always move a song into a new key if it’s too low or high for you. We hope that you never feel that a song is out of your reach or off limits due to the perceived gender of the original artist.
However, there is one caveat: vocal timbre is a secondary sex characteristic in humans and the difference between “male” and “female” voices is more than just pitch. People with male secondary sex characteristics generally (but not always) have longer vocal cords. This doesn’t just mean that their voices are lower; it also means their vocal ranges are generally wider. Many seemingly easy songs written with tenor or baritone performers in mind include octave jumps that can be challenging for those with alto or soprano voices despite seeming effortless for the original performer - or your baritone karaoke buddy.
Of course, sex and gender are neither fixed nor binary, and vocal ranges can vary wildly regardless of sex or gender presentation or identity. The point is this: if you want a song with a narrower range (which many will find easier to sing), look at songs made popular by female-identifying singers; if you want a little more challenge or have a naturally wider range, look at songs made famous by male-identifying singers.
Easy and Crowd-Pleasing High Voice Songs
Valerie - Amy Winehouse
This song has a fun, vintage R&B groove that invites people to sway or dance along and an easy lyric with lots of room to breath. Like many great pop songs, the range of the song is just over an octave with no big leaps or jumps. Better yet, it has space to show off with some runs if you’re feeling it, but won’t be missing anything if you’re not.
Love Shack - B-52s
This song is great if you want to let loose and focus more on having fun on stage rather than singing complex melodies. Many of the lyrics are spoken or talk-sung and the sung portions are primarily step-wise (no big jumps) and are just begging to be enthusiastically shout-sung. Even the original recording is way more about the fun vibe and quirky way the lyric is delivered than an extraordinary vocal performance. It’s also makes a great duet, making it fantastic option if you want to sing with a partner rather than by yourself. Shake your groove thang and have fun with this one!
I Love Rock n’ Roll - Joan Jett and the Black Hearts
Channeling your inner rockstar is all takes to bring down the house with this song. With a singable pop range, “I Love Rock n’ Roll” relies more on attitude and energy than vocal acrobatics. Whether you’re recreating the karaoke scene from “Crossroads” or just love rock n’ roll, this is a great choice for your next karaoke night.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
There are a couple manageable leaps in this song that add excitement to what is otherwise a mostly stepwise melody without adding too much of a challenge. With the right energy, you’ll have the rest of the karaoke club singing along with you. If you’re struggling to reach the high notes on this one it’s not you, it’s the key; the original key was chosen for Cyndi Lauper’s unique soprano voice. Changing the key (which many if not most karaoke clubs and machines can do) should make it much easier to sing.
Umbrella - Rhianna
Umbrella has one of the narrowest ranges of any song on this list, meaning you don’t need a giant range to rock this one. The minor key and singsong melody create drama without runs or dramatic jumps. Get into the emotion of the lyric and pull out your best diva moves - no diva notes necessary.
Oops I Did it Again - Britany Spears
This nostalgic hit is surprisingly singable, meaning you can focus more on your performance than reaching for notes. The range is just over an octave and the melody is straightforward - no huge jumps or complicated runs. All the drama is in the delivery. Put on your sexiest late 90’s swagger and pull out that dance we know you choreographed in middle school to get the room cheering you on.
Wannabe - Spice Girls
If you grew up in the 90’s or 00’s, there’s a good chance you already have this song memorized (or at least whatever your best guess at the lyric was back in 1996). With a singable range of just over an octave, rhythm is the challenge - and the fun - of this song. The verses are spoken more than sung and the chorus and bridge melodies have a sing-song quality that makes them very easy to pick up. As long as you can get the words “really” and “wanna” out over and over again without getting tongue tied, you can nail this tune. Plus, there’s nothing like nostalgia to get an audience cheering.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - The Eurythmics
This classic pop track has lots of drama without very many notes or lyrics. The dark, minor key and driving rhythm provides a lot of the energy and intensity in this song. The few higher notes that do show up in the bridge aren’t belted in the Eurythmics recording, meaning that you could sing them softly or in your head voice while still honoring the original performance. Alternatively, you can drop that section an octave and put your own spin on it.
Man! I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain
With an instantly recognizable guitar riff and an easy, bluesy verse melody, this country hit is a great choice to start the party. The key changes between the verse, bridge, and chorus sound impressive without actually adding much challenge and naturally raise the energy level of your performance. Lean into the sassy, hair-down vibes of the lyric to get the room rocking with you.
The Tide Is High - The Paragons or Blondie or Atomic Kitten
Written and first performed by John Holt and his group, The Paragons, this rocksteady classic was covered by Blondie in 1980 and again by Atomic Kitten in 2002. It’s catchy melody and romantic lyric have withstood the test of time. The verses and chorus are short, sweet, and repetitive making this an easy one to pick up. The Atomic Kitten cover has an added bridge, so keep an eye on which version the karaoke bar has available to avoid any surprises.
Easy and Crowd-Pleasing Low Voice Songs
Breakfast at Tiffany’s - Deep Blue Something
This 90’s hit is just as fun today as it was in 1995. Its narrow vocal range makes it easy to sing, regardless of whether you have diva (or divo) vocals. The catchy, repetitive melody is easy to pick up and doesn’t rely on fancy runs to hold the audience’s attention.
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Shouting along to “Sweet Caroline” is an essential part of the Fenway Park experience, and can be equally fun at karaoke night. The range on this song isn’t anything crazy, but it’s well utilized to add drama and excitement while staying singable. This is a great choice to get the audience singing along with you.
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) -The Proclaimers
This is another song that invites your audience to sing along. The “da da da’s” in the bridge are practically made to be shouted along to at a pub or karaoke bar. If you don’t want to sing solo, the harmonies and call-and-response nature of the bridge make this a great option for a duet. If nerves have kept you off the stage, performing with a buddy can be a great way to take the mic without the stress.
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
This swaggering country favorite about hanging with your favorite barflies is a great one to break out with your favorite karaoke barflies! The melody is easy to sing, but still offers the opportunity to show off your low notes. Leaning into and exaggerating the low notes in the chorus both sends home the lyric and adds personality to your performance regardless of your level of vocal proficiency.
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
A traditional twelve-bar blues, this song is easy to pick up and is another opportunity for low-voiced singers to show off their range. There are no choruses or bridges to learn, just a great verse melody and a lyric that tells the story of a prisoner dreaming of freedom. If you’re feeling adventurous, the repetitive blues form leaves room for improvisation - but the lyric can stand on its own if you want to keep it simple.
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
This is another song with a wordless, singalong chorus. If you get lost in the verse, you can always pick back up at the “sha la la’s”. This crowd-pleasing classic has an easy range and catchy melody that invites the crowd to sing along with you. Plus, the danceable groove makes it easy to sway and move with the music.
Closing Time - Semisonic
Perhaps one of the only hit songs about birth, this is another singable 90’s crowd-pleaser. Like any good pop song, the range is just over an octave and accessible to singers of any skill level. The octave jump in the chorus looks harder than it is, giving the impression you’ve got great vocal chops regardless of your skill level.
Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
Most of the lyrics in this one-hit-wonder are spoken or talk-sung rather than sung outright, making this a great option regardless of how well your bucket holds tunes. On top of that, there aren’t very many words to keep track of. With only one repeated verse and a three line chorus, there are no surprising musical left turns to look out for. Lean into the party energy of this song to get the rest of the room singing along with you.
You Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Elvis may be famous for his vocals, but this song has the narrowest range of any song on this list, measuring less than an octave. “Hound Dog” is a traditional twelve-bar blues, meaning there’s neither a chorus nor a bridge and both the melody and lyric are fairly repetitive. Even if you’ve never sung this song before, you’ll be able to pick it up after just one verse. Pull out your best Elvis hip swivel to add some showmanship to your performance without complicating the simple, singable melody.
I’m A Believer - The Monkeys
Originally released in 1967, “I’m a Believer” hit the charts again in 2001 when it was covered by Smash Mouth and featured on the first Shrek soundtrack. This song has been beloved by multiple generations of listeners for over 50 years and is sure to be a hit when you break it out at karaoke night. With a singable pop range and simple, catchy melody, it’s an easy one to pick up. The final chorus offers the opportunity to improvise if you want to but doesn’t lose anything if you stick to the original melody.
Now It’s Time to Book a Lesson
We hope this list helps you feel confident rocking out at your next karaoke night. Singing in public can be scary at first, but you’re now armed with a list of can’t-fail hits. No matter your level of vocal ability or singing experience, you can sing - and rock - these songs.
If you want to take your karaoke performance to the next level or need an extra boost of confidence before taking the mic, set up a lesson with Zelda. Developing your skills and having the opportunity to sing in front of one trusted person can help you feel like a superstar the next time you take the stage.
At the end of the day, a great karaoke performance isn’t about being the world’s greatest vocalist; it’s about having fun. If you’re enjoying yourself, your audience will pick up on that energy. Happiness and excitement are contagious! Have a blast and remember to love your voice!
Set up a lesson with Zelda to start crafting your own crowd-pleasing karaoke repertoire!
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