I don't get to sing karaoke often — less than once a month, for sure. But I still have a karaoke playlist on my phone that I frequently add to. Karaoke is just fucking fun — even if it's not a regular pastime.
If going into a dark room with a group of other people to sing classic hits makes you feel terrified, don't be! Karaoke bars are a super-relaxed way to have fun with your friends in a closed setting — and it's way less intimidating than getting up to sing in front of a crowded bar.
The key to having a fun karaoke night is choosing songs that the majority of people will recognize. Karaoke night isn't the time to show off your love for cool indie bands. (And chances are, the lesser-known songs might not be available to sing, anyway.) Singing cheesy songs is often more fun, too, because there's no pressure to perform them well.
We've rounded up some of the best songs to sing on your next trip to a karaoke bar. Check back often, because we'll keep adding more to the list.
"Everytime," Britney Spears
It wouldn't be a karaoke trip without at least one Britney song. Why not throw it back with "Everytime"?
"Single Ladies," Beyoncé
Everyone will love singing (and dancing) to this one, even the guys.
"I'm on a Boat," The Lonely Island
Yes, it's cheesy — but everyone knows this song. You'll be singing along by the end of it, even if you weren't the one who added it to the karaoke queue.
"Modern Love," David Bowie
To ease into the karaoke fun, start off with a song everyone (no matter what age) knows. "Modern Love" just lends itself to karaoke — even your shy friends will want to join in on the chorus.
"Dangerous Woman," Ariana Grande
Most of Ariana Grande's songs lend themselves to karaoke, but everyone will recognize "Dangerous Woman" and want to join in on your rendition.
"Some Nights," Fun.
Whether you love or hate Fun., there's no better way to bring a group of people together than by singing the opening "Oh, oh" chorus repeatedly.
"Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)," Backstreet Boys
Every '90s kid will love singing Backstreet Boys songs at karaoke night. The backup vocals on this one are perfect for a group performance.
"Dog Days Are Over," Florence + The Machine
Even if you're not a good singer, Florence + The Machine songs are ridiculously fun to perform. You'll have everyone clapping along to the beat with this one.
"Don't Stop Me Now," Queen
If Paul Rudd can perform it during Lip Sync Battle, you can belt out this classic Queen hit, too.
"Happy Ending," MIKA
MIKA attracts a certain type of fans — not everyone's heard of him, but the people who have are devoted. Literally all of his songs lend themselves to karaoke and you can't go wrong with a classic like "Happy Ending." When you find a friend who loves MIKA, make them your karaoke buddy for life.
"Sugar," Maroon 5
It's almost more fun impersonating Adam Levine's falsetto if you're hilariously off-key.
"Everybody Wants To Rule The World," Tears For Fears
When everyone gets tired of upbeat hits, slow down the mood with this classic, but still fun, option.
"Love Story," Taylor Swift
This is especially fun when the performers are all male (and a few drinks in).
"Stay With Me," Sam Smith
If you want to show off your singing chops — or just to butcher a Top 40 song — "Stay With Me" is the perfect choice.
"When You Were Young," The Killers
You might not like them now, but you definitely had at least one Killers song on your playlists back in the day. And everyone else did, too.
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