Top 20 Worst Karaoke Songs Ever
#20: “My Heart Will Go On” (1997)
Top 10 Songs Everyone Hates at Karaoke
Céline Dion “Titanic” was one of many things that made this song into a cultural sensation. Céline Dion's dramatic vocal performance helped the song win plenty of awards, including an Oscar and multiple Grammys. But, while Dion's version makes people cry in a good way, a karaoke rendition will inspire different kinds of tears. The song makes full use of Dion’s vocal range, and the average karaoke-goer isn’t likely to have the same pipes. Plus, while we’re past the song’s period of oversaturation, there are plenty of people who never want to hear it ever again, especially not your version.
#19: “Baby” (2010)
Wolfheart On The Current State Of Touring| Lil Baby Fans RIOT | Is Kanye Selling His Music?|
Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris It’s totally okay to admit you loved Justin Bieber’s hit song “Baby” back in your younger days. And if you still do, that’s fine too! But maybe save it for shower concerts instead of karaoke night. If you’re old enough to drink, you’re old enough to pick a song not made by a 15-year-old, and especially not one that’s considered as divisive as this one. The repetition of the one word gets a little old! Plus, you’ll need to find someone to perform the Ludacris verse. Karaoke doesn’t have to be a Bieber-free zone, but maybe try something a little more grown-up, like “Sorry.” Otherwise, you might be saying “sorry” for a different reason.
#18: “One Week” (1998)
Top 20 Best Karaoke Songs
Barenaked Ladies Speaking of apologizing, it’ll be less than two days ‘til you say you’re sorry for butchering this song. While the chorus of the Barenaked Ladies’ biggest hit is easy for anyone to perform, the rap-style verses from Ed Robertson can really challenge your breath control and timing. And is there anything more embarrassing than not being able to keep up with the karaoke song you chose? Yes, you might argue that if you practice beforehand, you could pull it off. But there are more than enough “One Week” covers to last us for one lifetime. Maybe try picking something else.
#17: “It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987)
R.E.M. Even if you can pull off “One Week,” it’s nothing compared to this pop culture-referencing song with a rapid-fire delivery. Sure, the chorus is no problem, but those verses come at a lightning-fast rate, and the risk of embarrassing yourself is simply too high. And, obviously, any good karaoke night is full of embarrassing moments, but that doesn’t mean you should gamble on a potential faceplant like this. Fortunately, there are countless other songs in the R.E.M. catalog that work much better. But don’t kill the vibe with your version of “Everybody Hurts” either.
#16: “Ice Ice Baby” (1990)
Another Top 10 Worst Cover Songs
Vanilla Ice Want to disappoint a karaoke crowd in just a few seconds? Make them think you might’ve picked classic duet “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie when you’ve actually chosen a song by a slightly less-revered artist. There’s nothing wrong with bringing some old-school hip-hop flavor to karaoke night. But of all the songs you could choose, this one ranks pretty low on our list. Vanilla Ice might call himself “a lyrical poet” on this song, but “Ice Ice Baby” may not get you the nice, nice reception you’re looking for. And, you might find yourself “under pressure” to not choose it again.
#15: “Lose Yourself” (2002)
Malagrino Lose You To Love Me Selena Gomez Cover
Eminem Even if you haven’t dined on a plate of your mom’s spaghetti, you should forgo rapping this Oscar-winning classic from Eminem. Sure, it’s one of the rapper’s less vulgar songs, but performing it convincingly requires both a great flow, and the determination of someone who’s out to prove themselves. Karaoke night isn’t a rap battle, and unless you’re totally confident with your skills on the mic, you might just “lose yourself’ attempting this or any other Eminem song. There’s only one Real Slim Shady, and he stood up a long time ago.
#14: “American Pie” (1971)
Top 10 Most Patriotic American Songs
Don McLean There are some unwritten rules of karaoke that everyone follows. At least, they’re rules that everyone should follow. One of the most obvious is don’t choose a song that’s too long. Five minutes is even pushing it, but nine minutes? That’s grounds for a karaoke ban as far as we’re concerned. Okay, “American Pie” is technically eight minutes and 42 seconds long, and your karaoke spot might have an edited version. But, once again, you’re better to just avoid the risk. We love Don McLean as much as the next channel, but consider saying “bye bye” to performing “American Pie”.
#13: “It Wasn’t Me” (2000)
Top 10 Worst Songs to Top the Billboard Top 100 Chart
Shaggy feat. RikRok “It Wasn’t Me” checks off a lot of boxes for karaoke success. It’s funny, it’s a throwback, and everyone knows it. But, while the parts sung by guest singer RikRok are straightforward and easy for just about anyone to pull off, Shaggy’s verses are challenging, to say the least. And, if you’re not Jamaican, you risk turning karaoke night into an uncomfortable lesson about cultural sensitivity. You might try defending yourself with “it wasn’t me” when people start booing you for your shoddy performance, but, despite what the song claims, that’s not exactly an airtight alibi.
#12: “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” (2003)
Top 10 Worst Songs By Bands We Love
The Darkness English rockers The Darkness knocked it out of the park with their biggest hit, and it’s largely thanks to frontman Justin Hawkins’ vocal range that this song is so adored. But, if you want to get a karaoke crowd to stop feeling the love, try turning in an amateur version of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”. Sure, you might be able to perform the deeper-sung parts just fine, but when it treks into falsetto territory, you’re on your own. The song has energy to spare, and you might be able to get away with it if your audience is more focused on the grooves than on your voice. Still, it’s too cherished to risk a bad, or even mediocre, performance.
#11: “Wonderwall” (1995)
Oasis “Today is gonna be the day" that you don’t choose to do “Wonderwall” at karaoke. In fact, if we could permanently ban it from all karaoke settings, we would. It’s obviously an iconic song. So iconic, it’s been covered to death. At this point, you’re more likely to inspire groans than touch hearts by singing “Wonderwall,” even if you’re not strumming an acoustic guitar while doing it. Oasis has other songs worth doing, such as “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol.” For the sake of everyone at the bar, don’t say “maybe” to “Wonderwall. Just say no.
#10: “Semi-Charmed Life” (1997)
Third Eye Blind “Semi-Charmed Life” feels like a song that was designed to trick karaoke-goers. The chorus is easy to sing and perfect to sing along with. But those verses? They’re a lot harder than you remember, and this is another opportunity to embarrass yourself that you should avoid if you can help it. You might “want something else” to get you through this song, like perhaps the foresight of having chosen a different one. If you practice hard enough, you could look like a hero. But you’ll most likely end up with a “semi-charming” performance, if that.
#9: “Tears in Heaven” (1992)
Eric Clapton If you know what this song is about, you should know exactly why it should never, under any circumstances, be sung during a fun night out. It doesn’t matter if you can sing it with absolute perfect pitch. People go to karaoke to unwind and share some laughs. How do you think they’ll feel when you bring down the mood with this song? If you’re feeling wistful and reflecting on a lost loved one, this song is great for listening to or playing… in private. If you want to do Clapton, we recommend you pick a classic Cream song instead.
#8: “Margaritaville” (1977)
Jimmy Buffett You might be a few margaritas in yourself and decide to pick out this classic relaxer by Jimmy Buffett. But, even it’s a perfect, warm night on the beach, with the sun setting in the distance and the breeze blowing, please let the urge to sing this one pass. This is another song that’s been heard more times than we can count. There might be some parrotheads among the audience, but even they're probably a little sick of it. Plus, let’s be real, there is no competing with the likes of Buffett. Maybe try "Come Monday" instead? If you choose “Margaritaville” and are met with groans, it’ll be your own “damn fault.”
#7: “Set Fire to the Rain” (2011)
Top 10 Alicia Keys Songs
Adele Adele can really sing. You know who can’t really sing? Most people at karaoke, including probably you. To give you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you can carry a tune decently. But there’s a difference between being able to sing and being able to perform “Set Fire to the Rain”. Really, any Adele song should be off-limits by default, but, if any should be permanently excised from the karaoke selection, it’s this one. We’re not sure what’s more unlikely - being able to set fire to the rain or an amateur being able to pull off this song.
#6: “Angel” (1998)
Morbid Angel Concert Collapse | Infected Mushroom Concert Review | Kurt Deimer Interview
Sarah McLachlan No, we don’t mean the Rayvon and Shaggy song. We’re talking about the one by Sarah McLachlan, which is sad on so many levels. First, there’s the inspiration behind the song, which is devastating if you don’t know of it. Secondly, there’s its association with those ASPCA commercials, which might cause people to start weeping as they think of all those hurt animals. It’s also just a really somber song, beautiful as it is. And, if there’s one point we can’t stress enough, it’s that karaoke is not a time to make people feel sad!
#5: “My Way” (1969)
Top 10 Worst Hit Songs of the 2010s So Far
Frank Sinatra If we had our way, we would never have to hear another karaoke rendition of this song. Frank Sinatra’s version is certainly moving, but you’re not Frank Sinatra. Want to perform it as a tribute to the legend? Well, Sinatra himself came to intensely dislike “My Way”, according to his daughter, Tina. So, a much better tribute would be choosing another, less overplayed song of his. Or, honestly, maybe no Sinatra ballads at all! You may have few regrets, but your audience will regret having to hear you attempt his songs.
#4: “Baby Got Back” (1992)
Sir Mix-a-Lot “Oh my God, Becky. Can you believe they chose this song?” That’s the reaction you might get if you choose Sir Mix-a-Lot’s classic body positivity anthem. We’re not denying it’s a fun song, but it’s one whose novelty wore out sometime in the early 2000s. It also goes on a lot longer than you might remember, and your audience will likely find it to be a lot less amusing before you’re even halfway through. Plus, it’s arguably just too crass a song for a karaoke performance. We cannot lie: “Baby Got Back” is one karaoke song that should be put on the backburner.
#3: “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)
Led Zeppelin If you play “Stairway to Heaven” in a guitar shop, people are going to roll their eyes. And if you sing it for karaoke, people might fall asleep, leave, boo, or a combination of all three. We don’t mean to besmirch the song; it’s a classic for a reason. But it’s also eight minutes long, and while those minutes fly by when it’s Led Zeppelin performing, they’re sure to drag if you try it. No matter how much you try to sound like Robert Plant or do your best Jimmy Page air guitar, you’re going to look ridiculous. And your listeners will feel like they’re in karaoke hell.
#2: “I Will Always Love You” (1992)
Top 20 Worst Songs By Bands We Love
Whitney Houston You might be able to pull off Dolly Parton’s original country version of this song. But don’t you even dare attempt Whitney Houston’s rendition. We’re sure you have a lovely voice, but if you can sing this song like Houston, then you need to be singing in arenas, not in karaoke bars. It’s fun to sing along with it and imagine yourself as the next Whitney Houston. But show a little humility and remember that you can demonstrate your singing skills in other ways. Otherwise, your audience will more than likely loathe you for butchering this iconic song.
#1: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
Queen You’re going out with your friends to sing some songs at karaoke, when someone - maybe you - comes up with the brilliant idea to do “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It’s a song everyone knows, it has different sections, and is perfect for group singalong. Well, that’s fine if the group is Queen, and not a bunch of off-key karaoke goers. There’s only one Freddie Mercury, and you’ll do yourself no favors by trying to live up to his standard. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is definitely a crowdpleaser, and you may be able to pull it off okay if you and your friends can find a good harmony. But it’s also quite long, difficult to sing, and generally overplayed. Is this the real life? Is this just karaoke?
