“This song used to be one that I’d trot out at karaoke nights specifically because it was cheesy beyond belief. Every time I’d get up there and start singing it, people would look at me like there was something seriously wrong. They couldn’t quite figure out what, but they knew what they were seeing wasn’t normal behavior.”
☠️
I have a memory of singing along to this with grade school friends who all looked at me so weird because I went all out and sang it like I meant it lol So I can identify with this.
The one night I was drunk enough to think I could attempt karaoke when a friend drug me out - Thank the lord the karaoke guy did not have ANY song I asked for! Hahahaha! I do not have a good singing voice if the singer is absent (I once did a spot on Sugarcubes Birthday that friends were impressed by, but only because I was matching Bjork). The first song I asked for was Drink Before the War by Sinéad O’Connor! Like, I never in a million years would have pulled that one off and would have been so humiliated! The second song I asked for was Youth by Daughter. I can’t remember what the next few were, but still thankful he had none of them. The next day, I found karaoke versions on YouTube and -alone in my kitchen- tested myself out, and was sooooo glad I didn’t make an attempt!
I have gotten up and done group karaoke with a bunch of friends, but I haven’t gone anywhere near the microphones lol. Love Shack and Add it Up.
Amazing Matt. I love this list. Ironically, I have never done karaoke. That being said, I do sing along in the car, use songs I love to practice technique, etc which is the same sort of idea. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing is one of those songs. Its actually very difficult to sing that one well. At least for me. I loved that movie. Sappy, I know but I did. I like Holding Out For. Hero better than Total Eclipse but it's a great song too. This was a super fun post.
I would not have the nerve to attempt any of those, but I will give a shout-out to a song which my partner has demonstrated is fun, even when done badly -- "The Impossible Dream" (from Man of La Mancha).
This recording by Johnny Mathis has just the right level of bombast (though probably not something that most singers can approach) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPQHToqeUAg
It's funny because I was just thinking about this yesterday. I haven't done karaoke in years but if I did I'd want to attempt: "Rainy Days & Mondays," "Come Fly With Me," "Don't Know Why" and something by Carly Simon. Definitely some OLD school stuff.
I’m a little late to the party but what a great way to start my day! I’m grinning ear to ear just imagining anyone trying to sing a Steve Perry or Ann Wilson song. Talk about octave!! Can’t believe there wasn’t a Gino Vannelli song included in the lineup. Thanks for putting a smile on my face this cold, gloomy Monday. Look forward to the next read.
Matt, you have correctly identified the best Journey song for karaoke and otherwise. I could make a case for "Send Her My Love", but I won't quibble here. However, I'm from Boston and I grew up listening to Toys in the Attic, Rocks, Get Your Wings et al, and I am appalled by your inclusion of "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing". That song is a blight on the legacy of the Bad Boys from Boston. A blight, I say!
What a great idea for an article, Matt! I spent several years karaoke-ing, virtually on a nightly basis (about 2014-'20) recently, and loved it! I frequented a couple bars in N. Austin, one of them with a data base of some 60,000 songs! So, I challenged that data base (and attendees) on a regular basis!
I love how you included female singers, and a question for you and the other doods: Would you guys routinely drop the song an octave to be able to hit the lady singers' ranges?
I ask because, a couple years into my singing, I got tired of the gals "being able" to sing songs from the ENTIRE song binder, while the guys just relented to singing the half of the book sung by guy singers!
I probably said something like "Wait a minute....what if I wanted to sing (and I DID!) Streisand's 'Piece of Sky' from 'Yentl', or 'The Ladies Who Lunch' by Elaine Stritch from the musical, 'Company'?" So, I chatted with good friend, Kodiak (my fave KJ), and he revealed the "secret trick" I could do with the equipment's knobs (instead of croaking out those songs an octave lower)!
He said to RAISE the pitch of the song (on his board) before the song, and that would do it! So, I had him raise (on the Barbra song) the pitch about 3 or 4 half-steps. That way, when I sang in my "normal" chest voice, I could sing in my higher range (I'm a second tenor) that would match (so to speak) the top of MY range (for her money-note at the end) the top of HER range! It's incredible to be able to manipulate the machinery to make the singing experience that much more "realistic" and suitably challenging!!
A favorite song for me (where I didn't change the range) was "If I Ever Lose My Faith" by Sting....that was right in my range, and that one's fun to sing all his key changes!!
I've got 3 examples, Matt, of audio/video songs of me singing (all 3 are male parts), if you're interested in hearing (at least) one....just DM me, and I'll give you the choice of which one to hear!
Wow, is that @Brad Kyle coming through with an excellent comment yet again? Lol thanks for the trip back to your peak karaoke days! I think I would definitely have to drop the octave on at least a few of those songs (I did for the ONJ track, that’s for sure) … my speaking is naturally too low to even attempt them otherwise. A fabulous Sting pick, by the way. Thanks!
Thank you! But, see? Now, with my "trick" unveiled, you can simply ask your KJ to just "up" the ONJ song a couple of steps (or, as I did, I "spoke" in terms of half-steps!), and you'll be able to sing it, then, in your natural range, and it won't sound really low! Try it (and report back)!!!
“This song used to be one that I’d trot out at karaoke nights specifically because it was cheesy beyond belief. Every time I’d get up there and start singing it, people would look at me like there was something seriously wrong. They couldn’t quite figure out what, but they knew what they were seeing wasn’t normal behavior.”
☠️
I have a memory of singing along to this with grade school friends who all looked at me so weird because I went all out and sang it like I meant it lol So I can identify with this.
The one night I was drunk enough to think I could attempt karaoke when a friend drug me out - Thank the lord the karaoke guy did not have ANY song I asked for! Hahahaha! I do not have a good singing voice if the singer is absent (I once did a spot on Sugarcubes Birthday that friends were impressed by, but only because I was matching Bjork). The first song I asked for was Drink Before the War by Sinéad O’Connor! Like, I never in a million years would have pulled that one off and would have been so humiliated! The second song I asked for was Youth by Daughter. I can’t remember what the next few were, but still thankful he had none of them. The next day, I found karaoke versions on YouTube and -alone in my kitchen- tested myself out, and was sooooo glad I didn’t make an attempt!
I have gotten up and done group karaoke with a bunch of friends, but I haven’t gone anywhere near the microphones lol. Love Shack and Add it Up.
Haha what a great story. Thanks for reading Kristin!
Your picks are pretty solid! Forgot to mention that! LOL
Amazing Matt. I love this list. Ironically, I have never done karaoke. That being said, I do sing along in the car, use songs I love to practice technique, etc which is the same sort of idea. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing is one of those songs. Its actually very difficult to sing that one well. At least for me. I loved that movie. Sappy, I know but I did. I like Holding Out For. Hero better than Total Eclipse but it's a great song too. This was a super fun post.
Thanks Tamara! Solo karaoke in the car (or shower or kitchen or wherever else) counts, too. :)
I would not have the nerve to attempt any of those, but I will give a shout-out to a song which my partner has demonstrated is fun, even when done badly -- "The Impossible Dream" (from Man of La Mancha).
This recording by Johnny Mathis has just the right level of bombast (though probably not something that most singers can approach) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPQHToqeUAg
Oh wait, how did I not no that Roberta Flack recorded a version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAruSG6HlIE
I also didn't know that Luther Vandross recorded it -- gorgeous; that may be my new favorite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVmZj1b_3nE
Some real nice picks you got there, Nick. Thanks for reading and commenting!
It's funny because I was just thinking about this yesterday. I haven't done karaoke in years but if I did I'd want to attempt: "Rainy Days & Mondays," "Come Fly With Me," "Don't Know Why" and something by Carly Simon. Definitely some OLD school stuff.
Dan! Great picks to through out. Which Carly Simon song gets the nod?
Either "You're So Vain," "Haven't Got Time for the Pain," or "We Have No Secrets." Maybe a medley of all three!
Medley pls and ty
I’m a little late to the party but what a great way to start my day! I’m grinning ear to ear just imagining anyone trying to sing a Steve Perry or Ann Wilson song. Talk about octave!! Can’t believe there wasn’t a Gino Vannelli song included in the lineup. Thanks for putting a smile on my face this cold, gloomy Monday. Look forward to the next read.
Thanks Gina! Mr. Vannelli was on the long list of songs, maybe for a part 2
Can’t wait!
Matt, you have correctly identified the best Journey song for karaoke and otherwise. I could make a case for "Send Her My Love", but I won't quibble here. However, I'm from Boston and I grew up listening to Toys in the Attic, Rocks, Get Your Wings et al, and I am appalled by your inclusion of "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing". That song is a blight on the legacy of the Bad Boys from Boston. A blight, I say!
Maybe it’s time for an Aerosmith takes article soon. I have several lol
What a great idea for an article, Matt! I spent several years karaoke-ing, virtually on a nightly basis (about 2014-'20) recently, and loved it! I frequented a couple bars in N. Austin, one of them with a data base of some 60,000 songs! So, I challenged that data base (and attendees) on a regular basis!
I love how you included female singers, and a question for you and the other doods: Would you guys routinely drop the song an octave to be able to hit the lady singers' ranges?
I ask because, a couple years into my singing, I got tired of the gals "being able" to sing songs from the ENTIRE song binder, while the guys just relented to singing the half of the book sung by guy singers!
I probably said something like "Wait a minute....what if I wanted to sing (and I DID!) Streisand's 'Piece of Sky' from 'Yentl', or 'The Ladies Who Lunch' by Elaine Stritch from the musical, 'Company'?" So, I chatted with good friend, Kodiak (my fave KJ), and he revealed the "secret trick" I could do with the equipment's knobs (instead of croaking out those songs an octave lower)!
He said to RAISE the pitch of the song (on his board) before the song, and that would do it! So, I had him raise (on the Barbra song) the pitch about 3 or 4 half-steps. That way, when I sang in my "normal" chest voice, I could sing in my higher range (I'm a second tenor) that would match (so to speak) the top of MY range (for her money-note at the end) the top of HER range! It's incredible to be able to manipulate the machinery to make the singing experience that much more "realistic" and suitably challenging!!
A favorite song for me (where I didn't change the range) was "If I Ever Lose My Faith" by Sting....that was right in my range, and that one's fun to sing all his key changes!!
I've got 3 examples, Matt, of audio/video songs of me singing (all 3 are male parts), if you're interested in hearing (at least) one....just DM me, and I'll give you the choice of which one to hear!
Wow, is that @Brad Kyle coming through with an excellent comment yet again? Lol thanks for the trip back to your peak karaoke days! I think I would definitely have to drop the octave on at least a few of those songs (I did for the ONJ track, that’s for sure) … my speaking is naturally too low to even attempt them otherwise. A fabulous Sting pick, by the way. Thanks!
Thank you! But, see? Now, with my "trick" unveiled, you can simply ask your KJ to just "up" the ONJ song a couple of steps (or, as I did, I "spoke" in terms of half-steps!), and you'll be able to sing it, then, in your natural range, and it won't sound really low! Try it (and report back)!!!