As a shy person who typically wallflowers at parties, I think people are often surprised to learn that karaoke does not faze me. On the contrary, it’s my third-greatest passion, right behind sleeping and discovering a new kind of cake I’ve never eaten before. (If you know of any off-the-beaten-path confections, please email me immediately.) Karaoke skeptics love to complain that it’s only fun if you can sing, but I say that’s complete BS.
I’ve seen some lousy singers rock my local karaoke bar, and it wasn’t because everyone in the room suddenly lost their sense of hearing. These wannabe rockstars had stage presence. Swagger. Commitment to the bit. And most importantly, they picked songs that got the room on their side without a beat of hesitation.
For my money, there are three simple guidelines to consider when choosing a karaoke song:
It should be short. I’m talking four minutes or less, unless it’s really good.
It should be (relatively) well-known. Ideally, a solid handful of your fellow singers should know at least the chorus. But that said…
You should be confident enough to sing by yourself if needed. If the song is a genuine banger, you probably won’t need to worry. But if you’re choosing anything that others might not know, you must be ready to bring the goods yourself.
In the early days of my karaoke journey, I’d often realize too late that my barometer was a little… off. I’d play something like “MakeDamnSure,” convinced that the room would know it, only to find myself singing alone. Sometimes, that can be fun. But the better move, I’ve found, is to look for the karaoke sweet spot — the musical intersection that puts you in communion with everyone else in the room. That, I am convinced, is the true spirit of the Sunfly.
If you’ve got friends who roll up to the karaoke joint ready to sing Diary in its entirety, then congratulations. This post is probably not for you. But if you’re headed into a standard karaoke situation with a few strangers and just want to avoid singing alone, then read on. I’ve stress tested all of these songs and can confirm they’ll absolutely rip.
