It’s no secret that I love Karaoke. Mike and I met at a Karaoke bar. The night before our wedding, we threw a huge Karaoke party (Marry-oke!) for all of our friends. I have a million pictures with a microphone in my face. If you want to get me out of my house after the hour of 8pm, dangling Karaoke in front of me is a surefire way to get me out of my jammies.
My friend Erin & me singing a duet. PS WHERE IS MY LEFT ARM?!?!
I’m kind of obsessed with Karaoke. Like, to the point where I keep a running list of “go-to” songs for when I’m at a Karaoke bar, overwhelmed with indecision. My list of songs has treated me well (some Blondie, Fiona Apple, No Doubt, AC/DC, Four Non Blondes, etc).
Me and my pal Alison at Marryoke.
At Tiny Danielle’s bachelorette party this weekend, we went to a bar that specializes in Karaoke. We knew we had to get Danielle up on stage, but a few of us wanted to sing as well. I looked at my Karaoke list (it’s on my blackberry SHUT UP) and I didn’t like any of the songs. I needed something new. I needed inspiration.
You see, the key to a successful Karaoke performance is less about knowing all the words (because they are on the wall for your reference) and more about picking a song that the crowd knows. It’s just like American Idol. Who is going to get more votes, the girl who nails an obscure Ron Sexsmith song, or the teenage boy that is flat on a Coldplay hit? Coldplay for the win! But, I don’t like to go for the obvious choices – Bon Jovi, Guns N Roses, Lynard Skynard. I needed something good, but it was just out of my reach.
My genius friend Catherine suggested some Cheap Trick, “I Want You To Want Me.” I signed up. We left before it was my turn, but we DID manage to get Danielle up in front of the crowd. She dragged Catherine and me on stage with her. Well, she didn’t so much drag us as much as she said, “come with me you guys!” and we said, “try and stop us!”
We sang the crap out of it. PAY NO ATTENTION TO MY SUNBURN.
Cheap Trick is definitely going onto my Karaoke list, but I need some new standbys. Does anyone else love Karaoke as much as I do? What are your go-to songs, so I can shamelessly steal them? I’ll dedicate my next Karaoke performance to you, I promise.
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It’s all about the gusto, baby!
Middle-Aged-Womans last blog post..I Been Culture-fied
Sweet Caroline (BUM BUM BUM)
Sparkling Diamonds (Moulin Rouge, I know, shut up)
November? Mmm Hmmm
moosh in indy.s last blog post..Want hot? See post below.
umm- excuse me- what is wrong with Bon Jovi? Blaze of Glory/Bed of Roses- my TOp karaoke songs. I sing the hell out of it.
I can give you diff ones though- Melissa Ethridge “Im the only one” – awesome song to sing
mayas last blog post..I’m sick
Sweet Child of Mine by GNR is my go-to Kareoke song.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Big Spender, and Hotel California all pull up a close second.
Leshas last blog post..On being a cat
Ummmm, I have never sang karaoke (ducks behind something) It isn’t that I haven’t wanted to, I just have never been able to do it. That and given the fact that I seldom go out anywhere.
Heather at Domestic Extraordinaires last blog post..Do you like Crocs?
Around here, if you want to sing karaoke, you’re going to have to sing COUNTRY. So I usually go with a Shania Twain song, because it’s not SO country.
I’ve also been known to kick some ass with the old-school Madonna. Holiday, Papa Don’t Preach, any of them, really!
I am a huge Fanilow, so I sing Copacabana…
I also like American Pie
I have never been
drunkbrave enough to do karaoke at a bar. I get crazy stage fright. BUT we had the amazing experience of doing karaoke in a Japanese-style booth in NYC last year for our first leave-baby-at-home trip. 6-10 friends crammed in one LOUD room with a HUGE television, 4 bazillion songs and a remote to play them, and our own personal waitress.We sang from 10 pm to 4 am. And the tab was $800 when we finished. YIKES. But holy shit, it was the funnest thing I’ve ever done.
Back at the homestead, we play a lot of Sing Star on Playstation. You guys should check it out! It GRADES you and you can do a team party mode where you battle. (We do boys vs. girls.) It makes for the best parties ever.
Marias last blog post..love is farting in front of each other
Oh, my Go To song though, randomly is To Sir With Love. But at our friends Marry-oke party (they had one too!) my friend and I sang Only The Good Die Young and that’s a fun once for bouncing while singing, etc.
(I don’t have a good voice.)
Marias last blog post..love is farting in front of each other
I’ve never had the gutts to get up on stage and sing karaoke. If I ever did though I would totally go with something from Madonna, it would be so much fun.
Lisas last blog post..Adoption Options
I love it, but sadly I won’t do it unless I’m drunk. We’re talking REALLy drunk. Like, can’t remember the song drunk, and I don’t see much sense in that.
I have never been brave enough to do karaoke–maybe some day…? I would think anything by Janis Joplin would rock really hard–like Bobby McGee or Piece of My Heart?
Jennifers last blog post..Bubble Gum Plums and Sunsets
I tend to lean toward Elvis…Suspicious Minds, Viva Las Vegas, Burnin’ Love. I actually sang Burnin’ Love in Vegas at “Big Elvis’” show – had the best audience response and won the GRAND prize (a “Big Elvis” CD & magnet…woo.)
I’ll sing badly and shamelessly pretty much anything.
You’ve mentioned the one thing I wish I could do – sing in general I mean, not just Karaoke. Unfortunately I can’t even make a note sound right in my own head, never mind out loud
Mustang Sally is my favorite. The crowd can really get involved.
Firehouse: “Love of a Lifetime”.
Backpacking Dads last blog post..The Mosh Pit
Total Eclipse of the Heart gets the crowd EVERY time. I actually hate to sing myself, but love to see others do it.
Loris last blog post..How old am I?
it’s so true. you sing a crowd pleaser, you please the crowd. (no matter how much better the Sexsmith one is. thanks, Mike, for the introduction)
Two Princes by Spin Doctors.
best karaoke song ever.
alis last blog post..five things making me happy right this very second…
The Bangles “Walk Like An Egyptian.” It’s my go-to, but you can totally use it. Also, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”
It used to be Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” but then it became associated with the Sopranos, so that’s no longer my “song.” I also like Bon Jovi’s “Living on a prayer.”
I have pretty much every edition of Karaoke Revolution for our PS2. You should come over and play!
Nanettes last blog post..She will be loved
Crystal Gayle – Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
Stefanies last blog post..Open Letter To Angelina Jolie
I used to work in a bar that had karaoke on Wednesday nights. Being sober and watching a bunch of (mostly) drunk people sing. Now that’s entertainment. I’m all for a good ABBA song, though.
Looks like you ladies sang the turd out of that song! Crap sandwiches…wish I could have been there! Miss you!
DUDE. Why am I ALWAYS the last one to the Mama Spohr comment party. Dammit.
Is that Jackie! above me!? Hi Jackie!
Um…what was I saying? Oh yes…you’ll NEVER get me to do karaoke. And don’t take that as a challenge. Take it as a favor. Trust me. You’re welcome.
Me again! Just realized I never closed this page, so your stats are going to be all wonky thanks to me! It’s been almost 2 hours! Awesome.
Or, 1 Hour. Whatever.
I LURVE karaoke. I miss it. I miss being in college (or law school) when all my friends humored me and came to bars with me at least once a week so I could get my fix…whereupon, I would sing one or more of the following:
Passionate Kisses – Mary Chapin Carpenter (my very first karaoke song…sung first at a bar in DC in highschool)
Men – the Forester Sisters (only to be sung at old school country bars – but there it’s beloved)
Like a Prayer – best Madonna song for karaoke…crowds love it
My weirdest karaoke song…never to be repeated…was at a club in Dallas where the drag-queen-dj-dressed-as-Cher insisted that I sing Concrete Angel by Martina McBride. That song makes me cry just hearing it on the radio. And all the queens in Dallas were crying too…and then telling me I should be on American Idol…because that’s how drunk we all were.
Bonnie Rait, Something to talk about. Really you should pay that (me) no mind. Gun to my head and the threat of a million scorpions down my shirt I still wouldn’t sing. Once, a decade ago, 2 shots of 151. Only time I ever did it.
amandas last blog post..What’s dat? What’s dat?
You know I love all the attention on me and I sing karaoke, like, every weekend! But really I’ve only done it one time. Aren’t you proud of me?
Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield. do it. youtube it. share it. I’ll be right here waiting.
I LOVE karaoke, as probably evidenced from the above photo. Though… you may ask where your arm is and I’ll counter by asking why my phone is sticking out of the side of my jeans. Ah… youth. Anyway, karaoke used to be my go to activity. We’d get private rooms with too many people to comfortably fit and go to town. Birthdays and even (yes) college a cappella group reunions. My friend Yuma once told me, however, that he would no longer karaoke with my friend Melissa and I. I think we take it too seriously. We just had a ‘karaoke conference’ on Sunday and when she moves back from Scotland next year, we’re instituting karaoke nights. I’m very very excited!! I used to do Never Ever (by All Saints?), anything by Madonna and old silly disco tunes. Yes disco;).
Only the Good Die Young! My BF and I used to sing the crap out of that song. Of course there wasn’t usually a karaoke machine involved just lots of screwdrivers, 2 drunk college girls and a dance floor….
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Some of the “must have songs” during my karaoke sesssions with friends :
1) Cant get my eyes off you
2) Hey Jude
3) Close to You – Carpenters
4) Always – Bon Jovi
Elvira. Ancient, but everyone loves it. And gets to sing along in the “OOm bappa mow mow” part
ManOMan…. I’ve wanted to do karaoke so many times… I’m a big wuss though when it comes to that stuff… I LOVE being the center of attention, but I sure as hell ain’t going to sing to get it.
If I ever did do it, though…. I’d LOVE to do “Hey Ya” by “Outkast”, only because it’s a damn-near impossible song to nail.
If you do it, there better be a vid posted withing 24 hours!
Hmm, I have my doubts. For someone who claims to love Karaoke so much, you clutch the microphone like grim death. Ease up girl.
Trooper Thorns last blog post..Republican Convention Duck and Cover
“sittin’ on the dock of the bay” by mr. otis redding
“creep” by radiohead
“uninvited” by alanis morrissette
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