With the holidays just around the corner, we’re featuring 11 Best Karaoke Songs for People Who Can’t Sing. We all know that not everyone can belt a Celine Dion or Whitney Houston ballad. Not to mention that with social media these days, your talent or lack thereof can turn into a viral video in a few minutes!
Singing karaoke can be a lot of fun if you don’t end up embarrassing yourself. On that note – if it’s really important to not embarrass yourself, consider taking singing lessons on Class Curious. This crowd-pleaser list will help you prepare for your upcoming Christmas parties, holiday events, and family reunions. These songs don’t require high-pitched notes. They are not contest pieces either but they’re fun and safe to sing regardless of your vocal abilities.
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Now if you don’t feel confident having the spotlight all to yourself, you can also try one of the 11 best karaoke songs for groups and ask your friends to join you on stage. But at some point you really ought to try singing on your own! Curated and compiled from TimeOut, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, and Bustle, we ranked the songs according to the easiest and most enjoyable to sing.
We factored in the range requirement (i.e. the pitch and vocal quality required to pull off the song), degree of ease (i.e. how hard or easy the song is), and audience appeal (i.e. the level of engagement it can generate). The easier the song and the lower the range requirement, the higher points will be given to a song. Same goes for audience appeal, the stronger it is the higher points will be awarded.
Let’s start practicing, shall we?
11. “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child – 36 points
Before Beyoncé launched her solo career she was part of the group Destiny’s Child. The song “Say My Name” will get your friends to be your backup singers as they sing “say my name / say my name” while you deliver a snappy “When no one is around you / Say baby I love you / If you ain’t runnin’ game.” The upbeat tempo will also liven the mood in your event. While there are a few high notes, courtesy of Queen B, you can always opt to skip it as the song continues with semi-rap parts. Plus, you can never go wrong with any song with Beyoncé on it.
10. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by Rolling Stones – 37 points
A certified crowd pleaser, “Satisfaction” is fun and loud. It’s probably the only song that starts with a low tune that immediately generates high energy from the audience. You cannot possibly mess up the start of the song, “I can’t get no satisfaction / I can’t get no satisfaction / ‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.” Your family will probably join in and holler, “I can’t get no / I can’t get no.” A simple and almost monotone song, you’ll end up with a loud applause on this one.
9. “Hold On” by Wilson Philips – 38 points (TIE)
Released in 1990 and awarded as Hot 100 Single of the Year by Billboard Music Award, “Hold On” is a timeless song. It was featured in the hit comedy flick Bridesmaids in 2011 with the trio appearing in the final scene of the movie. It’s a perfect song for an all-girls night out. A lighthearted song about friendship, expect people to join you in belting out the chorus, “Someday somebody’s gonna make you want to / Turn around and say goodbye / Until then baby are you going to let them / Hold you down and make you cry / Don’t you know? / Don’t you know things can change / Things’ll go your way / If you hold on for one more day / Can you hold on for one more day / Things’ll go your way / Hold on for one more day.” Ask them to clap or wave their arms, too!
8. “Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down)” by Chumbawamba – 38 points (TIE)
This song is a smash hit for an all-boys night out. “Tubthumbing” is nothing but crazy fun which can be taken up a notch with corny dance moves. Once you sing “I get knocked down / But I get up again / You’re never gonna keep me down / I get knocked down / But I get up again / You’re never gonna keep me down” you’ve got your audience hooked in your performance. It’s also the perfect choice if most of your buddies are drunk already, point to each one of them when you sing “He drinks a whiskey drink / He drinks a vodka drink / He drinks a lager drink / He drinks a cider drink.” Talk about having a good time with barely an effort on your vocal cords!
7. “No Scrubs” by TLC – 41 points
Another classic, “No Scrubs” is very easy to sing with its almost monotone tune. The key to nailing this song is going all out fierce especially when you deliver the lines, “I don’t want your number (no) / I don’t want to give you mine and (no) / I don’t want to meet you nowhere (no) / I don’t want none of your time and (no).” You can even let your posse sing “no” for you! Just point the mic to them and you have your crowd fully engaged. By the time you reach the chorus, “I don’t want no scrub / A scrub is a guy that can’t get no love from me” have the entire group sing with you for some girl power!
6. “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan – 42 points (TIE)
Just by reading the title, you already know how this song goes. That’s how iconic “This is How We Do It” is so we’re giving this hip-hop song a high slot in the 11 best karaoke songs for people who can’t sing. If you’re at a bar or anywhere spacious with room for dancing, this should be your go-to song. Your entire squad can be your backup singers, too! When you reach the part “I’m kinda buzzed and it’s all because (This is how we do it) / South Central does it like nobody does (This is how we do it) / To all my neighbors you got much flavor (This is how we do it) / Let’s flip the track, bring the old school back (This is how we do it),” let your audience sing the “this is how we do it” part. Mark our words, you’ll get a high score on this one.
5. “Love Shack” by The B-52’s – 42 points (TIE)
Another karaoke mainstay, “Love Shack” is a surefire hit. Although you have to sing-scream “love shaaaack!” you can always let your audience do that. Just sing the prolonged “loooove” then point the mic at them! Try to imitate the original singer’s voice and accent in the beginning of the song, “If you see a faded sign at the side of the road 15 miles to the…” to crack everyone up. The most fun part of this song is when all of you are singing or echoing this part, “The love shack is a little old place where we can get together / Love Shack, baby (a-Love Shack, baby) / Love Shack, baby, Love Shack / Love Shack, baby, Love Shack.”
4. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams – 44 points
It’s impossible not to be happy with Pharrell Williams’ epic hit “Happy.” Singing this Despicable Me track is a great karaoke song with very minimal effort on your vocals. You can all go goofy dancing with your friends while singing! Ask your audience to clap with you as you sing, “Because I’m happy / Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof / Because I’m happy / Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth / Because I’m happy / Clap along if you know what happiness is to you / Because I’m happy / Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.” This can be the happy pill that breaks the ballad-streak that always happens in a karaoke night.
3. “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree – 46 points
It’s all about good vibes with “You Gotta Be.” Another ear candy, this song will move everyone to join you in the chorus, “You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser / You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger / You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together / All I know, all I know, love will save the day.” A low-toned song all throughout, you will sound pitch perfect when you sing this. And if you slip up a little bit, no one will probably notice because they’re joining you all the way.
2. “Summer Nights” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – 48 points
Probably the most enjoyable song to sing, “Summer Nights” will get your friends going into full Grease mode singing, “Well-a well-a well-a huh / Tell me more, tell me more / Did you get very far? / Tell me more, tell me more / Like does he have a car?” You might even be singing this as you read the lyrics. What’s even better is that you can randomly grab a partner to sing this duet with you! With a great recall from the audience, you need not worry singing this solo either because your friends will definitely help out. This song is way too good to ignore!
1. “I Love Rock & Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – 50 points
The hands-down winner as the best karaoke song for bad singers is none other than “I Love Rock & Roll.” A certified crowd pleaser, this song only requires some loud singing and attitude. You can dance, headbang, and go all out with your audience backing you up. It’s almost impossible to be off key with this karaoke hit. When you start belting out the chorus, “Singing, I love rock and roll / So put another dime in the jukebox, baby / I love rock and roll / So come and take your time and dance with me / Ow!” the crowd will definitely sing with you. If you want to be a karaoke champion without much effort then pick this song and you’ll bag the money.
These 11 best karaoke songs for people who can’t sing are surefire showstoppers and confidence boosters. From classics to modern hits, these songs will liven up any karaoke setting. If you think you don’t have the voice to pull it off, try one of these tracks first. You might be surprised that you have the chops after all!
