The Best Karaoke Songs of All Time

beyonce visits karaoke bar, sings with drunk girls

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 3 October 2019

Fun adult activity: pounding some quite a bit of tequila, tripping onto the stage, and singing screaming your heart out to "Champagne Supernova" as the whole bar joins in, ending with the other patrons carrying you out on their shoulders. Here, 21 songs that you'll impress (or, at very least, entertain) your friends with, along with everyone else in the bar...unless you've shelled out for a private room. No pressure.

1. ABBA, "Dancing Queen"

Meryl is watching from Greece. Or from Celeste's window. Either way, you have no choice but to ace it...for Meryl.

2. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, "Shallow"

"I'M OFF THE DEEP END, WATCH AS I DIVE IN, I'LL NEVER MEET THE GROUND." ...And just like that you're in a relationship with Bradley Cooper.

3. Mac Miller, "Senior Skip Day"

This one's for the young'uns out there. If you and all of your friends didn't jam to "Senior Skip Day" in high school, did you even live in 2010? It's guaranteed to make you laugh/cry/reminisce (the key to great karaoke), mostly about Mac Miller's life.

4. Kelly Clarkson, "A Moment Like This"

I am, in fact, the next American Idol.

5. Cardi B, "Bodak Yellow"

The moment you spit out the words, "These expensive, these is red bottoms, these is bloody shoes" you'll have the entire room twerking—the ultimate sign of a successful karaoke session.

6. Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend"

Before "Break Up with Your Girlfriend" there was simply "Girlfriend," and here at MarieClaire.com we honor the classics.

7. H.E.R. ft. Daniel Caesar, "Best Part"

If you want to feel like you and your S.O. are the only people in the room, H.E.R.'s "Best Part" featuring Daniel Caesar will do the trick.

8. Aretha Franklin, "Respect"

Often for the intermediate to advanced singer—or those who've got a lot of (liquid) courage and/or friends. Nonetheless, everyone should tackle this at least once in their karaoke careers.

9. The B-52s, "Love Shack"

Really fun, even if you aren't so faded yet that you'd incorporate some sort of locomotion choreograph into your routine.

10. Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"

Mellow enough that you don't have to worry about getting all the words out in time, vibe-y enough that that won't matter anyways because the crowd will probably drown you out.

11. Bonnie Tyler, "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

After a bit, you won't even need to check the lyrics, so you can concentrate on the most extra dance routine possible with lots of dramatic whipping back and forth.

12. Britney Spears, "Baby One More Time"

The classic. Everybody knows it, even if it's just the chorus. (Or you could, you know, just consult the screen.) These are the makings of a solid karaoke song choice.

13. Destiny's Child, "Say My Name"

Clearly.

14. Elton John, "Bennie and the Jets"

They did this in some film's karaoke scene, didn't they? (They did.)

15. Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"

"Wow, are those the real words?" you ask yourself as everybody sings the wrong ones. It's still fun.

16. Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"

The go-to if you've got your eye on someone in attendance. Or if you want to be the one everyone has their eyes on.

17. Miley Cyrus, "Party in the U.S.A."

How to end up with 17 new friends onstage with you, all shouting "AY AY AY AY AYAYAYYYYYYYY" until your voice is hoarse.

18. Neil Diamond, "Sweet Caroline"

With that car commercial playing on the networks now, this is probably simmering in your subconsciousness.

19. Robyn, "Call Your Girlfriend"

Very recently, this writer witnessed a lone man singing this forlornly at a karaoke bar in New Orleans. It was highly cinematic and a little bit heartbreaking.

20. TLC, "No Scrubs"

You have no choice.

21. Vanessa Carlton, "A Thousand Miles"

I'm not quite sure how this one burrowed its way into the collective consciousness, but for some reason everybody of a certain age knows and adores this song. It will play to your advantage when you step up to the mic.

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Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.