WHO SINGS ON SINGALONGS EVEN WHEN THEY CAN'T STAND STUPID SING A LONG SONGS: This week, for our Friday Playlist, let's talk about sing-a-long songs--what are your ALOTT5MA Karaoke Klassics? For me, I'll often ease in with a (faux)-oily reading of "Pour Some Sugar On Me," and, if I'm feeling audacious, have been known to go down the road of some "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)." You?
Sweet Caroline and Jessie's Girl
ReplyDelete"Let's Have a War" by Fear, but oddly enough, you rarely find it on the Karaoke machines.
ReplyDelete"Tiny Dancer" is a all-time classic, and amongst my friends "Army" by Ben Folds Five is an oft-shouted favorite.
ReplyDeleteLivin' on a Prayer and Like a Prayer - my prayer duo - are pretty sure-fire bets.
ReplyDeleteBuild Me Up, Buttercup; The Foundations.
ReplyDeleteNo Thursday night at Olde Queens Tavern in New Brunswick was complete without the jukebox playing it. Several times.
Not that I'd ever actually do it, so I don't have to worry about whether or not my songs would actually be available, here they are:
ReplyDeleteWhen You're Good to Mama (Chicago) - Due to my personal appearance, there's a line in this song that would get an obvious laugh.
Don't Go Breakin' My Heart - Elton John & Kik Dee - I have a fond memory of a sunshiney day in high school and a friend with a sunroof and us singing this at the top of our lungs.
I Wanna Be Evil - So snarky, so fun. It'd be great if I could get me a tiger skin (fake, of course) rug like Eartha Kitt's.
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I don't karaoke (I'd be like Cameron Diaz in My Best Friend's Wedding, and it wouldn't be pretty), but if you were to get enough drinks in me, I'd probably belt out "I Will Survive."
ReplyDeleteAnd many years ago, I do remember doing "Build Me Up Buttercup" as a group number.
Californian Dreamin, Mamas and the Papas
ReplyDeleteFunky Cold Medina, Tone Loc
My first-ever attempt at karaoke was Jessie's Girl, at a dive bar in New Orleans. I'd like to think I knocked it out of the park, but more sober minds may differ. But one I really did knock out of the park was Thunder Road (though technically it wasn't karaoke, but a friend and I singing with live keyboard backing at Smokey Joe's one night in college).
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, anything Springsteen or Springfield is right in my wheelhouse. And, as I've noted once before, It's The End of the World As We Know It.
Am I the only person who, if alone (in the car, say), pretty much sings along to everything without prejudice?
ReplyDeleteBut the overlap of what I sing in the car and what I'd sing at karaoke is not large.
ReplyDeleteI've never done karaoke, but my favorite song to sing in the shower is "Working My Way Back to You (Forgive Me Girl)" by The Spinners.
ReplyDeleteMy first foray into the karaoke arena was Shadowboxer by Fiona Apple. Yes, I was nursing a broken heart at the time, why do you ask?
ReplyDeleteNow my standards are:
The Tide Is High by Blondie
Queen of Hearts by Juice Newton
Walking After Midnight by Patsy Cline
A very unfortunate start to Sarah MacLachlan's Possession confirmed to me that every song I enjoy singing along to is not necessarily a good karaoke song. I recovered but it wasn't pretty for the first 3-4 lines.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while (sadly, because I love to sing-- had a private room (Korean-style karaoke) for my 40th birthday).
ReplyDeleteAnnie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass," "Missionary Man" and "Right By Your Side" (only found the latter once)
Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U"
U2's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (have only done in a private karaoke room, but would be willing to do in public)
B-52's "Love Shack" (as a duet)
George Michael's "Faith"
Des'ree's "You Gotta Be"
Norah Jones "Don't Know Why"
Lisa Loeb "Do You Sleep"
I need to find a karaoke place that has Billy Joel's "Vienna" and Shawn Colvin's version of "Tenderness on the Block."
And, deep in my heart, I want to do I Touch Myself by the Divinyls and it is a source of shame for me that I've never gotten the chutzpah (or BAC level) to actually do it.
ReplyDeleteMy go-to songs are Shaggy's "Angel" and sometimes "Smooth" by Rob Thomas/Santana.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my wife and I do a rousing rendition of "Stan" by Eminem/Dido.
Kudos for the post title.
ReplyDeleteI love karaoke. Love love love it. Which should surprise no one.
My standards (though I haven't done it in a while...):
When Will I Be Loved (Linda Ronstadt)
Heaven (Bryan Adams)
Hopelessly Devoted to You (Olivia Newton-John) - crowds love this!
Crazy (Patsy Cline)
Respect (Aretha Franklin)
Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) - crowds love this one too
You Don't Know Me (Ray Charles)
And I'll always join a Love Shack group. There are a lot of new things that I'd probably try, including some Kelly Clarkson and maybe even Adele.
At piano bars, I always end up singing Some Kind of Wonderful (the fast one, not the ballad), but it's impossible to do karaoke because they never hve the right version.
Watts, next time you come visit, we're totally going to karaoke.
I don't solo karaoke, but I do go up with friends, and like Marsha, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is one of our go-tos. We also do a fanTAStic rendition of the Spice Girls "Wannabe" and since Bridesmaids, we do enjoy Wilson Phillips "Hold On." Also R.E.M. "It's the End of the World as We Know It" and Billy Joel "We Didn't Start the Fire" when we want to be really stupid.
ReplyDeleteCue Bill Murray in Ghostbusters saying "What a LOVELY singing voice you must have."
"No One Else on Earth" by Wynonna Judd. Every time.
ReplyDeleteI had that with the B-52's "Roam." Just didn't work for karaoke, at least not for me.
ReplyDeleteGo for it, Meghan!
ReplyDeleteOh, Marsha, you don't know - after months of private work with the teacher outside of school time, we finally agreed that I'd lipsync during the 8th grade chorus recital. I'm that bad a singer.
ReplyDeleteBut I got backup dancer moves you would not believe.
I believe that "I Touch Myself" is my sister's go-to karaoke song.
ReplyDeleteNo, really. It is.
Basically, the world of people who hear me sing can largely be defined as (1) me and (2) my fiance.
ReplyDeleteI do remember "I Touch Myself" being among the choices at that NOLA bar the night I did "Jessie's Girl." There, but for the grace of God....
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a kareoke person (after an unfortuate group kareoke to the Bangle's "Crash and Burn" at a high school leadership camp), but would probably do something that's more rap (or rap lite) than song -Cypress Hill's "Jump Around"
ReplyDeleteRob Base's "It Takes Two"
"Ice, Ice Baby"
"More Money More Problems" - Notorious B.I.G.
I've only sang Karaoke once, hence my cop-out of an answer. ;)
ReplyDeleteI've never done Karakoe, but if I did -- "Just a Gigaloo"
ReplyDeleteI love karaoke and now would like to officially request an LA karaoke night. Maret, consider yourself warned.
ReplyDeleteMy go-to songs:
"The Sign" - Ace of Base
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benetar
In! We can go to Dimples in Burbank. Mr. Belding from Saved By the Bell apparently does karaoke there although I've never seen him. I would totally sing "The Sign" with you.
ReplyDeleteI am going to start a round of "Freebird" and dedicate it to The West Memphis 3!
ReplyDeleteEveryone sing along!
The one and only time I ever did karaoke was back in 1992 and it was a trio of us singing "Like A Virgin". Jeez, I can't sing a lick.
ReplyDeleteMy cats think I'm pretty good, though.
I'll attend, but I can't promise I'll sing. I love to, but it breaks my heart that I'm not that good. And no one enjoys sad karaoke. But if I were to sing? Fame, by Irene Cara. REMEMBER MY NAME.
ReplyDeleteOh I have a terrible voice. That's why no solos. Group karaoke allows you to enjoy the fun insanity while not feeling humiliated.
ReplyDeleteA wise man once told me, "If Lou Reed can sing, so can you." Sweet Jane it is.
ReplyDeleteWe can all sing together! (...and then I'll force you to do solos ;)...) Love that Mr. Belding goes to Dimples. We'll plan a night to do it when I see you guys.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of karaoke, except for the singing and the getting up in front of people.
ReplyDeleteI used to go to karaoke a lot, but not so much anymore. My go tos were "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar and "Let Er Rip" by the Dixie Chicks. I Will Survive is a good sing-along selection.
ReplyDeleteOK, clearly someone needs to take some cell phone video of this event. Especially if Mr. Belding is there.
ReplyDeleteEspecially if I get Mr. Belding to sing with us...
ReplyDeleteI WANNA GO TOO! If Watts comes for karaoke in Chicago (and I too use when will I be loved as a karaoke go to).
ReplyDeleteMy go-to is U2's One. Not the easiest song, but not too hard (though I'm a baritone so there are a couple of tricky spots).
ReplyDeleteMy go to's are "One Fine Day" (well and the aforementioned Pat Benetar Hit Me With Your Best Shot and Ronstadt When Will I Be Loved), but as I come from the country and used to do A LOT of karaoke in Moscow, Idaho I can reliably get cowboys in hats who think they are Blake Shelton sound a likes to buy me drinks for my Dixie Chicks "Sin Wagon" and I have mostly replaced karaoke with Wii Rock Band in my living room, and why yes that will be happening tonight.
ReplyDeleteOh, I also do "Valerie" in the style of Amy Winehouse to the Zutons version IF I can find it. Actually thinking I would add some Gaga "Edge of Glory" next time.
The first kara I ever oked was Sinatra's "Summer Wind."
ReplyDeleteI also like "Man of Constant Sorrow," but "Summer Wind is my go-to, unless there are four other guys willing to do "I Want It That Way," or I've been given sufficient incentive to drop "Vision of Love" on the stunned masses.
"When the Lights Go Down in the City," by Journey.
ReplyDeleteFor some reaons "we can all sing together" made me think of Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon" and the big "Aaaaaaand we will aaaaaal goooo down together"
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason to come to a Chicago Karaoke night right there.
ReplyDeleteMore Than This & Brass in Pocket would seem obvious choices.
ReplyDeleteProud Mary.
ReplyDeleteAnd anything by the Dixie Chicks.
And anything mentioning Chicago or Missouri.
I'm seriously lame in a karaoke bar. I can't sing, and don't at the mic, but I'll sing along with any beat.
Ooh, Man of Constant Sorrow is a good one. I will add that to my "If I Ever" list.
ReplyDeletePhil does a mean version of "Stand By Your Man". Me, I don't sing in public.
ReplyDeleteBut what did you sing?
ReplyDeleteWhoa, Vision of Love? Complete with all the milisma bells and whistles?
ReplyDelete"These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Both because I love it, AND because Nancy Sintatra can't sing, either.
ReplyDeleteThe more the merrier! Finn, you're coming with us whether you like it or not....
ReplyDeleteI have never done karaoke. If I did, it'd be a Jim Steinman song (Total Eclipse?) or Steady Mobbin'.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get you to Karaoke Night at Red Lobster.
ReplyDeleteIt's aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaohohoahohaohaohhohaaaall that you want it to beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyeah, mmmmhm.
ReplyDeleteI go either the killers, when you were young, or full on Loretta with fist city (first choice), or you ain't woman enough to take my man ( second choice, but most places have it).
ReplyDeleteAlternately, you can never beat You Never Even Called Me By My Name, assuming you can do the DAC spoken word break.
Poison by Bell Biv Devoe is a classic amongst my friends.
ReplyDeleteLose Yourself my Eminem seems like a good idea, but damn that man is wordy.
Karaoke, hell, how about some biscuits.
ReplyDeleteAdd REO Speedwagon's "I Can't Fight This Feeling" to my list, as my friends had karaoke for the latter half of their wedding recpetion this weekend and I did this (with a group, of course.)
ReplyDeleteHeadline - a lyric from Christine Lavin, making fun of the sensitive new age guys singing along to her song "Sensitive New Age Guys."
ReplyDelete