Singing/yelling NIN, circa 2008
Songs currently under consideration include:
- I'll Stand By You (The Pretenders)
- Hells Bells (AC/DC)
- Never Again (Kelly Clarkson)
- Dream On* (Aerosmith)
- Welcome to the Jungle (GNR)
- Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane)
- Hole in My Soul (Aerosmith)
- Don't Stop Believin'* (Journey)
There are multiple occurrences of Aerosmith on that list, which I take as a sign of its greatness. Right now I'm leaning toward Hole in My Soul because of the solid balance of talking, singing and yelling. Welcome to the Jungle is also totally fun to sing.
When researching songs I might want to add to the list, I came across this article and was dismayed to find that these people have confused the 50 Best Karaoke Songs with the 50 Worst Karaoke Songs. There are a few okay ones on there, but mostly it's a list of the contrived. Also, in their 20 Worst Karaoke Songs article, they not only have much of the same list, but they also included my go-to song Total Eclipse of the Heart. Um no, that song is awesome, stupid Associated Content writer.
So I'm writing my own lists. Feel free to comment/email with further ideas and I'll update the lists accordingly.
Songs that are never okay:
- Anything from a musical...
- ...especially if that musical is Grease
- Baby Got Back
- I Will Survive
- It's Raining Men
- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (unless you're a very funny man)
- Jesse's Girl
- Friends in Low Places
- Anything by Celine Dion or Whitney Houston (unless you are very funny about it)
Songs people do lamely with buddies because they're scared to go up alone:
- Again, anything from Grease
- I Got You Babe
- Love Shack
Songs that are spent but fun anyway:
- You Oughta Know (I rock it! Holla!)
- Sweet Caroline
- Bohemian Rhapsody**
More suggestions? By the way, for those who may be interested, my current songlist includes:
- Cryin' (Aerosmith)
- Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)
- You Oughta Know (Alanis Morissette)
- Wild Thing (Tone Loc)
- Closer (NIN)
- Stand By Your Man (Patsy Cline)
- Blaze of Glory (Bon Jovi)
- I can bust out virtually any Britney Spears by request, but don't normally volunteer this information.
The point has been made that Blondie's "One Way or Another" is ideal for that point late in the evening when I want to go up again but have shot my vocal chords all to hell.