Karaoke: what song would you choose?

[ZenGum]

I can only do Karaoke while drunk. Hence, a drinking song is called for. Chambawamba, Tubthumpin' (I get knocked down) or The Proclaimers, 500 miles. After that we'll be so drunk it wont matter.

[DanaC]

Chumbawamba :P

My ex's Dad was a friend of their manager, as I recall.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by limey

Nina Simone's "My Baby Just Cares for Me".
Last year a friend had a 60th birthday party, and invited a Karaoke compere to her party.

com·pere (kmpâr) Chiefly British
n. The master of ceremonies, as of a television entertainment program or a variety show.
v. com·pered, com·per·ing, com·peres
v.tr. To serve as master of ceremonies for.
v.intr. To serve as the master of ceremonies.

That's a new one on me, thanks.

[monster]

really? wow. I guess that was onother one waiting to trip me up one day.... -you would just say MC here?

[Clodfobble]

Yes, except half the time it gets spelled "emcee." Which I personally think looks retarded, but a fair number of people do it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Or Ringmaster.

[Shawnee123]

Only one song I will do, and I'm more likely to do it if I'm sober. The first time I tried it was at Gradfest at my old job.

Walk Like an Egyptian. I just like doing that eye thingy that one Bangle chick did.

[squirell nutkin]

I'd do

"You and the night and the music" but the way Debroy Somers did it in Pennies From Heaven, not like Sinatra or Cullum.

I might also do "In the middle of a kiss"

[wolf]

I have a FOAF who is a karaoke DJ, so I end up doing this far more than I probably should.

I am an Alto, Second Soprano if I do a lot of stretching and warm ups first, so it's difficult to find songs in my vocal range. Since most karaoke arrangements are in something other than the original key signature, picking songs can be challenging. Another element I have to bear in mind is that I have to choose songs that I can sing without the support of a strong melody line.

I usually go for American Pie, which I know well enough that I don't have to stare at the teleprompter. I tried Sing by the Carpenters once, but the key was an octave and a half OVER my range, so it was rough until I dropped an octave. I should also not choose such embarrasingly pop-y songs. I can also do a credible Annie Lennox, and belt out Sweet Dreams quite enthusiastically, but I get lost in the woo-woos.

I might try Blinded by Science next time ...

Bonus ... I can Karaoke in my own home thanks to Comcast's Karaoke OnDemand Channel.

[Undertoad]

I figured it out



I would try to change the verses to make it cover whatever was going on, just like the dude used to do, or maybe still does. "Once... there was this guy, who... stoood up at karaoke n sung real low... and whenn... the crowd ignored him... he got real mad and threw drinks around."

Plus there's no pressure to hit any particular high note. I'm a bassist all around.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Unless it's Tracey Chapman or someone of a similar timbre, it would have to be a song by a male artist. I ain't got no soprano range.

Originally Posted by wolf

I am an Alto, Second Soprano if I do a lot of stretching and warm ups first, so it's difficult to find songs in my vocal range.

YAY! Two other Dwellars (and ones I admire) have low singing voices!
I figure your voice is higher than mine though Wolf.

You both could try some of my faves - 9 to 5, Sheryl Crow's A Change (Would Do You Good), I Will Survive (but that's pretty passe) and Babylon by David Gray.

I love to sing. I don't have to be drunk to do karaoke. I just have to find a song where I can hit all the notes. My first experience was so bad - I was quite a shy 18 year old, and someone in the group thought it would be funny to get me up to sing. Ha ha ha, lookit the embarrassed girl. Fuck off. I sang in the Bucks County Choir. I was brought up Catholic - we sing all the time - Grandad used to give Mum a hard time if he couldn't hear me above everyone else in Mass. I had solos in four school musicals. But they chose an ABBA song for me. Do you know what Agnetha and Anni-Frida's vocal ranges are? Fucking massive. I ended up mouthing like a guppy while the DJ sang most of the song.

Luckily I've put that behind me now.
I'm not bitter.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

I Will Survive (but that's pretty passe)

Heh... unless you're talking about the Cake version, there are a lot of notes that are still too high for me.

[lumberjim]

but what a FUN song to sing.....

that would be like doing Add it Up.

[Sundae]

I LOVE the Femmes.
They were our soundtrack of choice for about two summers.

[Aliantha]

I used to do a lot of karaoke. Some of the songs I used to sing were, Joy To The World by Three Dog Night, Can't take my Eyes off of You, Natural Woman, Swing Low Sweet Chariot (gospel rock version), Mockingbird and many many more. Oh, and just about anything by the Eurythmics or Cher.