10 Karaoke Classics That People Really Need to Stop Attempting

The timeless art of karaoke is extremely popular for a reason: it’s fun for people to sing their favorite songs after a few drinks. Yet, some choices are incredibly overplayed. These songs should be avoided at all costs because, well, people tend to screw them up in historic fashion! That’s why I’m calling on everyone to stop performing these ten songs at karaoke.

1. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion

In the late 90s, most people were subject to hearing this song on the radio endlessly, thanks to it being featured in the smash-hit film Titanic. However, nearly 30 years later, people still haven’t heard it enough and have decided to torture an entire room by attempting to perform it for karaoke! Some songs are annoying to hear, some are impossible to sing in tune, and some are both: A complex song that grates the ears of everyone who’s listening. Please, everyone, stop singing this song.

2. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by The Righteous Brothers

Some songs are tailor-made to be belted as loud as you can after enjoying a handful of adult beverages. However, thanks to one blockbuster Hollywood movie, even a classic song can spell disaster for karaoke bars!

3. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey

I may be biased, but I maintain that this Journey song is the most overrated track in music history. I don’t want to hear it for the 5,000th time on the radio, at a concert, and especially during karaoke. Journey is a landmark band that rightfully gained millions of fans, but for some reason, “Don’t Stop Believin’” always rubbed me the wrong way. The band has plenty of other worthy songs to sing; can we all agree to retire this particular song for good?

Also, just because Journey can live without Steve Perry doesn’t mean you can successfully sing this classic.

4. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

This timeless love ballad is arguably Whitney Houston’s greatest song. However, it has a reputation for being extremely difficult to perform, and many men and women confess the average person shouldn’t attempt to sing it. I’m an avid karaoke fan, and I’ve never heard someone successfully sing “I Will Always Love You.” It seems impossible!

5. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

One phrase that comes to mind when witnessing someone attempt to sing this song during a karaoke session: word salad. While wildly popular, the song is so lyrically complex that the singer often struggles to stay ahead of the words. It results in a drunken slurring of nearly all words, and when a song relies so much on its lyrics, it ruins the performance every time. Besides, no one can compete with Billy Joel anyway. Performing this song should be avoided unless you’re a fan of public ridicule.

6. “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin

Choosing the correct karaoke song to win over a skeptical crowd is tricky but not impossible. However, it’s astounding how many singers choose a song like “Kashmir” with multiple minutes-long breaks and no signing parts! The goal of singing karaoke should be to entertain, not bore, the crowd.

7. “At a Medium Pace” by Adam Sandler

This little-known track is my go-to karaoke song, but my girlfriend thinks I should retire it immediately. It’s arguably Adam Sandler’s most filthy song, and it generally delights and disgusts unsuspecting crowds when I perform it. It happens to be a song I can sing perfectly, but the questionable subject matter causes my girlfriend to be embarrassed beyond all belief whenever I belt it out! She has a point: I think it’s time I find a new “perfect” karaoke song.

8. “Livin On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

Karaoke lovers should stay away from songs with massive key changes midway through. This Bon Jovi chart-topper has one very challenging key change that not even the man himself will attempt in 2023! Fans of this song should attempt to sing it publicly at their own risk.

9. “American Pie” by Don McLean

Many classic songs are deceptive. Songs like “American Pie” have verses many people aren’t aware of until it’s too late, leading to a potentially embarrassing situation on stage! There are whole verses to “American Pie” that people don’t realize they don’t know until it’s scrolling across a screen in front of them and a crowd is watching.

10. “Dream On” by Aerosmith

Many of us dream of having the vocal stylings of Steven Tyler, but none of us have the pipes to come close to belting out a song like “Dream On.” Steven Tyler made a career out of hitting impossibly high notes; odds are you can’t come close to his singing skills, so don’t even attempt it.

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