2021 is a big year for karaoke as it has been exactly 50 years since the first karaoke machine was invented in Japan. What a singing half-a-century it's been! We at Singa are celebrating the 50th birthday with, of course - more karaoke. Get singing here!
If you want to know how different milestones, such as the release of the VHS and the start of the Karaoke World Championships, locate in the karaoke's 50-year-timeline, see our blog post here.
These 50 years have been filled with various songs, from Disney fairytales to WAP. Some songs take the karaoke world by storm for a short period (Tequila, anyone?), some top the streaming charts globally but never make it big in the lips of karaoke singers — whereas some are sung from time after time, year after year, around the world.
Here's our list of some of the most evergreen karaoke classics! See our singlist Ultimate Karaoke Classics for more inspiration.
25 all-time karaoke song classics
The list is in no particular ranking - it is really hard to put these karaoke classics in order! We warmly recommend you to sing them all through and pick your own favorite.
25. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
Sad love song classic that hits the feels.
24. Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Sing karaoke version here.
Amy Winehouse's and Mark Ronson's version of Valerie is a song you hear often at karaoke parties.
23. Yesterday - The Beatles
No karaoke party without a Beatles' song! Tearjerker alert on this one.
22. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Brit rock essential.
21. Hotel California - Eagles
20. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
19. Zombie - The Cranberries
18. Can't Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
17. Like a Prayer - Madonna
16. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion
A movie soundtrack that broke our hearts but remained on our lips.
15. Angels - Robbie Williams
Sing karaoke version of Angels here.
14. Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Sing karaoke version of My Way here.
13. Dancing Queen - ABBA
Sing karaoke version of Dancing Queen here.
ABBA songs are definitely big in karaoke. We look forward to see how the 2021 ABBA songs are received by the karaoke singers! See here for the TOP25 ABBA karaoke songs of 2021.
12. My Way - Frank Sinatra
Sing karaoke version of My Way here.
11. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Sing karaoke version of Bohemian Rhapsody here.
A legendary yet equally difficult karaoke song that has been peaking Singa's karaoke charts, especially since the launch of the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
10. That Don't Impress Me Much - Shania Twain
Sing karaoke version of That Don't Impress Me Much here.
9. Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Sing karaoke version of Shallow here.
The most popular karaoke song on Singa in 2020, and the trend seems to be continuing in 2021 too.
8. Creep - Radiohead
Sing karaoke version of Creep here.
7. Wannabe - Spice Girls
Sing karaoke version of Wannabe here.
Girl power! The 90's mega hit still makes the crowd go wild everytime.
6. Piano Man - Billy Joel
Sing karaoke version of Piano Man here.
5. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Sing karaoke version of I Will Survive here.
Post-breakup power anthem in the style of the one and only Gloria Gaynor.
4. I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Sing karaoke version of I Want It That Way here.
Sugary, iconic boyband song.
3. Africa - TOTO
Sing karaoke version of Africa here.
2. Wonderwall - Oasis
Sing karaoke version of Wonderwall here.
From bonfire sing-alongs to karaoke stages, Wonderwall has definitely earned its place as an evergreen song to sing.
1. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Sing karaoke version of Don't Stop Believin' here.
There's even a karaoke book titled after the song, the first Karaoke Ale in the world was named after the song - and, not to mention, everybody loves singing this song! Thank you to Journey for a great song that has been making karaoke singers jolly since 1981!