I’d have gotten this up sooner, but I’ve been enjoying some limited online connectivity coupled with some sweet quality time in one of my fave cities o’er the holidays: New Orleans.
Last week, I reviewed Brian Raftery‘s most excellent ode to the empty orchestra, the ancient Japanese art of karaoke: Don’t Stop Believin’: How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life. B.R. lists some lists in the back of the book, and I couldn’t wait to weigh in with my own.
25+ Songs I’ll Never Find at Karaoke
Monkees Porpoise Song
CCR Effigy
Sia Buttons
Beastie Boys Cooky Puss
Tubes White Punks on Dope
Abba I Am the Tiger
Eagles of Death Metal Any
Mike Nesmith Circle Sky
Pete Shelly Homosapian
Teddy & the Frat Girls Alophen Baby
KT Tunstall White Bird and If Only (so sing-songy!)
X Ray Spex Oh Bondage Up Yours
Plastic Bertrand Ce Plane Pour Moi
Stranglers No More Heroes
Joy Division All of This for You
James Brown Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto
Velvet Underground Andy’s Chest
Bloodrock Timothy
Tom Robinson Glad to Be Gay
Jaggerz The Rapper
Lou Christie Lightnin’ Strikes
Lena Lovich Lucky Number and New Toy
Tings Tings That’s Not My Name
James Brown Funky President
Blowfly Rap Dirty
22 Songs I’ll Never Stop Singing at Karaoke
Paul McCartney Live & Let Die
U2 Pride (In the Name of Love)
Sweet Ballroom Blitz
Black Sabbath War Pigs
Tal Bachman She’s So High
Elton John Philadelphia Freedom
Jefferson Airplane White Rabbit
Deep Purple Highway Star
Eric Burdon & Animals Spill the Wine
Righteous Brothers You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Starbuck Moonlight Feels Right
Elvis Presley I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You
Temptations Can’t Get Next to You (solo, all parts)
Golden Earring Radar Love
Kelly Clarkson Since U Been Gone
Cornelius Brothers Treat Her Like a Lady
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run
Tom Jones What’s New Pussycat
Todd Rundgren I Saw the Light
Joe Tex I Gotcha
Richard Harris or Donna Summer MacArthur Park
Paul McCartney Uncle Albert
Songs I Can’t Karaoke Coz They Make Me Cry
Red Foley Old Shep
Elton John Daniel
Glen Campbell Galveston
Glen Campbell Wichita Lineman
Al Green Let’s Stay Together
My Favorite Karaoke Songs to Sing with Sarah Hepola
Bonnie Tyler Total Eclipse of the Heart
U2 One
Bon Jovi Wanted: Dead or Alive
My Favorite Karaoke Song to Sing with Bill Jeffrey
Bee Gees Nights on Broadway
My Favorite Things to Scream During Karaoke
“Boulevard”
“Motorin'”
“Camel Toe”
(with proper cues, of course)
My Favorite New Thing to Do as a KJ
Rick Roll the audience and see who jumps up to sing Never Gonna Give U Up
This article appears in December 26 • 2008.