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Karaoke nights in bars and dedicated karaoke booths are common. But it’s also something you can do by yourself at home, or together with friends over a video call.
So what are the best karaoke songs for 2021? You might like to try out some recent hits or look to the past for inspiration. The easiest song to sing at karaoke will vary from person to person, depending on your vocal ability, range and musical style.
Are you looking for a tune to sing along to? Have you been on the hunt for the latest tracks that are easy to sing? Read on for our suggestions and advice.
The best karaoke songs for 2021
Karaoke is a Japanese word meaning ‘empty orchestra’. It involves the use of an app, computer or karaoke machine to provide the background music for you to sing along to. Karaoke nights can be virtual or at a venue.
It’s a fun way to improve your singing as it doesn’t feel like strict practice. It gives you a chance to perform and develop your onstage persona. Karaoke is also a great opportunity to try and make songs your own by changing the key or twisting the lyrics, this is fun but will also enable you to develop your songs and melodies.
How do I choose a good karaoke song?
Contemporary hits are often the way to go. But you can’t go wrong singing a well-loved tune and it could be a great way to get the virtual or in-person party going.
What should I sing in karaoke?
Do you have a go-to audition song ? This might be a convenient opportunity to practice it. Or if you want to ace your karaoke sesh, singing a song you’ve already perfected can be a useful shortcut.
What is the easiest song to sing at karaoke?
A karaoke night doesn’t have to mean showing off your range and impressing your audience with high belting notes. If you pick easy, enjoyable songs to sing, you can focus on your performance and engage everyone with how much fun you’re having.
What is the easiest song to sing?
There isn’t a clear answer to this. It’s more about finding something that’s right for you as an individual as not everyone finds the same songs easy. Factors influencing how hard you find a track will be:
- Whether it fits your natural range
- If the song’s genre matches your inherent vibe
- Whether you already know the song well
- The complexity of the composition and intervals of the notes
- The song’s speed (you may find slow or fast easier to deal with)
- How good the accompaniment is on that particular version of the track
- What sort of songs you like., The more you have fun, the better your performance is likely to be.
However, there are some songs believed to be universally simple to pick up. Aim for something with a straightforward melody and minimal lyrics. You can check out this article for good ones to begin with when starting out.
Easy karaoke songs for a beginner
Whether you are singing on your own, having a fun family night in or hosting a karaoke party, we give you a rundown of the latest songs that are perfect for a fun evening. Covering everything from rock ballads to rap, and musical theatre hits to the latest pop tunes, here are some great options.
The best karaoke songs from 2021
Get bang up to date with these hits released in January 2021.
Anyone by Justin Bieber
The pop prince is back with this fresh hit that’s already topping the charts. Chilled and easy to sing, it’s a good one if you’re seeking something that’s not yet been oversung.
Get You Alone by BAEKHYUN
Up for a lyric challenge? Try this new number from fast-rising k-pop star BAEKHYUN. The tune is cheery and upbeat, perfect for a karaoke vibe and just what we need to lift us at the start of 2021.
Afterglow by Ed Sheeran
Ed’s latest release landed at the very end of 2020, so is set to become popular as 2021 continues. Get ahead of the crowd by learning the track now. The songwriter’s tunes are always great to sing and never fail to get the crowd going. It’s his first release in 18 months and this video was recorded in just one take!
The best karaoke songs 2020
As we’re limited on release this early into 2021, let’s look back over the past 12 months for some top tunes to sing at karaoke.
You Should Be Sad by Halsey
From her new album ‘Manic’ released in 2020, this song is a current hit. An indie track with mellow guitar backing makes this a perfect song to sing to warm up your voice at the start of the night.
Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles
This is a really fun song with quirky lyrics was a definite escapist earworm for 2020. Harry Styles’ most recent album has a great selection of current hits, so if this one isn’t to your liking, take a look at some of his other songs.
Say So by Doja Cat
If you’re keeping up to date with all things TikTok, then you’ll have heard this new 2020 bop. This tune is a great choice if you want to show off some dance moves whilst you sing. Recording this as an acoustic number, and sharing it across social media, could be a good way to make it your own, whilst still drawing in fans with a familiar song.
No Time to Die by Billie Eilish
This is a really popular song to cover , so you must make it your own if you want to stand out at karaoke night. Used as the theme song for the 2020 James Bond film, this tune is very current. Harmonies and backing vocals would sound nice on this track.
What A Man Gotta Do by Jonas Brothers
This boy band have been around for a while but returned in 2020 with this new, catchy toe-tapper in the key of E. The vocal range of the brothers spans two whole octaves, so it may be a good idea to call on some friends and get them singing along. This song is perfect for karaoke, with repetitive lyrics making it seem as though it was written for a sing-along.
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Señorita by Shawn Mendes & Camilla Cabello
Looking for a duet which is perfect for karaoke? If you’re feeling shy and don’t want to stand up for a solo number, why not try this upbeat tune with a friend and impress everyone with some Spanish lyrics?
The best karaoke songs of 2019
We’re delving even further back now, but keeping with a recent contemporary music theme.
The Man by Taylor Swift
What’s a karaoke night without a bit of Taylor Swift? This is a feminist anthem, with powerful lyrics. Taylor is known for stepping away from her country routes, and this song is sure to prove that point. In the key of C Major, with fewer local leaps, this is an easier song for karaoke.
Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
Many of the songs on our list are up tempo. But if oyu can rock a heartfelt ballad, this is a real winner for a karaoke crowd. Lewis’s songs are often easy to sing and sound fantastic, so think about taking on his 2019 smash.
Alexander Hamilton from Hamilton
We’re going a little further back here. If you’re into musical theatre, then you’ll be familiar with the musical Hamilton which premiered in London in 2017. This song is just one of many from the show, and shouldn’t be too hard to sing in the key of D Major. There’s also the opportunity for a more spoken delivery of this song if you’re more of a rapper.
The Best karaoke songs from the 90s
If you want to opt for a classic, explore some hits that all the family will know. Here are some winners from the 1990s.
Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
This slightly silly country hit came from none other than Miley’s dad! This one is bound to have everyone smiling and bopping along.
Wannabe by the Spice Girls
Grab some pals and rock some gal power with this debut Spice Girls hit. Decide who’ll sing Victoria, Mel C, Mel B, Geri and Emma’s individual parts beforehand though, or it could quickly get confusing!
Reflection from the Disney movie Mulan
Disney songs are great to sing for karaoke. This Mulan number covered by many artists including Jessie J is a timeless song, with a more mellow feel. Karaoke songs don’t have to be upbeat and belted for people to engage. Singing a slower song will allow you to connect with the lyrics and show off a more vulnerable side in your performance.
How do I host karaoke at home over Zoom?
Gather your family or friends and host a virtual singalong evening . It does require some planning to get it right. Make sure you have a good mix of people who aren’t too shy about letting their hair down on camera. And pull together a good playlist spanning all musical genres and accommodating a range of styles and voice types.
Schedule up a new meeting via the Zoom website or app, sending a link to the invitees. Give everyone a chance to make their requests before the event, or on the night, then share the tracks via your own audio, or ask each singer to share their own version while they sing along. Ask attendees to keep their audio and video on, but to mute their own mic when someone else is singing.
Now you know some of the best karaoke songs for 2021, it’s time to get practising. If you can’t get it and about, you can still have a good old sing song with your mates. So have some fun and belt out those top tunes.
Related Questions
- What songs get the crowd going?
This is a super way to practice music and develop your style, and to try out new songs. But remember the most important thing about karaoke is that it should be fun. Get the crows going with popular tunes that others can join in with or tap their feet along to.
- Where can I get karaoke songs for free?
Sing to your heart’s content without paying a penny, by steaming karaoke videos on YouTube. Spotify also has a range of tracks available for free to those with a subscription or with adverts for those without. Many karaoke machines and apps come with tracks included too.
Do you sing karaoke? Let us know your favourite songs to sing in 2021, in the comments below.