Crowd-Pleasers That Please Absolutely No One at Karaoke Night
Karaoke night is supposed to be fun—grab a mic, belt out your favorites, and maybe win over the crowd. But some songs? They’re traps. Too long, too high, too dramatic, or just way too serious for a room full of half-tipsy friends. Here’s the ultimate karaoke blacklist.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" (Queen)
Six minutes. Five key changes. A ballad, an opera, a rock anthem—all crammed into one. Unless Freddie Mercury’s ghost is on backup, you’re in trouble. Save it for the car ride home, Wayne’s World–style, where headbanging won’t empty the bar.
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Video Remastered), Queen Official
"My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion)
This Titanic theme is a vibe-destroyer. It’s slow, it drags, and nobody at karaoke wants to picture Leo sinking into the Atlantic. Without Celine’s powerhouse voice, it’s less goosebumps and more groans. Do everyone a favor: let Jack rest in peace.
Céline Dion - My Heart Will Go On (Official 25th Anniversary Alternate Music Video), Celine Dion
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler)
You think you’ve got the raspy growl for this one. You don’t. The verses test your range, and when that shouted “TURN AROUND” comes, your voice quits. Bonnie Tyler was thunder. You’re more like drizzle in a broken karaoke machine.
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (Turn Around) (Official Video), Bonnie Tyler
"Don’t Stop Believin’" (Journey)
Karaoke law requires at least one person to attempt this every night. The first chorus gets cheers, sure. But by the third, the crowd is drained. What used to be an anthem is now a tired obligation. Steve Perry deserves better.
Journey - Don't Stop Believin' - Live, journey
"Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen/Jeff Buckley)
Beautiful? Absolutely. But it only works if you can really pull it off—and let’s be honest, you probably can’t. This song belongs to talented singers auditioning for The Voice, not tipsy regulars at karaoke night. Gorgeous track, wrong stage.
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Official Video), Jeff Buckley Music
"Livin’ on a Prayer" (Bon Jovi)
Those big “woah-ohhh” notes? Higher than your bar tab. Jon Bon Jovi could belt them—most can’t. What feels epic in your head quickly turns into strained squeaks. By the end, you’re not halfway there—you’re completely done.
Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer (4K 2160p 30fps VP9 LQ 128kbit AAC), 80s 90s Party 4K Remastered
"I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston)
This is karaoke Everest. The soft start lulls you into confidence, then comes Whitney’s legendary note—and everything falls apart. Ninety-nine percent of people crumble. The other one percent? Still not Whitney. Brave attempt, but nobody asked for heartbreak in surround sound.
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (Official 4K Video), Whitney Houston
"Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin)
Karaoke rule #1: no songs longer than your last relationship. At eight minutes, this one drags forever. Add a guitar break where you just stand there holding the mic, and the crowd’s attention is gone. Stairway to karaoke purgatory.
Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven (Live at Earls Court 1975) [Official Video], Led Zeppelin
"Imagine" (John Lennon)
Inspiring? Yes. Right for karaoke? Absolutely not. It’s slow, it’s somber, and suddenly everyone’s swaying awkwardly like it’s a high school vigil. Karaoke is for fun chaos—not deep philosophical TED Talks with beer pitchers.
"Purple Rain" (Prince)
Prince could turn nine minutes into magic. You? Nine minutes of mumbled verses and cracked high notes. The outro alone is brutal. Instead of chills, the room gets restless. There’s only one Prince—and he’s not at your local dive bar.
"Rolling in the Deep" (Adele)
Adele’s voice is a jet engine. Yours is more like a leaky balloon. This song needs powerhouse lungs and control. By the chorus, most singers are gasping while Adele’s ghost hovers in judgment. Pick a track with fewer vocal landmines.
Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Official Music Video), Adele
"Hey Jude" (The Beatles)
It starts fine—people sing along, clap, sway. Then the “na-na-na” section begins. And it never ends. Five minutes later, the novelty is gone and everyone’s praying for the DJ to fade you out. Jude deserves rest.
The Beatles - Hey Jude, The Beatles
"Wrecking Ball" (Miley Cyrus)
Climbing on a bar stool doesn’t make you Miley. It just makes you a hazard. The chorus looks fun, but ends up as a screech-fest nobody enjoys. Bonus penalty if you mime swinging wrecking balls. Leave the dramatics to Disney Channel re-runs.
Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (Official Video), Miley Cyrus
"Sweet Child O’ Mine" (Guns N’ Roses)
Those iconic Axl Rose wails? Human throats were not designed for them. What starts as fun nostalgia quickly spirals into glass-shattering shrieks. Instead of headbanging, the room braces for impact. Skip the vocal gymnastics—you’re not winning gold tonight.
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine [4K Remastered], elcoronelGOD
"Let It Go" (Idina Menzel/"Frozen")
If you’re under 12, fine. Anyone else? Hard pass. Karaoke bars aren’t Arendelle, and nobody wants to relive Frozen at midnight. Extra cringe if you attempt snow-queen hand gestures. Let this one go.
Idina Menzel - Let It Go (from Frozen) (Official Video), DisneyMusicVEVO
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana)
Screaming into a mic doesn’t equal grunge authenticity. Kurt Cobain was raw emotion—you’re just noise. Instead of sparking chaos, it clears the room. Not everything angry and loud translates into fun karaoke.
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video), Nirvana
"You’re Beautiful" (James Blunt)
This song turns karaoke into a sad open mic night. It’s slow, it’s awkward, and everyone suddenly remembers their worst breakup. James Blunt made it haunting; you’ll just make it uncomfortable. Skip the sob session.
James Blunt - You're Beautiful (Official Music Video) [4K], James Blunt
"Wonderwall" (Oasis)
Somebody plays it every night, and everyone groans. Once upon a time, it was a crowd sing-along. Now it’s a cliché. Unless you’ve got an actual Gallagher brother with you, this one earns more eye-rolls than applause.
Oasis - Wonderwall [4K Remastered], elcoronelGOD
"All by Myself" (Celine Dion version)
Karaoke is supposed to be social, not a therapy session. This song drags and dredges up emotions nobody asked for. If the crowd wanted to cry about being single, they’d just scroll Instagram at home.
Céline Dion - All By Myself (Official Remastered HD Video), Celine Dion
"I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor)
The first verse? Empowering. The chorus? Too high. By the end, it’s more squeaks than triumph. Without the voice of a disco diva, it’s not inspiring—it’s exhausting. This one’s a stamina game most lose.
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
"American Pie" (Don McLean)
Eight minutes. Eight verses. Three drinks later, you’re still singing about levees and whiskey. By the “day the music died,” the bar’s patience already has. It’s a classic—just not karaoke classic.
Don McLean performs American Pie live at BBC in 1972 - Newsnight archives, BBC Newsnight
"Hotel California" (Eagles)
It’s long, meandering, and ends with a guitar solo where you just stand there awkwardly holding a mic. Nobody came to karaoke to sit through a haunted Airbnb review in real time.
Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD], Eagles
"Dream On" (Aerosmith)
Steven Tyler’s falsetto screams are superhuman. The verses lull you into thinking you’re doing fine—then the high notes arrive and your voice explodes like an overworked amp. Dream big, but don’t dream on this song.
Aerosmith - Dream On (Official HD Video), HQVideoClassics
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" (Poison)
It’s not un-singable—it’s just a vibe vacuum. Karaoke thrives on energy, not breakup ballads. Instead of cheering, people are checking their phones. Save the heartache for your Spotify playlist, not a crowded bar.
Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Official Music Video), Poison
"November Rain" (Guns N’ Roses)
Nine minutes. Half of it is instrumental. That means you’ll be standing there awkwardly, waiting for the vocals to return—or worse, pretending to shred an air guitar solo. Epic on MTV in the 90s, but in a karaoke bar? Just say no.
Guns N' Roses - November Rain (2022 Version), Guns N' Roses
"The Sound of Silence" (Simon & Garfunkel/Disturbed)
It’s haunting, but karaoke isn’t supposed to feel like a funeral. Instead of joy, the room gets sucked into a black hole of melancholy. Save the darkness for headphones—this isn’t karaoke fuel.
Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE], Disturbed
"We Are the Champions" (Queen)
Everyone wants to sing along—until the high notes show up. Then it’s just screeching into the void. What should be a victory lap feels like a vocal defeat. Stick with We Will Rock You.
Queen - We Are The Champions (Live), Queen Official
"Shallow" (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
Unless you brought both Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper with you, don’t try this duet. The octave jumps and timing are brutal. Instead of A Star Is Born, you’ll deliver A Crowd Is Bored.
Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper - Shallow (from A Star Is Born) (Official Music Video), Lady Gaga
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Simon & Garfunkel)
Slow, drawn out, and way too heavy for karaoke night. Instead of people singing along, they’re checking how many turns are left. It’s beautiful, but not fun.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (6/6) HD, Shout! Studios
"Creep" (Radiohead)
Moody? Yes. Right for karaoke? Nope. Thom Yorke made despair sound poetic—you’ll just make the room uncomfortable. Nobody wants to chant “I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo” at a Friday night hangout.
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