Party Karaoke Songs: 50 Songs That Get Everyone Singing
Not every karaoke song works at a party. Some are too slow, too obscure, or too difficult. Here are 50 songs that consistently get crowds singing, dancing, and having an amazing time.
The Secret: The best party karaoke songs have singable choruses everyone knows, aren't too vocally demanding, and have energy that gets people moving. These songs fit that formula perfectly.
Top 10 Guaranteed Crowd-Pleasers
These songs work at ANY party, regardless of age or music taste:
| Song | Artist | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| "Don't Stop Believin'" | Journey | Everyone knows the chorus, builds energy |
| "Sweet Caroline" | Neil Diamond | "Bah bah bah" — crowd participation built-in |
| "Livin' on a Prayer" | Bon Jovi | Fist-pumping anthem, easy to chant |
| "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Queen | Performance art, everyone joins in |
| "Mr. Brightside" | The Killers | Universal crowd anthem |
| "Dancing Queen" | ABBA | Gets people on their feet |
| "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" | Whitney Houston | Pure joy |
| "Sweet Home Alabama" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Rock singalong |
| "Wonderwall" | Oasis | Everyone knows every word |
| "Take Me Home, Country Roads" | John Denver | Emotional singalong |
High-Energy Party Starters
When you need to get the energy UP:
Get the Dance Floor Moving
| Song | Artist | Energy Level |
|---|---|---|
| "Uptown Funk" | Bruno Mars | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Yeah!" | Usher | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "I Gotta Feeling" | Black Eyed Peas | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Party in the U.S.A." | Miley Cyrus | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Shake It Off" | Taylor Swift | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Can't Stop the Feeling" | Justin Timberlake | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Happy" | Pharrell | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "September" | Earth, Wind & Fire | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| "Superstition" | Stevie Wonder | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
Rock Party Anthems
| Song | Artist | Crowd Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| "We Will Rock You" | Queen | Stomp-clap perfection |
| "You Shook Me All Night Long" | AC/DC | Rock classic |
| "Pour Some Sugar on Me" | Def Leppard | 80s rock party |
| "Summer of '69" | Bryan Adams | Nostalgia hit |
| "We're Not Gonna Take It" | Twisted Sister | Rebellious fun |
| "Eye of the Tiger" | Survivor | Motivational energy |
| "Don't Stop Me Now" | Queen | Pure joy in rock form |
Group Singalong Songs
Perfect when you want the WHOLE room singing:
Everyone-Knows-The-Words Songs
| Song | Artist | Best Moment |
|---|---|---|
| "Piano Man" | Billy Joel | The chorus swells |
| "American Pie" | Don McLean | The crowd does half the work |
| "Tiny Dancer" | Elton John | "Hold me closer..." |
| "Africa" | Toto | That chorus is magic |
| "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | Bonnie Tyler | Dramatic buildup |
| "Somebody That I Used to Know" | Gotye | Everyone knows both parts |
| "Mr. Brightside" | The Killers | From first note to last |
| "Wagon Wheel" | Old Crow/Darius Rucker | Country crowd-pleaser |
Duets for Groups
| Song | Artists | Who Sings |
|---|---|---|
| "Summer Nights" | Grease | Boys vs girls |
| "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" | Elton & Kiki | Classic trade-off |
| "Shallow" | Gaga & Cooper | Dramatic duet |
| "Under Pressure" | Queen & Bowie | Takes practice but epic |
| "Love Shack" | B-52s | Party group song |
Can't find the karaoke version of a song? Create your own from any track in your music library. Remove vocals and you're ready to sing.
Songs by Decade
80s Party Hits
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Take On Me" | a-ha |
| "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" | Cyndi Lauper |
| "Jessie's Girl" | Rick Springfield |
| "Walk Like an Egyptian" | The Bangles |
| "Come On Eileen" | Dexys Midnight Runners |
| "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | Joan Jett |
| "Just Like Heaven" | The Cure |
90s Party Hits
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Wannabe" | Spice Girls |
| "No Diggity" | Blackstreet |
| "...Baby One More Time" | Britney Spears |
| "Backstreet's Back" | Backstreet Boys |
| "Livin' La Vida Loca" | Ricky Martin |
| "Jump Around" | House of Pain |
| "Smells Like Teen Spirit" | Nirvana |
2000s Party Hits
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé |
| "Mr. Brightside" | The Killers |
| "Hey Ya!" | OutKast |
| "Yeah!" | Usher |
| "Since U Been Gone" | Kelly Clarkson |
| "Poker Face" | Lady Gaga |
| "Single Ladies" | Beyoncé |
2010s Party Hits
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Uptown Funk" | Bruno Mars |
| "Call Me Maybe" | Carly Rae Jepsen |
| "Happy" | Pharrell |
| "Can't Stop the Feeling" | Justin Timberlake |
| "Shut Up and Dance" | Walk the Moon |
| "24K Magic" | Bruno Mars |
| "Old Town Road" | Lil Nas X |
Recent Hits (2020s)
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| "Levitating" | Dua Lipa |
| "good 4 u" | Olivia Rodrigo |
| "Flowers" | Miley Cyrus |
| "Anti-Hero" | Taylor Swift |
| "As It Was" | Harry Styles |
| "About Damn Time" | Lizzo |
| "Stay" | Kid LAROI |
Songs to Avoid at Parties
Some songs are great for karaoke but NOT for parties:
Too Slow
- Long ballads (kills energy)
- Sad songs (mood killer)
- Songs under 100 BPM (unless ending the night)
Too Obscure
- Deep album cuts (nobody knows them)
- Very new releases (give it time)
- Genre-specific if it's a mixed crowd
Too Difficult
- Whitney Houston power ballads (for parties — save for karaoke bars)
- Opera-style songs
- Anything with extreme vocal ranges
Too Long
- Songs over 5 minutes
- Extended versions
- Songs with long instrumental sections
Building the Perfect Party Setlist
Opening Songs (Get People Warmed Up)
Start with crowd-pleasers everyone knows:
- "Sweet Caroline" — Easy, crowd participation
- "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" — Sets the energy
- "Don't Stop Believin'" — Everyone joins in
Middle Songs (Peak Energy)
Keep the momentum going: 4. "Uptown Funk" — Dance floor filler 5. "Livin' on a Prayer" — Fist pumps required 6. "Mr. Brightside" — Crowd goes wild 7. "Dancing Queen" — Gets everyone up 8. "Yeah!" — Party anthem
Late Night (Maintain Energy)
Don't let it drop: 9. "Bohemian Rhapsody" — Performance art 10. "September" — Classic energy 11. "I Gotta Feeling" — Keep it going
Closing Songs (End on a High)
Leave them wanting more: 12. "Piano Man" — Emotional singalong 13. "Don't Stop Me Now" — Pure joy 14. "Wonderwall" — Everyone's arms around each other
Reading the Room
Signs You Need to Change the Vibe
Energy is dying:
- Switch to a universally known banger
- Try a group singalong
- "Don't Stop Believin'" usually works
Too chaotic:
- Slow it down slightly (but not too slow)
- Do a group singalong to focus the room
- Give the mic to a strong performer
People aren't participating:
- Start with "Sweet Caroline" (built-in crowd parts)
- Do a duet with the host to show it's low-stakes
- Announce "group song" where everyone sings
Crowd Types and Song Recommendations
| Crowd Type | Best Songs |
|---|---|
| Mixed ages | Classic rock, ABBA, Journey |
| 20s-30s | 2000s hits, Bruno Mars, The Killers |
| 40s+ | 80s-90s hits, Journey, Bon Jovi |
| Work party | Safe choices, nothing too wild |
| House party | Current hits, energy songs |
| Wedding | Love songs mixed with party songs |
FAQ
What's the best song to start a karaoke party?
"Sweet Caroline" — easy to sing, crowd participation built in, gets everyone comfortable. Alternative: "Don't Stop Believin'" if you want more energy.
How do I get shy people to participate?
Start with group songs where they can blend in. "Bohemian Rhapsody" works because everyone sings different parts together.
What songs work for every age group?
Journey, ABBA, Queen, and Bruno Mars cross generational lines. "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Dancing Queen" work for ages 15 to 75.
How long should party karaoke songs be?
3-4 minutes is ideal. Avoid songs over 5 minutes unless they're major crowd favorites (Bohemian Rhapsody gets a pass).
What if I can't find a song's karaoke version?
Use StemSplit to create an instrumental from any song. Upload, remove vocals, and you've got custom karaoke.
Should I let guests pick songs or curate a list?
Both! Have a curated list of crowd-pleasers, but allow requests. Veto anything too slow, too long, or too obscure.
The Bottom Line
The best party karaoke songs share these qualities:
- Everyone knows the words (or at least the chorus)
- Energy level matches the party vibe
- Not too vocally challenging
- 3-4 minutes long
- Gets people moving or singing along
Stick with crowd-pleasers, read the room, and keep the energy flowing. When in doubt, put on "Don't Stop Believin'" and watch the room come alive.
Make Any Song Karaoke-Ready
Can't find it on karaoke services? Create your own.
- ✅ Works with any song from your library
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