25 Karaoke Songs That Will Make Everyone In Your Family Want to Sing

1. “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5

Year released: 1969

Fun song fact: This is the first national single by the Jackson 5, which became the first number-one hit for the band on January 31, 1970.

2. “Rocket Man” by Elton John

Year released: 1972

Fun song fact: The inspiration for this song was the short story "The Rocket Man," written by Ray Bradbury. The sci-fi author's tale is told from the perspective of a child, whose astronaut father has mixed feelings at leaving his family in order to do his job.

3. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

Year released: 1975

Fun song fact: This song was originally called “The Cowboy Song,” but that was eventually ditched for "Bohemian Rhapsody."

4. "Mamma Mia" by ABBA

Year released: 1975

Fun song fact: The catchy xylophone-like hook that sets up this song was played on the marimba, an instrument of African origin similar to a xylophone but with wooden bars.

5. “Best of My Love” by The Emotions

Year released: 1977

Fun song fact: Wanda Hutchinson sang an octave higher than she was used to for this song.

6. “I Love Rock ’N Roll” by Joan Jett

Year released: 1981

Fun song fact: This was originally recorded by a British group called the Arrows in 1975, and it was written by their lead singer Alan Merrill and guitarist Jake Hooker. Joan Jett’s cover is arguably one of the most successful covers in rock history.

7. “Valerie” by Steve Linwood

Year released: 1982

Fun song fact: The lyrics, written by Will Jennings, are about a real person whose identity Jennings said he would never reveal. He did say that she was almost at the top of the world in her profession and let it slip away from her. He said she was a dear friend and this was his tribute to her.

8. “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel

Year released: 1983

Fun song fact: This song contains only one actual instrument (bass guitar). Everything else is vocals, finger snaps, and claps.

9. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper

Year released: 1983

Fun song fact: The music video for this song features the wrestler Captain Lou Albano as Lauper's father and Lauper's real-life mother, who had no acting experience.

10. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!

Year released: 1984

Fun song fact: Andrew Ridgeley lived at home with his parents even after Wham! made it big. He and George Michael used to record their demos there. One day, Ridgeley needed a wake-up call, so he left a note for his mom on his door that said, "Wake me up up," and, realizing he duplicated a word, finished the sentence with "before you go go." Michael thought that was funny and decided to use it as a song title.

11. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds

Year released: 1985

Fun song fact: This song was featured in the 1985 movie “The Breakfast Club,” during the iconic ending shot where Judd Nelson throws his fist in the air, which is perhaps one of the most famous freeze-frames in movie history.

12. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers

Year released: 1987

Fun song fact: The Proclaimers are Scottish twins Craig and Charlie Reid. This is their only hit in America. It’s about being devoted to a woman and wanting to spend the rest of your life with her.

13. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston

Year released: 1987

Fun song fact: This song was written by couple George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who met when they both performed at the wedding of Seattle socialite Susan Boeing.

14. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

Year released: 1992

Fun song fact: This song led the charge in country music, crossing over to Top 40 radio and becoming a huge hit.

15. “Dreams” by the Cranberries

Year released: 1993

Fun song facts: Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan wrote this song about her first love when she was living in Ireland. She was 20 years old when the song was released.

16. “The Sign” by Ace of Base

Year released: 1993

Fun song fact: This was the #1 song of 1994, according to Billboard’s year-end charts. It was also Arista Record's most successful Billboard single in the label's history, selling over nine million copies in America.

17. “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan

Year released: 1995

Fun song fact: This track was a team effort with nine credited songwriters, including Jordan.

18. “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette

Year released: 1996

Fun song fact: The events described in the song (rain on your wedding day, a traffic jam when you're already late, etc.), are not actually examples of irony.

19. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls

Year released: 1996

Fun song fact: Worldwide, this is the best-selling single by an all-female group.

20. “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain

Year released: 1997

Fun song fact: Shania Twain wrote this song with her rock producer husband, Robert "Mutt" Lange. Her lyrics were inspired by their marriage, which many felt wouldn't last. Twain and Lange did eventually divorce in 2008 after fourteen years of marriage.

21. “MMMBop” by Hanson

Year released: 1997

Fun song fact: This song actually started out as the background part for another song.

22. “She Bangs" by Ricky Martin

Year released: 1998

Fun song fact: Martin has said that this song title is a play on the big bang theory — it is a metaphor for the universe.

23. “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child

Year release: 1999

Fun song fact: Two members of Destiny's Child — LeTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett — sang on this track but didn't appear in the video. Their replacements — Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams — appeared instead. Franklin was fired a few months later and the group continued as a trio.

24. “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton

Year released: 2001

Fun song facts: This song is featured in the 2004 movie White Chicks, starring Shawn and Marlon Wayans as FBI agents who go undercover as white girls.

25. “All Star” by Smash Mouth

Year released: 2001

Fun song facts: The voice that says "go for the moon" came from an album of sounds from the Apollo moon mission issued by NASA.