Counting Down The Best Soprano Karaoke Jams
One of the great things about karaoke is how it makes you feel like a star. Karaoke gives everybody the chance of claiming the spotlight. It’s an exhilarating feeling so it’s completely understandable that people can go a little overboard and unleash their inner diva.
What Is A Soprano?
Wikipedia describes a soprano as: “a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano’s vocal range is from approximately middle C = 261 Hz to “high A” = 880 Hz in choral music, or to “soprano C” = 1046 Hz or higher in operatic music.”
We’d like to believe that deep down, there’s a Whitney or Axl Rose in all of us so we’ve come up with a list of some high-octave, full-battery-power songs you might want belt out the next time you do karaoke.
P.S. Though this list is primarily for the soprano vocal range, we also included songs that we deemed were challenging and required a lot of strength (or alcohol) to pull-off and not just songs that had high-notes.
25. High and Dry – Radiohead
Let’s start this list with a little warm-up! Radiohead’s frontman and songwriter, Thom Yorke performed the song’s first version of High and Dry with his band back in his uni days, Headless Chickens. Radiohead then went on to record a demo of High and Dry but dismissed the song until it was remastered and included in their second studio album, The Bends. The song became an unintentional hit, with its wispy lines and catchy chorus.
24. The Winner Takes It All – ABBA
From now on, we’re going to try and include an ABBA song in all our karaoke song lists. This 1980 track in particular is a karaoke favorite because of its tragic storytelling and dramatic flare.
23. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
A certified funk bop. “Play That Funky Music” takes a lot of swag and attitude to sing. The song was a chart topper and was the only song from the band to be a US Top 40 song. It’s an all-around good vibe song that has the ability to transport you back to the funkadelic 70s.
22. Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon
How old were you when you found out the artist behind this 80s power ballad? Because honestly, we are today years old. REO Speedwagon released the song “Can’t Fight This Feeling” in 1985 in the US and remained at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 list for three consecutive weeks. Today, the song is still as popular ever. It’s been featured in numerous films and series and covered by other musicians including a recent cover in December 2019 by indie band Bastille with the London Contemporary Orchestra.
21. You and I – Lady Gaga
You and I is a full on country-rock hit that still has those elements of show-tune and extravagance characteristic to Lady Gaga. The song samples that iconic stomping beat from Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and actually features band’s guitarist Brian May.
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20. Kiss – Prince
It’s Prince! That falsetto is a gift from god and you’re basically trying to reach for heaven when you’re singing this song.
19. My Immortal – Evanescence
My Immortal is The BDE Karaoke Song. Anyone who puts on this song in karaoke has reached that level of belief in one’s self that we should all aspire to have.
18. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
Do you ever have that mental image of Jack/Leo DiCaprio holding Rose’s/Kate Winslet’s waist as she spreads her arms and says, “I’m flying!” every time you hear the intro for “My Heart Will Go On”? Because we do.
17. Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Torn had quite the journey before it became the angsty anthem it is today. The song was originally recorded in Danish, by singer Lis Sørensen in 1993. It was entitled “Brændt” then, Danish for “burned”. In 1996, American-Norweigan band Ednaswap released an English version and finally Natalie Imbruglia released her cover as a debut single in 1997.
16. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
It’s said that “Sweet Child of Mine” was written in only five minutes. It was a song that the band hadn’t expected to blow up the way it did. Sweet Child O’ Mine is Guns N Roses only No. 1 U.S. Single and ranks 198 in Rolling Stones’ 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Slash himself, the band’s lead guitarists, wasn’t at all serious about recording the song and doesn’t particularly like how popular the song became. Slash’s guitar solo is also in the middle of the song which isn’t always a good thing in karaoke but it does make for an opportunity to drink water because you will need it.
15. Let It Go – Idina Menzel (Frozen OST)
We feel like this award-winning song has forever changed the way we hear and say the words “let it go”. This song is filled with so much power; not only was it performed by a Tony Award winner in the film but it also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2014 and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 2015.
14. Mr. Brightside – The Killers
The song that will never die, according to NPR. Mr. Brightside is a rock anthem and apparently, a sports game anthem. It’s a power-ballad on the run with it’s fast-paced lyrics, mirroring the anxiety and paranoia that’s being expressed in a song.
13. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) – Phil Collins
Taking several steps back is a power-ballad that’s not quite yet with a relationship. Phil Collins’ Against All Odds was recorded for the soundtrack of the 1984 film with the same title. Mariah Carrey co-produced and released her version of the song in 1999. She also released a duet version with Westlife the following year.
12. Piece of My Heart – Big Brother and the Holding Company
Originally released as a single by soul singer, Erma Franklin, it was the Big Brother and the Holding Company’s version, with Janis Joplin being the lead vocalist, that made this song into a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Joplin’s raspy singing style brings an attitude to the song that makes it perfect to sing when you feel like screaming into the void.
11. I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
A rock ballad that became Aerosmith’s biggest hit to date and also become a karaoke favorite. Though the register of this song is quite high, it’s a go-to song because of its sentimental lyrics and easy melody. The song was recorded for the 1998 film Armageddon, where Steven Tyler’s daughter, Liv Tyler starred in.
10. Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
Just in case you wanted more angst and even more screaming, we’ve got Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone”. A song that’s also won its fair share of awards and catapulted Kelly Clarkson from reality-show star to pop-sensation. Not only does the song have high register, it also demands high-energy. You’re basically shrieking in the bridge trying to make it to the last chorus then finally lowkey whispering the last “since you been gone” outro.
9. Take Me To Church – Hozier
Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” is a beautifully somber blues/soul song full of depth and power. The song talks about the hypocrisy of religion and religious institutions while also talking about love. Hozier wrote and recorded this song in his parent’s attic and released it for free download in 2013. It topped the charts all around the world immediately after its release and landed Hozier, a then struggling artist, numerous offers from major record labels.
8. And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going – Jennifer Holiday (Dreamgirls)
We could have easily filled this list with songs from musicals and Broadway productions, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls is a no-brainer for this list. There is so much control and power involved in singing this song because of how intense the song is in the narrative of the musical. Both versions of the song were met with critical acclaim, Jennifer Holiday’s original rendition in 1981 won her a Tony award while Jennifer Hudson’s performance when she played Effie in the 2006 movie adaptation won her an Oscar.
7. Chandelier – Sia
Sia made a giant comeback from her hiatus with Chandelier in 2014. The song became an instant international success along with its equally internet-breaking music video. Sia had initially written the track to be recorded by either Rihanna or Beyonce but decided to include in it her album instead.
6. Hello – Adele
Adele released Hello with the announcement of her third album, 25. Hello is a powerful soul-ballad but it also a deeply intimate song that talks of self-reflection acceptance.
5. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
I Will Always Love You was originally written by another legend by the name of Dolly Parton in 1973. Dolly Parton wrote this song for her mentor, Porter Wagoner as a way to separate from their professional partnership. The song talks about ending a relationship with reassurance that though you’re feelings have changed for this person, they will always have your support. In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded her version of the song for the film Bodyguard. Houston version holds the record for being the best-selling single by a woman in music history.
4. Love On Top – Beyonce
Of course there’s a Beyonce song and of course it’s the one we mentioned before that goes through not just two, but four freakin’ key changes. Love On Top demands you to sing for your life. It’s a particularly challenging song because it doesn’t really have any parts of the song where you’re given time to recover so sing at your own risk and may Queen Bey guide you.
3. Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
A karaoke staple that uses the classic narrative of small town people with chasing after their big dreams. Livin’ on a prayer takes some serious pipes so make sure to do the necessary warm-ups when taking on this song.
2. Respect – Aretha Franklin
The sassiest song you can ever sing. Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT is a song that must be sung in ALL CAPS. Respect was written by American singer, Ottis Redding in 1965 but it was Aretha Franklin’s version in 1967 that inducted the song into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Franklin’s cover modified the lyrics of the song and changed the song’s story from a man pleading for respect from his partner into a woman boldly proclaiming that she deserves R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
The rollercoaster of melody, the whimsical lyrics, the theatrics – Bohemian Rhapsody has it all. It is a commitment of a song, with the high notes, tempo changes, and several voices but it’s also a song that gives you an adrenaline rush when singing. Bohemian Rhapsody is the ultimate karaoke anthem and no karaoke experience is complete without powering through this Queen masterpiece.
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