Lists Yule Love: How to Succeed at Holiday Karaoke

By Sam Thrift Saturday, December 17, 2011

If you happen to stumble into an establishment that gives you the opportunity to karaoke your holiday cheer, make sure you come equipped with the proper song. There are many tips to ensure a successful karaoke performance, but it all comes back to the song you chose.

I have recommended songs below, but with these tips you will be able to decipher if the song you have been screaming in your car will get you a free drink or someone politely asking you to get off the stage before the song has ended.

There are five things you must consider when choosing the best song for your abilities:

1. When choosing a song, make sure it is a song that people love to sing along to. If it is a song that you are trying to share with others because they have not been given the gift of hearing it from a talented performer such as yourself, you might want to save it for a personal performance. People want to hear songs they can sing along to, while simultaneously judging whether you were the best person to sing it.

2. Make sure you know the words in advance. If you only know the chorus, trust me, the result will not be pretty. Although the words on the screen are helpful, you should use them as a Tiny Tim crutch rather than oxygen; meaning, you can live without them, but you might need help from time to time.

3. If your dog starts howling when you try to reach the high notes in the shower, you might get similar reactions from the people in the crowd.

4. Sad songs make people sad, and no one comes to karaoke to be depressed. The only exception to this rule is if the depressing tune is wildly popular; for example, "Someone Like You" by Adele (everyone likes to cry together to that hit).

5. If there is no one in the establishment except you and your friends, just go sing your song. Don’t worry about the above rules because who are you trying to impress?

Once you have chosen a song – and I recommend running it by the people who are with you to make sure it is the best choice – then you must know how to play the crowd. Make sure, if you know the song by heart, to stop looking straight at the screen and play around with people in the crowd (including others makes you pretty popular). Lastly, don’t try to prove you are the best singer in the room, even though it may be true. No one likes a show-off.

Here are 10 songs to choose from that have the ability to get the crowd going in different ways:

1. “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey - This song is what I like to call a “crowd-pleaser.” No matter who sings it, or how awful you are, people will most likely sing along. If you want to serenade a certain someone, this will also do the trick (especially if you point at them during the “you” high note at the end. Don’t worry, even Mariah Carey screws up that note.)

2. “Last Christmas” by Wham! - If you have no one to sing to, you might want to stick to this catchy tune instead. Nothing says Christmas like, “Thanks for ruining my last Christmas by giving my heart away.”

3. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan - This is the perfect duet to do with your significant other. It’s catchy, cute and gives you an acceptable reason to show PDA on the karaoke floor.

4. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland - This song is one of the exceptions to the “no sad songs” rule, but only if you can sing. This sweet song makes the best of sentimental and people may get angry if you mess it up. But if you do well, I wouldn’t be surprised if some people in the crowd feel the need to give you a hug.

5. “Santa Baby” by Madonna - Although it may sound obnoxious with an extremely high-pitched tone, some girls can really work the men in the audience with the pouty lip and wink approach. I would definitely practice this song in the mirror if you want to try that move.

6. “Blue Christmas” by Elvis - Are you trying to make Christmas sexy? It’s difficult to do in red velvet and with a big white beard, but with the right song and corresponding suggestive eyebrow raises, even Santa could be considered one of “People's” sexiest men with this emotional tune.

7. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee - If you’re in the mood to sing in a group, this song is a good time for those who would rather not carol alone. If you happened to choreograph some dance moves in advance, I’m sure the crowd wouldn’t mind.

8. “Happy Holiday/Holiday Season” by Andy Williams - If you happen to be a group of men and not quite sure what song to go with, multiple people singing this classic has a high probability of getting the crowd going. It really depends on how well you sell it; I recommend snapping on beat.

9. “Jingle Bell Rock” by Randy Travis - This song was a favorite in my family. If you happen to be out with your loved ones, and there is a special jam that gets the party poppin’ at your house, take your caroling to the karaoke stage. I would recommend doing this in the early hours, before certain people have had too much to drink. You wouldn’t want the wrong person hanging on Grandma while singing along.

10. “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” by Elmo and Patsy - If you are not the best singer, but love getting on that stage, it’s always good to go with an unconventional song. No one takes funny songs seriously, which will take away the expectation that you might actually have the ability to sing.

I hope you find these tips helpful and have a wonderful karaoke experience.