27 Worst Karaoke Songs: Top Fails

Hey there, music lovers and fellow DJs! It’s TBone here, from Level Tunes. You know me as someone who’s all about sharing the best beats and grooves.

But today, I’m switching things up a bit. I’ve decided to dive into the wild world of karaoke – a realm where passion often outshines pitch! I’ve been around enough karaoke nights to know that some songs, no matter how beloved, just don’t translate well to the amateur stage.

That’s why I’ve put together a lighthearted list of the 27 worst karaoke songs. This isn’t about bashing classics or artists; it’s about those tunes that, for various reasons, tend to trip up even the most enthusiastic singers.

From impossible high notes to overly complex lyrics, I’ll break down why these tracks might be best left off your karaoke playlist.

Here are the Worst Karaoke songs that you can check out:

List Of Worst Karaoke Songs

Worst Karaoke songs in a list format:

1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

Album: A Night at the Opera (1975), Label: EMI, Elektra Why It’s Tricky: This Queen masterpiece, known for its complexity and Freddie Mercury’s incredible vocal range, is a karaoke minefield. The shifts from ballad to guitar solos, and then to opera make it a daunting task for even the most seasoned karaoke veterans.

2. “Rap God” by Eminem

Album: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Shady Why It’s Challenging: Eminem’s lightning-fast rap skills are on full display in this track, making it nearly impossible for the average karaoke-goer to keep up. With its rapid-fire lyrics and tongue-twisting verses, this song is often a recipe for embarrassment.

3. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Album: The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1992), Label: Arista Why It’s a Tough One: Whitney Houston’s iconic ballad requires a vocal prowess that few possess. The song’s soaring high notes are a significant challenge, often leading to off-key renditions in a karaoke setting.

4. “Chandelier” by Sia

Album: 1000 Forms of Fear (2014), Label: Inertia, Monkey Puzzle, RCA Why It’s a Hurdle: Sia’s powerful and emotive vocal delivery, particularly in the chorus, is difficult to replicate. The high notes and the emotional depth of the song make it a daunting task for casual singers.

5. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

Album: 21 (2011), Label: XL, Columbia Why It’s a Challenge: Adele’s soulful voice and the song’s vocal dynamics make “Rolling in the Deep” a tough song to pull off. The powerful chorus and emotional depth require a strong vocal control that’s hard to match.

6. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion

Album: Let’s Talk About Love (1997), Label: Columbia, Epic Why It’s Difficult: This iconic ballad, made famous by the movie “Titanic,” demands a vocal range and emotional expression that can be quite challenging. The high notes towards the end are particularly notorious in a karaoke setting.

7. “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush

Album: The Kick Inside (1978), Label: EMI Why It’s a Tricky Pick: Kate Bush’s unique vocal style and the song’s high pitch make it a challenging choice for karaoke. The ethereal and dramatic tone of the song is hard to emulate, often leading to less-than-stellar performances.

8. “Take on Me” by A-ha

Album: Hunting High and Low (1985), Label: Warner Bros. Why It’s a Struggle: The high-pitched chorus and the iconic falsetto make “Take on Me” a tough song for karaoke. The soaring high notes are a significant hurdle for most singers.

9. “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

Album: Slippery When Wet (1986), Label: Mercury Why It’s Challenging: This rock anthem requires a lot of energy and a strong voice to hit the high notes, especially in the chorus. It’s a song that demands a vocal stamina and range that can be taxing in a karaoke setting.

10. “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen

Album: Eric Carmen (1975), Label: Arista Why It’s a Hard One: Known for its dramatic climax and high notes, this song is a real challenge for the average karaoke singer. The emotional depth and vocal range required to do justice to this ballad often lead to strained and off-key performances.

11. “Gangnam Style” by Psy

Album: Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1 (2012), Label: YG, Universal Republic Why It’s a Challenge: This viral sensation is not just about the catchy tune; it’s also about the Korean lyrics which can be a significant hurdle for those not fluent in the language. Plus, the fast-paced music and the iconic dance moves make it a complex choice for karaoke.

12. “Dream On” by Aerosmith

Album: Aerosmith (1973), Label: Columbia Why It’s Tough: Steven Tyler’s high-pitched screams and the song’s powerful vocal delivery make “Dream On” a daunting task for karaoke singers. The song requires a wide vocal range and a strong voice, which can be challenging to maintain throughout the song.

13. “Hello” by Lionel Richie

Album: Can’t Slow Down (1983), Label: Motown Why It’s Difficult: Lionel Richie’s smooth and soulful voice, along with the emotional depth of the song, require a finesse that is hard to replicate in a karaoke setting. The gentle nuances and vocal control needed for this ballad make it a tricky choice.

14. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler

Album: Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983), Label: Columbia Why It’s Challenging: This power ballad, known for its dramatic delivery and high notes, can be a real test of vocal strength and control. The emotional intensity and the sustained high notes make it a formidable karaoke song.

15. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin IV (1971), Label: Atlantic Why It’s a Hurdle: This iconic song’s length, along with Robert Plant’s dynamic vocal range, makes it a challenging pick for a karaoke night. The gradual build-up and the shifts in tempo and style require a lot of stamina and versatility.

16. “Hotel California” by Eagles

Album: Hotel California (1976), Label: Asylum Why It’s Tough: The song’s length and the need for vocal harmony make it a difficult song for solo karaoke performers. Its nuanced delivery and the iconic solos add to the complexity of performing it well.

17. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

Album: Various Positions (1984), Label: Columbia Why It’s Tricky: This deeply emotional and often-covered song requires a lot of control and emotional depth to do it justice. The range and the dynamics of the song can be challenging for amateur singers.

18. “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift

Album: 1989 (2014), Label: Big Machine Why It’s Difficult: Taylor Swift’s energetic and rapid delivery, combined with the need to maintain a pop-like cheerfulness throughout the song, can be a challenge. The catchy tune requires a consistent energy and vocal agility.

19. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA

Album: Arrival (1976), Label: Polar Why It’s Challenging: This disco classic, while popular, requires a level of vocal harmony and control to capture the essence of ABBA’s signature sound. The upbeat tempo and the need for a crisp, clear delivery make it a tough karaoke choice.

20. “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

Album: Just Once in My Life (1965), Label: Philles Why It’s a Hard One: Known for its emotional depth and high-pitched climax, this classic demands a significant vocal range and a strong control over pitch. It’s a song that can easily lead to off-key renditions due to its challenging high notes.

21. “Purple Rain” by Prince

Album: Purple Rain (1984), Label: Warner Bros. Why It’s Challenging: Prince’s iconic song is not only a test of vocal ability but also of emotional expression. The high notes, combined with the need to convey the deep emotion of the song, make it a tough pick for karaoke.

22. “Vision of Love” by Mariah Carey

Album: Mariah Carey (1990), Label: Columbia Why It’s a Vocal Test: Known for her extraordinary vocal range, Mariah Carey’s debut single is a formidable challenge for karaoke singers. The song’s melismatic style and high notes require a level of vocal skill that’s hard to match in an amateur setting.

23. “Creep” by Radiohead

Album: Pablo Honey (1993), Label: Parlophone, Capitol Why It’s Tough: Thom Yorke’s unique vocal style and the song’s dynamic range make “Creep” a difficult song to perform well. The shifts from soft, introspective verses to the powerful chorus are hard to replicate.

24. “Somebody to Love” by Queen

Album: A Day at the Races (1976), Label: EMI, Elektra Why It’s a Hard Pick: This Queen song, with its complex vocal harmonies and Freddie Mercury’s incredible range, is a significant challenge. The song requires not just vocal power but also the ability to navigate its intricate harmonies.

25. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana

Album: Nevermind (1991), Label: DGC Why It’s Difficult: Kurt Cobain’s gritty vocal style and the song’s raw energy are hard to emulate. The song’s iconic status and unique vocal delivery make it a tough, yet popular, karaoke choice.

26. “California Dreamin'” by The Mamas & The Papas

Album: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966), Label: Dunhill Why It’s Tricky: The song’s harmonies and the smooth, flowing style of The Mamas & The Papas make “California Dreamin'” a challenging choice for solo karaoke singers. Matching the vocal harmony and the song’s tone is not an easy task.

27. “Let It Go” from Frozen (Idina Menzel)

Album: Frozen Soundtrack (2013), Label: Walt Disney Why It’s Challenging: This modern Disney classic requires a powerful vocal performance, with high notes that are difficult to hit. The song’s popularity, especially among younger audiences, adds pressure to deliver a performance that lives up to expectations.

Fun Facts: Worst Karaoke Songs

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

• A Cinematic Connection: The song regained immense popularity in the 90s after being featured in the movie “Wayne’s World.” Its iconic car headbanging scene is a memorable pop culture moment.
• A Studio Masterpiece: It’s known for its complex production, involving over 180 separate overdubs.

“Rap God” by Eminem

• Speedy Delivery: Eminem raps 1,560 words in 6 minutes and 4 seconds in this song, which is an average of 4.28 words per second!
• Guinness World Record: The song earned Eminem a Guinness World Record for the most words in a hit single.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

• Originally by Dolly Parton: Many people don’t realize this iconic song was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973.
• Record-Breaking Success: Houston’s version became one of the best-selling singles of all time and stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks.

“Chandelier” by Sia

• A Personal Song: Sia has mentioned that “Chandelier” is a very personal song, reflecting her past struggles with alcohol and drug addiction.
• Music Video Fame: The music video, featuring dancer Maddie Ziegler, went viral and has been praised for its artistic and emotional depth.

“Take on Me” by A-ha

• Revolutionary Music Video: The song’s music video, featuring a blend of live-action and pencil-sketch animation, is considered one of the most iconic and groundbreaking videos of its time.
• A Chart Comeback: Initially, the song was a commercial flop, but after re-recording and releasing a new video, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

• A Radio Favorite: Despite never being released as a single, “Stairway to Heaven” is one of the most requested and played songs on FM radio in the United States.
• No Live Single Performances: Led Zeppelin never performed “Stairway to Heaven” in its entirety during any of their television appearances.

“Hotel California” by Eagles

• Mystery and Interpretation: The song is known for its abstract lyrics, leading to many interpretations. Some theories suggest it’s about hedonism, while others believe it’s a metaphor for the music industry.
• A Grammy Winner: “Hotel California” won the 1978 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

• Many Covers: This song has been covered by over 300 artists in various languages, making it one of the most covered songs in music history.
• A Slow Burner: Despite its popularity now, “Hallelujah” did not gain significant attention until Jeff Buckley’s cover in 1994.

“Let It Go” from Frozen (Idina Menzel)

• A Disney Phenomenon: “Let It Go” became a cultural phenomenon, particularly among children. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
• Broadway Influence: Idina Menzel, who performs the song in the movie, is a renowned Broadway actress, known for her roles in “Rent” and “Wicked.”

And that’s it!

Hope you like my list of worst karaoke songs you get encounter. Don’t forget to check other playlists!

Thanks for reading.

TBone