There is a specific kind of magic that happens in a karaoke booth. Whether the room is filled with neon lights in Seoul or glowing with the dim warmth of a London pub, the moment the first beat drops, the atmosphere shifts. Karaoke isn’t just about singing—it’s about the adrenaline of the stage, the shared nostalgia of a classic chorus, and the pure, unadulterated joy of owning the spotlight for three and a half minutes.
In this master guide, we’ve analyzed global venue data and 2026 streaming trends to bring you the definitive list of 100 best karaoke songs that are guaranteed to win over any crowd.
Top 100 Karaoke Songs to Sing
- Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
- APT – Rosé & Bruno Mars
- Mr. Brightside – The Killers
- Flowers – Miley Cyrus
- Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- Wannabe – Spice Girls
- I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
- As It Was – Harry Styles
- Vampire – Olivia Rodrigo
- Die With a Smile – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
- I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
- Rolling in the Deep – Adele
- Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
- Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – Shania Twain
- Toxic – Britney Spears
- Valerie – Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
- Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler
- Purple Rain – Prince
- Single Ladies – Beyoncé
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
- Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
- Killing Me Softly – The Fugees
- Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
- Lose Yourself – Eminem
- Juice – Lizzo
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
- Shallow – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
- Summer Nights – Grease
- Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift
- Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
- Santeria – Sublime
- Ddu-Du Ddu-Du – Blackpink
- Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira
- My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
- Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
- Africa – Toto
- Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
- Like a Prayer – Madonna
- September – Earth, Wind & Fire
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
- Bye Bye Bye – NSYNC
- Complicated – Avril Lavigne
- Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
- No Scrubs – TLC
- Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani
- Firework – Katy Perry
- Creep – Radiohead
- Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
- Zombie – The Cranberries
- Sk8er Boi – Avril Lavigne
- Let It Go – Idina Menzel
- Believe – Cher
- I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll – Joan Jett
- Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
- Senorita – Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello
- Respect – Aretha Franklin
- Gold Digger – Kanye West
- Oops!… I Did It Again – Britney Spears
- Superstitious – Stevie Wonder
- Y.M.C.A – Village People
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- Levitating – Dua Lipa
- A Whole New World – Aladdin
- Someone Like You – Adele
- Jolene – Dolly Parton
- Titi Me Preguntó – Bad Bunny
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
- Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
- Do I Wanna Know? – Arctic Monkeys
- Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
- Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
- Yellow – Coldplay
- This Is Me – The Greatest Showman
- Mamma Mia – ABBA
- Tequila – The Champs
- Hot in Herre – Nelly
- Listen – Beyoncé
- Cruel Summer – Taylor Swift
- Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood
- Sarà Perché Ti Amo – Ricchi e Poveri
- Arirang – Traditional (Korea)
- The Moon Represents My Heart – Teresa Teng
- Bella Ciao – Traditional / Money Heist
- Volare – Domenico Modugno
- The Night We Met – Lord Huron
- Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
- Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
- Dynamite – BTS
- Style – Taylor Swift
- Despacito – Luis Fonsi
- Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
- The Show Must Go On – Queen
What is Karaoke?
The term Karaoke (空カラオケ) is a Japanese portmanteau of kara (empty) and oke (orchestra). It was born in Kobe, Japan, in the early 1970s as a way to allow everyday people to feel the power of a professional backing band.
Unlike a standard performance, karaoke is an interactive medium. It removes the barrier between the artist and the audience, turning every listener into a potential backup singer. In 2026, it has evolved from simple hardware machines to AI-powered apps and high-immersion private lounges, but the core remains the same: a screen, a mic, and a song everyone knows by heart.
Why is it so Popular?
Karaoke is popular because it brings people together. It helps relieve stress, makes people laugh, and lets everyone feel like a star for a few minutes. It doesn’t matter if you sing well or not; the goal is to enjoy the music with your friends.
Who Invented Karaoke?
Karaoke was primarily invented by two Japanese innovators: Shigeichi Negishi, who created the first prototype called the “Sparko Box” in 1967, and Daisuke Inoue, who independently developed the “8 Juke” machine in 1971. While Negishi built the very first device to allow people to sing along to tapes, Inoue is widely credited with turning it into a global business success by leasing his machines to bars. Interestingly, neither man ever patented their invention, prioritizing the spread of the musical culture over individual profit.
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