When the energy of a karaoke party spikes and the urge to hit the stage becomes irresistible, it’s time to bring out the glorious anthems seemingly engineered for this exact moment. Yes, those globally belted tracks that inevitably surface when the fifth or sixth cocktail (who’s counting anyway?) fills you with newfound liquid courage and demands a microphone in your hand.
The Top 10 Most Popular “Drunk” Songs in the World:
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
It defies logic how this epic hit, lying in wait, suddenly jumps out right at the peak of the party. You hadn’t planned on singing a six-minute rock opera, but the lyrics just pour out on their own. It is the absolute champion of global choral karaoke, uniting the entire room in one massive, theatrical wave.
Lyrics
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I’m easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he’s dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooh, didn’t mean to make you cry
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine, body’s aching all the time
Goodbye, everybody, I’ve got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooh (any way the wind blows)
I don’t wanna die
I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo, (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro, magnifico
But I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
No, we will not let you go (let him go)
We will not let you go (let him go)
We will not let you go (let me go)
Will not let you go (let me go)
Will not let you go (never, never, never, never let me go)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia
Mamma mia, let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here
Ooh
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah
Nothing really matters, anyone can see
Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
- I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
There is arguably no state of the female soul that this song doesn’t articulate perfectly. The ultimate disco anthem of independence, it always plays the loudest exactly when the cocktails have done their job and the best friends hit the dance floor together.
Lyrics
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Thinking I could live without you by my side
And after spending nights
Thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
Now you’re back
From outer space
And I find you here
With that sad look upon your face
I should’ve changed that stupid lock
Or made you leave your key
If I’d’ve known for a second
You’d be back to bother me
Go on, go, walk out the door
Turn around now
You’re not welcome anymore
You’re the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Think I’d crumble?
You think I’d lay down and die?
No, not I, I will survive
Long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got my life to live
And all my love to give and
I will survive
I, I, I will survive
It took all my strength not to fall apart
Trying with all my might to mend my broken heart
I spent so many nights feeling sorry for myself
How I cried
But now I hold my head up high
And you see me, somebody new
I’m not that lonely little person
Still in love with you
Now you come droppin’ in
Expectin’ me to be free
Now I’m saving my lovin’
For someone who’s loving me
Go on and go, walk out the door
Turn around now
You’re not welcome anymore
You’re the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Thinkin’ I’d crumble
Did you think I’d lay down and die?
No, not I, I will survive
Long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got my life to live, and all my love to give
And I will survive
I, I will survive
Go on, go, walk out the door
Turn around now
You’re not welcome anymore
You’re the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Think I’d crumble?
You think I’d lay down and die?
No, not I, I will survive
Long as I know how to love
I know I’ll stay alive
I’ve got my life to live
And all my love to give and
I will survive
I, I, I will survive
- My Way – Frank Sinatra
An older man’s reflection on the path he has walked through life has resonated deeply across generations. It’s one of the most famous songs worldwide and the subject of a bizarre Asian phenomenon: if patrons at a karaoke bar in the Philippines get into a dispute over whose turn it is to sing “My Way,” a genuine brawl is likely to break out. Such is the way of a true man.
Lyrics
And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I’ve traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exception
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you know
That I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, no not me
I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has not
To say the words he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
- Wannabe – Spice Girls
If Sinatra marks the male territory, a group of girls will inevitably, sooner or later, find their way to the ultimate pop anthem of the 90s. In many ways, it’s a surefire indicator that the party has reached its joyous peak and someone should probably start calling a cab soon.
Lyrics
Ha ha ha ha ha
Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you want my future, forget my past
If you wanna get with me, better make it fast
Now don’t go wasting my precious time
Get your act together we could be just fine
I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
Taking is too easy, but that’s the way it is
Oh, what do you think about that?
Now you know how I feel
Say you can handle my love, are you for real?
(Are you for real?)
I won’t be hasty, I’ll give you a try
If you really bug me then I’ll say goodbye
Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)
I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
(You’ve got to give)
Taking is too easy, but that’s the way it is
So, here’s a story from A to Z
You wanna get with me, you gotta listen carefully
We got Em in the place who likes it in your face
You got G like MC who likes it on a
Easy V doesn’t come for free, she’s a real lady
And as for me, ha you’ll see
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never ends
If you wanna be my lover, you have got to give
(You’ve got to give)
Taking is too easy, but that’s the way it is
If you wanna be my lover
You gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta
Slam, slam, slam, slam (make it last forever)
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Slam your body down and wind it all around
Slam your body down and zigazig ah
If you wanna be my lover
- Wonderwall – Oasis
The secret behind the universal love for this British hit is simple: even if you don’t speak a word of English, you can nail the chorus without a single stutter. It is practically mandatory to perform it right in the sweet spot between drink number three and the heavy dance tracks.
Lyrics
Today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you
By now, you should’ve somehow realised what you gotta do
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
Backbeat, the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out
I’m sure you’ve heard it all before, but you never really had a doubt
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
But I don’t know how
Because maybe
You’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You’re my wonderwall
Today was gonna be the day, but they’ll never throw it back to you
By now, you should’ve somehow realised what you’re not to do
I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now
And all the roads that lead you there were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
But I don’t know how
I said, “Maybe
You’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You’re my wonderwall”
I said, “Maybe (I said maybe)
You’re gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You’re my wonderwall”
I said, “Maybe (I said maybe)
You’re gonna be the one that saves me (that saves me)
You’re gonna be the one that saves me (that saves me)
You’re gonna be the one that saves me” (that saves me)
- Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
A frequent guest at karaoke parties when the crowd wants the night to keep going at any cost. You can be certain: the moment one person starts singing the first verse, the entire room will instantly join in, belting out the stadium chorus at maximum volume.
Lyrics
Once upon a time, not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks, union’s been on strike
He’s down on his luck, it’s tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day, working for her man
She brings home her pay, for love, mmm, for love
She says, “We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love
We’ll give it a shot”
Whoa, we’re half way there
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it, I swear
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Tommy’s got his six string in hock, now he’s holding in
When he used to make it talk so tough, ooh, it’s tough
Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night, Tommy whispers
“Baby, it’s okay, someday”
We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love
We’ll give it a shot
Whoa, we’re half way there
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Livin’ on a prayer
Oh, we’ve gotta hold on, ready or not
You live for the fight when that’s all that you’ve got
Whoa, we’re half way there
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Whoa, we’re half way there
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Whoa, we’re half way there
Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear
Whoa oh
- Everybody – Backstreet Boys
A track that has never left—and will never leave—the top tier of the world’s most popular songs. Legend has it you can count on one hand the number of nights in a year when the immortal classic by this American boy band wasn’t blasted from the stage of a typical karaoke club.
Lyrics
Everybody
Rock your body
Everybody
Rock your body right
Backstreet’s back, alright
Hey, yeah, now
Oh my God, we’re back again
Brothers, sisters, everybody sing
Gonna bring the flavor, show you how
Got a question for ya, better answer now, yeah
Am I original? (Yeah)
Am I the only one? (Yeah)
Am I sexual? (Yeah)
Am I everything you need? You better rock your body now
Everybody (yeah)
Rock your body (yeah)
Everybody
Rock your body right
Backstreet’s back, alright
Alright
Now throw your hands up in the air
Wave ’em around like you just don’t care
If you wanna party, let me hear you yell
‘Cause we got it goin’ on again (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Am I original? (Yeah)
Am I the only one? (Yeah)
Am I sexual? (Yeah)
Am I everything you need? You better rock your body now
Everybody (yeah)
Rock your body (yeah)
Everybody
Rock your body right
Backstreet’s back, alright
Alright
Yeah, oh, yeah, oh
Rock your body
Everybody (c’mon, yeah) (yeah)
Rock your body (yeah) (yeah)
Everybody
Rock your body right (rock your body right)
Backstreet’s back
Everybody (everybody) (yeah) (rock your body)
Rock your body (everybody) (yeah) (everybody, rock your body)
Everybody (everybody)
Rock your body right (everybody)
Backstreet’s back, alright (alright)
- Chandelier – Sia
When your soul doesn’t just want to sing but needs to scream at the top of its lungs, your hand instinctively reaches out to request this hit. It doesn’t even matter if you hit the right notes — what matters is the raw anguish and passion with which you tackle the chorus, swinging from an imaginary chandelier.
Lyrics
Party girls don’t get hurt
Can’t feel anything, when will I learn
I push it down, push it down
I’m the one “for a good time call”
Phone’s blowin’ up, ringin’ my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
Throw ’em back, till I lose count
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier
From the chandelier
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist
Like it doesn’t exist
I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night
Feel my tears as they dry
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier
From the chandelier
But I’m holding on for dear life
Won’t look down, won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
Help me, I’m holding on for dear life
Won’t look down, won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
Sun is up, I’m a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
Throw ’em back till I lose count
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier
From the chandelier
I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist
Like it doesn’t exist
I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night
Feel my tears as they dry
I’m gonna swing from the chandelier
From the chandelier
But I’m holding on for dear life
Won’t look down, won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
Help me, I’m holding on for dear life
Won’t look down, won’t open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
Oh, I’m just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
‘Cause I’m just holding on for tonight
Oh, I’m just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
- Kiss From A Rose – Seal
A stunningly beautiful and lyrical love song that resonates with anyone who has ever felt true romance. Its creators likely never suspected it would become a beloved karaoke party staple, one that every guest has inevitably attempted to perform at least once, swaying on unsteady legs before an equally unsteady audience.
Lyrics
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
And you became the light on the dark side of me
Love remained a drug that’s the high and not the pill
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can’t be seen?
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain, baby
To me, you’re like a growing addiction that I can’t deny
Won’t you tell me, is that healthy, baby?
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can’t be seen?
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
I’ve been kissed by a rose on the grey
I, I’ve been kissed by a rose on the grey
I’ve (And if I should fall, will it all go away?) been kissed by a rose on the grey
I, I’ve been kissed by a rose on the grey
There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain
To me you’re like a growing addiction that I can’t deny, yeah
Won’t you tell me, is that healthy, baby?
But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and
The light that you shine can’t be seen?
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Yes, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
Ba-ya-ya, ba-da-da-da-da-da, ba-ya-ya
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey
- Mr. Brightside – The Killers
When all the pop hits have been exhausted but you still have unresolved feelings to let out, that is exactly when the true indie-rock hysteria begins. The ultimate high-energy closer for the night. Hey, where is everyone going? The party is just getting started! Sound guy, crank up those guitars!
Lyrics
Comin’ out of my cage and I’ve been doin’ just fine
Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I’m falling asleep and she’s calling a cab
While he’s having a smoke and she’s taking a drag
Now they’re goin’ to bed and my stomach is sick
And it’s all in my head, but she’s touching his
[Pre-Chorus]
Chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
And I just can’t look, it’s killing me
And taking control
[Chorus]
Jealousy
Turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it’s just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
‘Cause I’m Mr. Brightside
[Interlude]
[Verse 2]
I’m comin’ out of my cage and I’ve been doin’ just fine
Gotta, gotta be down because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
(It was only a kiss) It was only a kiss
Now I’m falling asleep and she’s calling a cab
While he’s havin’ a smoke and she’s taking a drag
Now they’re goin’ to bed and my stomach is sick
And it’s all in my head, but she’s touching his
[Pre-Chorus]
Chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go
‘Cause I just can’t look, it’s killing me
And taking control
[Chorus]
Jealousy
Turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it’s just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
‘Cause I’m Mr. Brightside
[Interlude]
[Outro]
I never
I never
I never
I never
