by Guest Author
If it’s a karaoke night and you want to rock the joint, there are a lot of karaoke songs out there to choose from! Luckily with the rock genre sometimes it’s not about great vocals, instead it is all about the performance and energy you put into it. These are some great songs to work on if you want to learn how to sing.
First we need to address an important aspect, what is rock?!? Originally it is a mixture of blues, boogie woogie, Texas swing, and New Orleans jazz. Rock has a strong backbeat on the 2 and 4 and often deals with bawdy lyrics, partying, and even social activism. Over the years it has morphed with dance and pop to create a multitude of genres, and arguments over what is and isn’t rock! So here we are going to do our best to pick a variety of great songs from different eras of Rock and Roll!
Here are 15 of the best rock karaoke songs to sing!
1. Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
Originally rock was called by other names like R&B, jump blues, and pioneered by artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. “Tutti Frutti” is the best-known Little Richard song and will really get the crowd going!
Sing Tuttu Frutti karaoke here.
2. Be Bop a Lula – Gene Vincent
This is an early rockabilly classic by Gene Vincent, it has excellent syncopated vocals that don’t require too much skill. And this is the same song that Paul McCartney first heard John Lennon sing before they went on to form The Beatles! It is simply historically and musically an integral song to rock!
Sing Be Bop a Lula karaoke here.
3. I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones
While there is some argument, many historians will claim The Ramones are the founders of original punk rock. And like most punk, all their songs are quite similar so many Ramones hits are suitable for karaoke. If you don’t like this one perhaps “Blitzkrieg Bop” is better!
Sing I Wanna Be Sedated karaoke here.
4. Cannonball – The Breeders
The 90’s had a revival of old rock mixed with some punk, grunge, and heavier guitar tones, and most of all many of the tunes are catchy and singable. And if “Cannonball” is a little too laid back, you can pick another 90’s hit like Blur’s “Song 2.” Many songs of that era are well known classics at this point!
Sing Cannonball karaoke here.
5. Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is popular again thanks to the song “Fast Car,” but she also has this rocking blues piece. If you want something with a great backbeat, but a little slower and soulful, this hit will do the trick!
Sing Give Me One Reason karaoke here.
6. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature – The Guess Who
Many memorable rock songs have multiple parts and sections, like this Guess Who tune that starts a little slower and then gets harder in the second part. This song is great for singers with a good rock voice as it has some powerful belting.
Sing No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature karaoke here.
7. Mercedes Benz – Janis Joplin
If you want a female vocalist with powerful rock vocals, psychedelic rocker Janis Joplin is the artist to pick! This minimalist folk rock tune is so simple that you really don’t need a backing track. Just get the audience clapping and do your best to sing with all the soul and blues you can muster!
Sing Mercedes Benz karaoke here.
8. Barracuda – Heart
Often when people think of heavier and hard female rock they sing tunes like “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and “I Love Rock’n’Roll.” Those are all great choices along with songs by Heart, with their catchy guitar riffs! Being a good singer helps, but remember that getting the energy right is more important.
Sing Barracuda karaoke here.
Some of these tunes might need some additional technique to pull off. There are great online singing lessons to try here.
9. Dirty Work – Steely Dan
Some rock songs are mixed with smooth jazz and Steely Dan was a master at that. It’s not always an easy song to sing as Tony Soprano proved while singing along to this hit in The Sopranos. Steely Dan also has many other great songs suitable for karaoke!
Sing Dirty Work karaoke here.
10. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
This song has the classic CCR bayou rock version and the R&B Ike and Tina Turner cover, pick what is best for your vocal style or if you have more than one singer. This song is a great example of how differently rock can be interpreted depending upon the rhythm and vocal methods used.
Sing Proud Mary karaoke here.
11. Barbie Girl – Aqua
While rock may have been born in the U.S. other countries have put their stamp on it and often their rock was mixed with dance and disco. This tune shows how much EDM has been influenced by rock factors like the backbeat and lyrics that have a deeper social meaning.
Sing Barbie Girl karaoke here.
12. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus and Chaka Khan
Funk rock is one of the more enduring elements in the music genre, and this classic here is perfect for vocalists who have great voices. Despite the song being laid back and a slower tempo it is still so funky and rocking, the backbeat and syncopation are simply incredible!
Sing Tell Me Something Good karaoke here.
13. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Almost all the major hits by Fleetwood Mac are great rock songs to sing, especially if you have more than one singer. Their rock is a mix of all the various styles and movements of the 70’s like adult contemporary and yacht rock. And their songs are so beloved that you don’t have to always have the best voice to sing them!
Sing Go Your Own Way karaoke here.
14. Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus
In modern times, rock has become so ingrained into other genres that it’s hard to pick what is dance, pop, , HipHop, or rock. But this Miley Cyrus hit has a lot of early rock features like a catchy guitar riff, a strong backbeat, and that regular rocking feature of it being party time!
Sing Party In The USA karaoke here.
15. Ace Of Spades – Motorhead
This is for all the readers who see hard rock and heavy metal as the true torch holders! You don’t have to have a great voice, in fact a rough and hoarse approach is more appropriate here. It has heavy guitar riffs, powerful bass, loud smashing drums, and the ever-present lack of morals! Rock is for bad boys and girls who just want to have fun!
Sing Ace Of Spades karaoke here.
There are plenty more incredible rock karaoke songs to sing besides these 15! Every now and then one might be hard to sing, but for the most part it’s all about the energy and drive you bring to your performance. Just be careful, too much rock singing can lead to voice strain or loss, so be sure to practice if you really want to impress the crowd!
If you're a karaoke lover and want to sing rock karaoke songs at home, be sure to check out Singa! We have an extensive library of rock songs that you connect to any smart TV, phone, tablet, or computer – so you can rock out with your friends and family or just on your own at any time.