Hardest Songs To Sing On Karaoke: Top 20

We get it, you’ve been karaoke-ing for a while now, and you’re starting to find it a little too...easy. You want a challenge, something that will leave you tongue-tied or unable to keep pace.  

If anyone can help in this situation, it’s us! We’ve scoured through our online song database, listened to hundreds, if not thousands, of songs. From here, we sang them and scored them on difficulty. Then, we analysed the data and made this ultimate list of the hardest songs to sing on karaoke. You wanted a challenge, and boy, are these a challenge.

Let’s dive right into our list of twenty hardest songs to sing on karaoke.

Less than 2% of the population is actually tone-deaf, which is a term people use when someone can’t sing very well. With practice, most of us will be able to carry a tune (supposedly)! Let’s dive right into our list of 30 of the hardest songs to sing on karaoke.

Why are some songs trickier to belt out than others?

Wondering why singing your favourite pop song can turn into a flop song? Here's why some of your tunes are a bit trickier than others:

1. Vocal Range: Picture a rollercoaster ride for your voice! Some tunes take you on wild vocal adventures, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. It's like a vocal gymnastics routine!
2. Tessitura: Ever felt like a song is camping out in that awkward spot where your voice isn't quite comfy? That's the tessitura! Songs that hang out there can make you feel like you're navigating a musical obstacle course.
3. Technical Twists: Imagine singing a tongue twister while hopping on one foot and juggling. That's what it's like tackling songs with fancy melodies, speedy rhythms, or tricky vocal gymnastics. It's like vocal acrobatics!
4. Emotional Depth: Some songs are like emotional rollercoasters, demanding you pour your heart out while hitting all the right notes. It's not just about singing; it's about feeling the music deep in your soul when you belt out a karaoke song!
5. Dynamic Drama: It's like being in a musical tug-of-war between whispering secrets and belting out battle cries. Songs with big mood swings need singers who can ride the emotional wave without wiping out!

Did you know that singers can change the shape of their throat by training it?! So don't feel too bad when you can't hit that high note, your throat is just the wrong shape…

Need some tips? Read: How To Sing Karaoke Songs Better in 5 Steps

Top 20 Hardest Songs To Sing On Karaoke

20) Leona Lewis - Run

If you thought the Snow Patrol version of this song was difficult to get your head around, you'd find Leona Lewis' version even harder. Leona does spare us some of the exceedingly high notes she shows off within other songs, but this song's constant up and down will take some getting used to.

19) David Guetta feat. Sia - Titanium 

This is a dangerous song because it is deceptive. Sure, it sounds easy; you don’t even have to really sing the verses - but then you get to the chorus. That’s why it takes 19th place in our ultimate list of hardest songs to sing. 

18) David Bowie - Life On Mars

If you want a challenge, try and match up to Davie Bowie. An absolute icon. You might think that the difficulty lies in the 'life on Mars' lyrics, but this song is rife with tricky bits. And it's only in position 18! It gets much, much harder from here. 

17) Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone

Kelly Clarkson is the Queen of making extremely difficult songs to sing look easy. Her only rival in this is the artist who takes fifth place in our list of hardest songs to sing - no peeking, though, we've still got a way to go first.

16) Whitney Houston - I Have Nothing

It wouldn't be an ultimate list of impossible karaoke songs if Whitney didn't make an appearance. While most of her songs are tough to replicate, we think this is the hardest from her impressive discography. But, if you can pull this off, well, then we'd put you on a Lucky Voice pedestal!

15) Demi Lovato - Stone Cold

This song requires powerful lungs and a fantastic range. Proceed with caution. If you can nail it, though, it is one epic experience. This song well deserves fifteenth place. 

14) Foo Fighters - Best Of You

You might think this is an easy song to sing and scoff that it even made it on our list, but try shouting for four minutes straight. We definitely recommend warming up before you try to tackle this one. 

13) Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

Ah, this song! We love it, not just because it’s a tribute to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll but also because it is another classic impossible karaoke song disguised as an easy one. You’ll jump from low to high notes and have to maintain a sultry voice the entire time - good luck!

12) Britney Spears - Womanizer

High speed, low tone with tons of repetition; if you are looking for a challenge, you’ll find it in this song. Britney is an artist that is often thought of as easy to replicate until you try. 

11) Mariah Carey - My All

Tons of Mariah Carey songs could have easily made it to this list (believe us, we listened to them all), but we opted for this slightly lesser-known song to give you even more of a challenge. Enjoy tons of key changes and some exceptionally high notes. 

10) Shakespears Sister - Stay

We're halfway through our list of impossible karaoke songs to try. If you think the songs have been brutal so far, you ain't seen nothing yet. This song is not to be attempted by the faint-hearted.

9) Birdy - Skinny Love

Don't let the fact that this is a beautiful slow song fool you. If you don't warm up beforehand, you might injure your poor vocal cords. But if you can nail it, you'll have everyone in your household stopping to listen. They may even applaud you at the end. 

8) Beyonce - Listen

Oh...our...goodness - this song! So many tricky notes. Such a balance of attitude and just wanting to be heard. You wanted a difficult song to sing - this is it!

7) Michael Buble - Cry Me A River 

The first note of this song is a warning in itself - tread carefully! From here, the notes get higher and longer. Mr Buble is not one to be trifled with. That’s why he takes seventh place in our list of most difficult songs to sing. 

6) Adele - Hello

It wouldn't be a list of impossible karaoke songs if we didn't include a song by Adele. It's one of those songs that puts you up there with karaoke royalty if you can sing it well. 

5) Evanescence - My Immortal

Evanescence is one of those artists you know is tough to match up to, which is why she holds fifth place in our ultimate list of hardest songs to sing. But, if you're up for the challenge….

4) Christina Aguilera - Hurt

This isn’t the kind of song you just sing - you have to feel it deep within your soul. You have to ace those dramatic pauses, nail those gradual key changes and the vocal range this song demands - well, there are no words. 

3) Eminem feat. Dr Dre - Forgot About Dre

Karaoke is made harder when you add speed into it, and this is undoubtedly one of those fast songs to sing - or rap. You can always expect that from Eminem. This song is made even more challenging because you need a rapping partner who can keep up too. 

2) Lana Del Rey - Video Games

She almost made it to number one, but not quite. This is one of those absolutely stunning songs that we could listen to all day long. But when it comes to singing it, well - it’s claimed position two for a reason…

1) The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love

Nothing else matches up to lead singer Justin Hawkins' insane vocal range!

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