1. "The Boy is Mine" - Brandy, Monica
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Performance tips: The beginning dialogue in this song is so important. It sets the stage for the entire song. It gives the whole thing meaning. So it's important that you really commit to the exchange between Brandy and Monica. It may feel silly, but if you do the silly thing right at the beginning of the song, the rest of it will be a lot more fun.
Harmonies: None. (Brandy and Monica never sing at the same time.)
Difficulty rating: Easy
Should you do it if you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: The end of the song is very repetitive and you run the risk of boring the audience. Try to mimic some of the vocal runs that Brandy and Monica are doing in the actual song.
2. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John, Kiki Dee
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Performance tips: This is a classic karaoke jam. The vocals are evenly shared, and it's easy to sing. This song has a playful vibe, so make sure you sing it with someone you really like. Like most karaoke classics, the end is very repetitive, so be sure to keep the energy up so you don't bore the crowd.
Harmonies: None.
Difficulty rating: Easy
Should you do it if you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: Make up a little choreography to go along with it. With this song, it wouldn't be weird.
3. "Feeling Myself" - Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé
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Performance tips: It would be a crime to half-ass this song. This song requires 100% commitment from you and your partner. "Feeling Myself" isn't one of those look-how-silly-we're-being-on-stage-haha-we're-laughing karaoke songs. If you perform this song with intensity, you'll get the encouragement from the audience you need.
Harmonies: None.
Difficulty rating: Intermediate
Should you do it if you're drunk?: No.
Bring down the house: If you're doing Nicki's part, point to someone in the audience on the "Yes daddy, I do" line.
4. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" - Eurythmics
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Performance tips: If you're not going to sing the harmonies on this song, just skip it all together. If you and your partner don't harmonize with each other, it becomes a song that anyone could do by themselves. This song has a robotic feel, so there's no pressure to do any dance moves.
Harmonies: Yes.
Difficulty level: Hard
Should you do it if you're drunk?: No.
Bring down the house: Toward the end of the song, the harmonies actually split into three parts. It happens at 2:30. Challenge yourselves by having somebody switch to the additional top harmony.
5. "Under Pressure" - David Bowie, Queen
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Performance tips: Vocal power is important for this one. Bowie and Freddie Mercury both have big, powerful vocals. This isn't a song that is meekly sung out of the corner of your mouth.
Harmonies: None.
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Should you do it while you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: Both Freddie and Bowie have iconic voices with recognizable accents. Sing the songs with the accents to the best of your ability.
6. "Love Shack" - The B-52's
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Performance tips: Alright, so there are technically three people singing this song. But if you split up the parts into male and female vocals, it becomes a duet. It's okay to break a few rules with this song, only because it's so fun. Also, everyone in the audience is waiting for the "TIIIIIIN ROOF....RUSTED" part, so make sure you don't screw it up.
Harmonies: None. The two women harmonize with each other throughout the song, but because you are doing this as a duet, you don't have to worry about that.
Difficulty level: Hard
Should you do it if you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: Play the air guitar during the guitar solo.
7. "You're The One That I Want" - John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John
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Performance tips: It's crucial you sing this song with someone you're comfortable with. The reason this song is so great in Grease is because of the flirtatious dynamic between Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta's characters. Make sure you're making eye contact with your partner, and sing it with attitude.
Harmonies: Yes. (Only during "Ooh ooh ooh," "The one I need, oh yes indeed,", and "Yes I'm sure down deep inside.")
Difficulty level: Easy
Should you do it if you're drunk?: No.
Bring down the house: If you're singing Sandy's part, do the hand-on-the-shoulder-walking-backward dance move.
8. "American Boy" - Estelle, Kanye West
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Performance tips: This is another song where the relationship between the two singers shouldn't be ignored. If you're singing Estelle's part, sing it like a love song (which it is). And if you're doing Kanye's part, make sure to do the rap with a little extra swagger.
Harmonies: None.
Difficulty level: Easy
Should you do it if you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: During the song, Estelle sings the word "boy" and holds out the note for quite a long time. If you do it, everyone in the audience will start clapping like it's a long note being sung in the National Anthem.
9. "Cruisin'" - Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis
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Performance tips: This song really works best when the harmonies are being sung. It's possible to sing the duet without the harmonies, but the song loses a lot of its soul.
Harmonies: Yes.
Difficulty level: Hard
Should you do it if you're drunk?: No.
Bring down the house: See if you can mimic Gwyneth Paltrow's sultry, chromatic, grace-note-type vocal runs.
10. "A Whole New World" - Lea Salonga, Brad Kane
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Performance tips: Personally, I think this song is really boring. But I felt like people would be mad if I didn't include it. So I only have three tips for this one: 1) Don't let your performance get boring, 2) Don't let the key change throw you off, and 3) Be prepared for Jasmine's vocals. They are really high. Know what you're getting into.
Harmonies: Yes. (Only two lines with harmony: Really cool harmony at 2:23 on "I'll chase them anywhere / there's time to spare / let me share this whole new world with you" and "for you and me" at the very end of the song.)
Difficulty level: Easy
Should you do it if you're drunk: Yes.
Bring down the house: Do the "Do you trust me?" dialogue before the song starts.
11. "Promiscuous" - Nelly Furtado, Timbaland
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Performance tips: You have to do this song super sexy and flirty. The song will make everyone in the audience uncomfortable if you treat your singing partner like a mere acquaintance. Also, make sure you do the "Am I throwing you off? Didn't think so" part because it's SO FUN.
Harmonies: None.
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Should you do it if you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: Include sexy dance moves.
12. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
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Performance tips: This is a classic, so there's quite a large possibility that the audience will be engaged from the get-go. But with this song, you also run the risk of getting boring. This song doesn't have a whole lot of attitude, so try to create some with your partner if you can. Also, watch out for the key change on this one.
Harmonies: Yes.
Difficulty level: Easy
Should you sing it if you're drunk?: Yes.
Bring down the house: The audience knows the words. When the song starts to get repetitive at the end, see if you can get the crowd to sing along.