Karaoke Forums

Hello,

I'm a mezzo (somewhere between soprano & alto) and I don't want to be too cliche in my song choice. I like alternative and jazz but don't mind broadening my selections. If given the choice, I'd rather sing at an open mic, but I can't find anybody to play for me around here and don't play myself. I haven't done karaoke in a while, but some of my boyfriend's friends think we should go out and give it a go.

Anybody have some good ideas?

What gives?

53 views and no hits?

I'm new to the forum and just looking for some advice. I'm sorry if I've demonstrated improper ettiquitte on the site or something.

I don't know about anyone else, but I seem to be having trouble understanding what exactly your question is.

Are you looking for song choices? Venues? Could you please clarify? If you are looking for song choices, could you be more specific in your tastes? Favorite songs, artists, etc....?

I understand that you have supplied your vocal range, but modern karaoke equipment can pretty much accomodate any song to any range, with the help of digital keychange and / or pitch control.

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Yeah I agree with Joe. You're kind of vague and it's a big field.

For authentic chick alternative (what you want right?) try maybe "Angry Johnny" - Poe. Goes over pretty good in my venue. I'd stay away from Tori Amos. Just doesn't go over. Same with Fiona Apple and Amy Winehouse now that her novelty factor has worn off.

If you want to soften it a bit and move more into a rock vein, but don't want to go into the very familiar cliches like Benetar or Jett, try some Melissa Etheridge or Sheryl Crow. "I'm The Only One" "Bring Me Some Water" "My Favorite Mistake" "If It Makes You Happy" - all of these go over very well in my room and aren't done nearly enough. But I'm just stabbing in the dark here.

I didn't realize it was so vague. I'm looking for song choices.
I don't think the kjs around here actually have the equipment that can transpose things to any range, which is why I supplied mine.

Sheryl Crow seems like a good suggestion.

I'm far too indecisive to have a refined list of favorites, but figured the kjs on this site could give me an idea of what works a crowd as far as good, female vocals.

Agree with the others, kind of a confusing opening topic.
Maybe you can let us know what you feel are cliche song choices. What may be overdone or cliche in one area may be a breath of relief in another since that same song may never get done - there have been several topics in the past whats hot in one club may dud in others.
What kind of songs - titles - artists do you normally do? Jazz & alternative is like stated a pretty broad area.

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I don't know what the cliche song choices are. I'm asking kjs out there what they feel is cliche, what I should avoid, and hoping they can give me some ideas on what I should do. I just want to look good up there.

It's karaoke and what I'd suggest is just do what you like! But as far as Sheryl Crow goes, as popular as she is, she's really not sung all that much - at least not in my room anyway. And it always works when someone sings her.

The really big female stuff in my admittedly younger room is more contemporary pop. "Irreplaceable" "Check On It" "Single Ladies" - Beyonce, "Take A Bow" "Umbrella" - Rihanna, "So What" "U+Ur Hand" "Who Knew" - Pink.

But it really depends on where you go to sing. This stuff doesn't register at all if the room is over 35.

OK I'll give you my top 10 non-country most overdone rock-out female songs. No ballads.

Bytch - Meridith Brooks
Black Velvet - Alanna Myles
I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett
I Hate Myself For Loving You - Joan Jett
Heartbreaker - Pat Benetar
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar
What's Up - 4 Non Blondes
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood (and yeah it might be country but it so needs to be on this list.)
Killing Me Softly - Fugees
Bobbie McGee - Janis Joplin (please don't even think about this one)
Like A Virgin - Madonna

OK I went over 10 but got carried away.

Oh yeah and I wouldn't suggest "I Will Survive" either although it's not a problem in my room.

And there's more. Others may add. And if Karen shows she may have some great suggestions as to what to sing.

See, "Killing Me Softly" is one of my all-time favorite songs, but I kind of figured it would be on somebody's "Don't" list.

I try to stay away from country because most times it's received poorly--even in "hick towns" like mine.

Okay, from a woman's POV - Evanescence always a good choice after a warmup; Bonnie Raitt's "Guilty" is a little bluesy-jazzy. Duffy's "Mercy" is great. Nelly F. "Say It Right" has great rhythm, nobody can sit still while it's playing. I tend to go blues when given the choice - "Right to be Wrong" by Joss Stone - smokey, bluesy tune. "Playin' With Fire" by Shannon Curfmann. Great riffs in that one. I don't do a lot of Crow because I have an issue with her lyrics - most don't make sense, but "If It Makes You Happy" is always a ringer because of the chorus. Brandy Carlile "The Story" is a little slow but allows for great interpretation. Always Melissa - "Bring Me Some Water" "I'm the Only One" "Refugee" (yup, cover of Petty's song). Raitt's "Angel from Montgomery" is great to sing and a crowd pleaser. Tina Turner's "The Best" has a great rhythm to it, and "What's Love Got to Do With It" "Birmingham" by Amanda Marshall - great instrumentation though it is a wife beater song. Give "Gunpowder and Lead" a try - it is a rough'n'tumble country song but is a LOT of fun to sing and always a crowd pleaser, as is Underwood's "Last Name."

Fleetwood Mac "Gold Dust Woman" "Rhiannon" great songs. Concrete Blonde "Joey" is great.

There's a few to try - I tend to sing songs that require a little personal interpretation - I don't sound like anybody else as far as voice so I don't try and imitate anyone. Let me know how you think about any of these.

K

I'd concur with Bills list for the most part. Like A Virgin isn't ever done in my room, Bobby McGee is an occasion, What's Up & Heartbreaker are also seldom, maybe once a week, but the rest, yes, overdone as well.
Country actually goes over well - depends on the nights &/or crowd.
Most of our girls oversing to death male songs from - Metallica, Pantera, Marilyn Manson, Alice In Chains, Tool, etc.. Anything Evanescence still gets overplayed. Like I said, what is hot/overplayed/or duds, completely varies from room to room. In karaoke, sing what you want & have fun - there is no wrong or right song to sing, sing what you are feeling, or what the crowd seems to be into & just something fun! That's what it is all about!

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OK I'll swap that one out for "I Touch Myself" which somehow I forgot about and is done more in my room anyway. Sometimes the women fight over who can sing it that night.

And although it's really a power ballad, no list of this type would be complete without "Total Eclipse Of The Heart."

I also agree with Lonnie about country. Even in my room it's not a problem. Please sing what you like! That's what karaoke is all about.

song "doos" and "don'tsss" are different from venue to venue, county to county, state to state, and even country to country. What is someone's "boring and older moss-grown song" is another's diamond in the rough.

As for 53 views and no comments, the question seemed quite raw and no polish. What I would advise on, others might advise against.

Sing a song, find out your range and what songs are good for you and what songs aren't... that's what we all did.

I've been told some songs favor my voice, I've been encouraged in one direction or another. It all changes over time as well as you find your niche'.

Eva Cassidy's "Wade In The Water" is fantastic when done well. Shows off vocal range. Also Carmel and "More More". Stay away from the predictable and the corny. I see you are an accomplished singer anyway. (For you to know you are a "Mezzo" you must be). Why not sing what you know ?

If the bar were completely empty, and the KJ had every single song in his book, handed you the mic, and stepped out for a smoke, what would you sing?

Here are some I would like to see a girl sing at my shows:

Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas (a christian chick group did a version of this years ago)

Because The Night by 10000 Maniacs

any song by Garbage

Magic Man by Heart

Thank You or White Flag by Dido

Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy

Somebody To Love by Jefferson Airplane

Cannonball by The Breeders

Why Can't I by Liz Phair

Stay by Lisa Loeb

Celebrity Skin by Hole

Torn by Natalie Imbruglia

any song by Sarah McLachlan

any song by Tori Amos

Seether by Veruca Salt

Yes, these are all made for karaoke

I love singing Tori Amos, but nobody gets it. Her songs are lush and musically beautiful, but can be rather strange.

birdofsong

In the same vein as purpletib, here are some I would like to here a girl sing

Dreamboat Annie, Heart
Over My Head, Fleetwood Mac
Swing Out Sister, Break Out
Take My Breath Away, Berlin
Take a Bow, Borderline, Madonna
Time after Time, Cyndi Lauper
Check On It, Beyonce
Here Comes the Rain, Eurythmics
You Were Meant for Me, Jewel
That's What Your Love Does to Me, Holly Dunn
Down at the Twist and Shout, Mary Chapin Carpenter
Any of the lesser sung Judds songs (Girls Night Out, Rockin with the Rythm of the Rain, Had a Dream)
Bad Boy, Words Get in the Way, Gloria Estefan
Emotion, Samantha Sang version
Love You Inside Out, Bee Gees
Magic, Xanadu, Olivia Newton John
Dream a Little Dream of Me, Mamas and Papas
The Look of Love, Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66
Deja Vu, Dionne Warwick
Midnight at the Oasis, Maria Muldaur
When Will I See You Again, Three Degrees
Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes
We're All Alone, Boz Scaggs/Rita Coolidge
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, Crystal Gayle
Brass in Pocket, Pretenders
Heart of Glass, Blondie
Hot Stuff, Donna Summer
Lonely Night (Angel Face), Captain & Tenille
9 to 5, Dolly Parton
Kiss Me, Sixpence None the Richer
Morning Train, Sheena Easton
Embraceable You, Ella Fitzgerald

RE: Tori Amos - nobody gets her. Same as Ani DeFranco - Have you ever seen a room stare when somebody sings "Little Plastic Castles?" It's worth singing just for that!