Favorites To Sing:
Past The Point Of Rescue - Hal Ketchum
Because I can really sing this song. When I'm in competition this is the song I always go to. It also is a tremendous song, one of the best 100 country songs from the 90's without arguement. One other reason, it has just enough southern rock roots in the back track to please any crowd.
Wolves - Garth Brooks
I've lived this song. Not the reality of driving steer down into lower ground due to a midwest blizzard, but struggling through hard times and wondering how I will get through them. It is a song about faith in the face of fear. Here is a worthless piece of trivia. When Garth Brooks cuts an album he puts the tracks in order, from his least favorite to his most favorite. On No Fences, Wolves is the last track, and I can understand why. It is, IMHO Garth's best song.
Baby Got Back - Sir-Mix-A-Lot
Hey, this Jewish white boy can rap! No seriously, I can. Younger crowd, packed club, no way to get people out dancing faster than rapping, and I stress rapping versus just speaking Baby Got Back.
Jimmy Eat World - In The Middle
This is one of those songs that I love to sing but I don't get. When ever I sing this I get a huge reaction, and it's always positive. You know the reaction, the high fives, the folks coming up to your table after telling how great you sound - and sometimes I'm uncomfortable with that. But as I sing it, and when I sing it, it sounds just OK to me. But I guess I can wail the crap out of it!
Basketcase - Green Day
I LOVE singing this song. I can do a solid job with it. My Karaoke fantasy, find a free, worn out guitar that's had it and smash it to pieces during the outro. Don't hate me for that!
Because I Got High - Afroman
I only sing this at one bar. I sang it on a dare and well, I did a great job. One thing about this song is you can be an ENTERTAINER when you sing this, and it is a great audience particpation song. When I go to the bar the legacy lives on and I'm asked over and over and over again to please, please, please do Because I Got High. Sigh......OK.....if I must.
I Want To Come Over - Mellisa Etheridge
First, Melissa Etheridge is the most under rated singer/song writer from the 90's period. Her music is real, heartfelt, and passionate. Second, Melissa and I share the same key - I can sing any of her song! It is a tad odd to see a guy singing an Etheridge riff but I love this song. It is so sexy.
Sing For The Moment - Eminem
There is a reason why I like doing this rap. I can do it well, although the Sound Choice version isn't perfect, which is rare. At a bar I use to go to my ex's attorney would literally come in and heckle me. I've since wised up and don't go there anymore, but I made a point to learn this one as a way to mock back.
"If my music is literal and I'm such a criminal
How the %@#^ could I raise a little [boy]
I couldn't I wouldn't be fit too..."
Yes, I have custody of my son. Great satisfaction and doing that one with him in the room. Those were the days.
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
The Ultrasonics version of this is the original Sinatra back track! Right up to the slightly distorted orchestra solo in the middle of the song, they could have cleaned it up -
. Hey, every guy needs to sing one of the crooner tunes and this one is mine. I always try to inject my own style in a song (hey, I sure don't sing in the same style as Melissa Etheridge, that would require gargling with sandpaper) but this song is the exception to that. I spent hours listening to the Sinatra version, and then copying the same style. I don't do a parody/impression - that is I sing in my voice, but hit the same vocalizations, pauses, and inflection changes as 'ol blue eyes.
Life Sucks Then You Die - The Fools
It took me 18 months to find this Karaoke disc. AMS-2001. But I finally found a copy! The Fools hail from my hometown where I grew up, so the song got a lot of airplay when I was growing up. Further the reference to the "Class of '85" is a riot as it is my graduation year. I can usually get the audience with me on this song and get everyone yelling at the end, "life sucks, life sucks, life sucks, then you die!"
----------------------
I have more -- but those are my favorites, doesn't that cover a solid set on a slow night!