The best place to exercise those vocal skills is behind the wheel of your whip. It's a great stress reliever and an even better way to continue your shower song session. If you're not familiar with the beauty of car Karaoke then I apologize that you've led such a sheltered life. Step One. Pick a jam (either from my list or one of your own precious collection). Step Two. Turn it up as loud as your crappy car speakers will handle. Step Three. Belt those lyrics like Beyonce at Madison Square Garden. Repeat with any and all of the songs on your playlist.
1. Closer - The Chainsmokers
"Hey, you tell your friends it was nice to meet them
But I hope I never see them again"
The newest white girl anthem, plaguing bars everywhere. You might as well practice before you go out Saturday night and your girls want to sing real karaoke in front of people.
2. Lost You - Zed's Dead
"I like to think about the first time that I saw you".
I can't get enough of this song. It's got one of those peppy beats but with a bomb base. Snaps for Zed's Dead for making my new alarm song.
3. Habits - Tove Lo
"I eat my dinner in my bath tub then I go to sex clubs" .
Tove's breakout song from 2014 is still so catchy. Plus it's got this awesome chorus where you can really show off your skills.
4. Runaway - Kanye West
"Let's have a toast to the jerkoffs
That'll never take work off
Baby, I got a plan
Run away fast as you can"
Probably my favorite Kanye Song. If you're not that big of a fan of Mr. West channel your inner Seth Rogen and sing his version from "The Night Before". Its a classic.
5. Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen
"Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back"
Arguably Springsteen's masterpiece; this 1984 hit is premium for car jams. It's soulful and fun and you can work in a sweet shoulder dip at stop lights.
6. Cant Take My Eyes off You - Frankie Vallie and the 4 Seasons
"You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you"
Probably the most romantic song ever. If you aren't familiar with this oldie you literally don't know what you're missing. Sometimes I even make the horn section sounds with my mouth because they're too good to leave out.
7. Inside Out - Eve 6
"I would swallow my pride, I would choke on the rinds
But the lack thereof would leave me empty inside"
My PE teacher in high school used to play this every class. I know these lyrics back and forth and I'm especially proud of my car karaoke version.
8. Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"She’s a runner, rebel and a stunner On her merry way sayin’Baby what you gonna"
The best song to come off their Stadium Arcadium album this RHCP song is a party anthem.
9. I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic at the Disco
"No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality."
From the same year as Dani California, 05 blessed us with some of the most "top shelf" karaoke jams. Plus the inner 6th grader in me still smiles every time I say "poor groom's bride is a whore". So scandalous.
10. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
"So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me"
The quintessential group Karaoke song; any time it comes on you stop what you're doing and pay homage. I've literally never been to a party where someone doesn't pop it on at some point. You better practice, because you're friends are listening.
11. Ignition - R. Kelly
"You must be a football coach
The way you got me playin' the field"
The only R. Kelly song I'll ever claim to know and love. This is another one to have in your back pocket because most people know the lyrics. Bonus points if you make the motions along with the lyrics.
12. Shout - Otis Day and The Knights
"Throw my hands back and (SHOUT)"
I would say the best part of weddings is when this gem pops on. The lyrics aren't complicated but its got great instrumentals and it's a blast watching all your hammered friends shout "HEY" in unison. It doesn't have quite the same effect alone in your car, but it always makes me happy whenever it comes on.
13. Sorry - Beyonce
"Big homie better grow up / Me and my whoadies 'bout to stroll up"
This is the power ballad of breakups. I'm a pretty big Queen B fan but Sorry isn't like her usual stuff. "Sorry" is a giant middle finger in music form. Real men don't have time for side chicks anyway.
14. Wonderwall - Oasis
"Maybe you're gonna be the one that saves me."
You're not human if this song doesn't make you feel some sort of deep "real" emotion. Everybody has a wonderwall.
15. I love College - Asher Roth
"And I can get pizza a dollar a slice"
An ode to the best time in a person's life; one hit wonder Asher Roth's I love College will remind you of your days of beer pong and ganja. Just don't take his advice on safe sex seriously. Two condoms is literally the worst idea ever.
16. Drunk Off Your Love - Shwayze & Cisco
"I wanna hold your hand like an old school jam"
This is one of those songs you either love it or hate it. If you're in the most miserable mood just put this on and all of the suddenly you're transported to a beachy climate and you're in love with somebody.
17. Roses - OutKast
"I know you'd like to think your shit don't stink /But lean a little bit closer /See that roses really smell like poo-poo-oo"
One of two OutKast jams that aren't Hey Ya on this list; this song is the one you play whilst trying to get out some of that deep frustration. Or perhaps you think its just a good song. Either way, its definitely meant for car Karaoke.
18. Sugar We're Going Down - Fall Out Boy
"I'm just a notch in your bedpost
But you're just a line in a song"
Be still my middle school heart. From the days before Fall Out Boy sold out to the pop genre.
19. Ms. Jackson - OutKast
"Never meant to make your daughter cry
I apologize a trillion times"
Praise Outkast for all the beautiful early 2000's memories. Reminisce with this hit from 2000.
20. Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
"And he drives an I-Roc
But he doesn't know who I am"
For all the outcasts in the world Wheatus wrote this beauty. I spent many a morning in high school driving to class and blaring this pre-millenium treasure and wondering when someone was going to ask me to an Iron Maiden concert.
21. Tiny Dancer - Elton John
"Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today"
This song makes you want to sing. I think it's an Elton John thing, all his beautiful ballads are just too good to pass up.
22. Doses and Mimosas - Cherub
"Ten in the morning
And I'm skipping breakfast
And drinking a beverage
To ignore it all"
Cherub is still a hidden gem. His groovy jams are popular at music festivals and college parties. Trust me when I say this it only takes once and you're sold. Doses and Mimosas is the perfect song to help you channel some chill vibes.
23. Lets Stay Together - Rev. Al Green
"Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you"
This one gives number 6 a run for its money in the romance department. It's a perfect one to perform when it's just you and your better half.
24. No Rain - Blind Melon
"And all I can do
Is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view"
This song is made to be belted. Its a definite mood changer, the kind of pick me up you want to keep in your playlists for days where you're on the verge of using your vehicle as a weapon.
25. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
"'m just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family"
Queen ends our list with the ultimate contribution to the karaoke world. This is the mecca, the absolute best thing you could possibly have playing in your car at any time. Plus its versatile enough for any and all vocal ranges because lets face it nobody is ever going to sing it like Freddie.
