Karaoke never really goes out of style in Portland. Here are some tips for what songs to sing and what to skip, from The Alibi’s karaoke host, Yoni Wilson.
Best Song for Karaoke Novices
“Tequila,” by the Champs. It’s technically easy.
Or better yet, says Wilson: “The first thing that I'm gonna tell people is, ‘What's the song that comes on in the car and you can't help but sing along?’”
Crowd Pleasers
“If you choose the song that you want to sing, that's the song that's going to come through the most,” says Wilson. “You're going to be feeling it. That's going to translate to the crowd.”
Most Commonly Picked Music
“Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Sweet Caroline,” as well as other top-40 music.
“Certain songs I'm just gonna have to hear all the time. But, at the same time, when somebody comes up and picks a song like that, I'm going to 100 percent encourage them to sing that,” says Wilson.
Worst Song to Sing if You’re Not Gonna Nail It
Beyonce and hip-hop.
“I love singing Beyonce, and I love to sing hip-hop, but you gotta be ready to give it 110%,” says Wilson.
Worst Songs for a Fun Saturday Night
“Hallelujah,” the Jeff Buckley version.
“That's not the Saturday night banger you want to hear,” says Wilson.
