We all love karaoke night, whether it’s heading to your local pub, celebrating a birthday or you are just having friends over to sing with your top range karaoke machines. But what can make karaoke extra fun is with a theme night, and there are loads of ideas to choose from that will make it special. Read on to find out some of our favourite themes.
Musical
People who love karaoke often are big fans of musicals too, so a musical-themed karaoke night is a great idea, especially for those who love to be a bit flashy. Get all your favourite show tunes on the playlist from Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” to “The Sound of Music” and sing your heart out. Of course, you can go one step further and have your musical theme be more specific, such as rock musicals, long-running musicals, Tony and Olivier award-winning or musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The 70s
Having a theme night based on a decade of music is always a popular choice, and though there are many fantastic decades of the 20th and 21st century with fantastic hits to choose from, our top three are the 70s, 80s and 90s. The 70s is perfect as though 40 years in the past, most people are familiar with the top songs from the decade, and many icons were born in that period, along with the genres of punk and glam rock. Top 70s songs to choose for karaoke include “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie, “My Sharona” by The Knack, “Somebody to Love” by Queen, “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac and many, many more! You could also choose a specific artist from the decade to base your 70s theme night such as ABBA, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Elton John or the Bee Gees.
The 80s
Choosing a decade for your theme night means there are hundreds of songs to choose from, and the 80s offered up as many classics as the decade before. The 80s also popularised many subgenres of rock like soft rock and metal, saw an emergence in dance music and an increase in synthesisers, so you narrow down your 80s theme night to suit your tastes! Classic hits to put on your karaoke include “True” by Spandau Ballet, “Take On Me” by A-ha, “Beat It” by Michael Jackson and “Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams.
The 90s
People may joke that the 90s are something to forget, mostly for the questionable fashion, but the music of that decade is something to be celebrated, and one way is with karaoke. The 1990s popularised teen pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rap grew into the mainstream and Britpop ruled the airwaves. For a 90s theme night, we highly recommend adding these songs to the line up which are sure to get everyone singing along! “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio, “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys, “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis and “Park Life” by Blur, for the Britpop rivalry!
Soundtracks – Music From Films
Film soundtracks are often the way to hear a new song or find a new appreciation for an old song. Whether the film is a tear-jerker, action-thriller or fantasy, the right song at the right time can transform a scene, and become a classic in its own right. Many of them are perfect for karaoke, and if you have a song from a favourite film in mind, it’s an ideal chance to go fancy dress too! Standout songs from soundtracks are “Mrs Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel from The Graduate, “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins from Footloose, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from Dirty Dancing, “Lose Yourself” by Eminem from 8 Mile and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston from The Bodyguard.
Disco
Disco is a genre a lot of people will pretend to hate when they secretly love it. The fast tempo and catchy tunes made it perfect to dance to, and though its popularity waned in the 80s, it has seen revivals that shows it is still a great choice – especially for a karaoke theme! Disco hits to include for a theme night include “Car Wash” by Rose Royce, “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees and “That’s The Way (I Like It)” by KC & The Sunshine Band. We’d love to know your favourite disco tunes too!
Heartbreak and Love Songs
A theme suitable for a girls night, birthday or a hen do, there are a plethora of songs about love and heartbreak to put on a karaoke playlist. For heartbreak songs, we recommend adding “Someone Like You” by Adele, “The Winner Takes It All” by Abba, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift and “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. As you can see, they aren’t all sad and sombre! For love songs, there is “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, “Angels” by Robbie Williams, and “Your Song” by Elton John.
One Hit Wonder
Let some of the one hit wonders shine again with a theme night, and there are plenty to choose from! Some of our favourites include “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus, “One and Only” by Chesney Hawks, “How Bizarre” by OMC, “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba, “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, “I’m Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65, “Achy Breaky Heart” By Billy Ray Cyrus, “In the Shadows” by the Rasmus and “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners.
Do you have a favourite theme night? Let us know in the comments or on our social media pages!
