I Want to Sing at Karaoke! A Roundup of Recommended Oldies Classics and Popular Songs
Nostalgic oldies! How about singing a host of classic tunes that resonate in your heart along with memories of those days at karaoke? The Western masterpieces born mainly in the 1950s and ’60s have never faded with time and continue to captivate countless people even today.
In this article, we’ll introduce must-sing oldies for karaoke—from rock ’n’ roll to pop and ballads—beloved across generations.
Oldies often have simple melodies and are easy to sing.
From songs everyone knows to unexpected hidden gems, we’ve got a lineup guaranteed to get the karaoke crowd going!
- A collection of nostalgic hits from the ’70s to 2000s that are perfect for livening up karaoke
- Must-see for men: Songs that look cool if you can sing them at karaoke—numbers that women can’t help but be captivated by.
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
- When you can’t decide what to sing at karaoke: Easy-to-sing classic hits from the Showa era
- [Karaoke] A roundup of songs that are easy for women to sing!
- Popular songs that are easy to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and hit songs.
- Easy-to-sing youth songs for karaoke: recommended classics and popular hits
- A lineup of classic hits! Karaoke songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Feel-Good Songs: Belt Them Out at Karaoke! A Roundup of Popular Numbers
- Songs everyone knows across generations. A roundup of karaoke tracks anyone can sing, regardless of age.
- Songs Women Want Men to Sing: Popular Karaoke Picks Chosen by Girls
- Gentle songs you want to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and popular hits.
- Packed with masterpieces! Karaoke songs recommended for women of the Yutori generation
I want to sing at karaoke! Recommended Oldies Classics and Popular Songs (11–20)
VacationConnie Francis
It’s an upbeat, feel-good number that heralds the arrival of summer.
It celebrates the anticipation and sense of freedom that come with a long-awaited vacation, and just listening to it lifts your spirits.
This song, performed by Connie Francis, dates to around July 1962.
It was originally slated to be a B-side, but became a major hit thanks to radio response.
It reached No.
9 on the U.S.
charts and is also known for being her final Top 10 hit.
In Japan, many will recognize it as the theme song for the film “Nurse no Oshigoto THE MOVIE,” covered by “Izumi Asakura with Nurse no Oshigoto.” With its simple, easy-to-sing melody, it’s a great one to add to your repertoire.
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot BikiniBrian Hyland
If you want to liven up karaoke with an easygoing, fun summer song, this one is for you.
It’s sung by pop singer Brian Hyland.
This story-style pop tune charmingly depicts a girl who’s shy about wearing a yellow polka-dot bikini.
Its bright, buoyant sound is sure to put you in a happy mood just by listening.
Since its release in June 1960, it went on to hit No.
1 on the U.S.
charts in August of the same year.
It’s also featured in the film “One, Two, Three,” so it might be a crowd-pleaser if you cue it up at karaoke.
Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berry
A signature song by legendary guitarist Chuck Berry, who laid the foundation of rock ’n’ roll.
It was released in March 1958.
The story portrays a young boy trying to rocket into stardom with his guitar talent, and the way his mother cheers him on is truly moving.
The track is also well-known for its performance scene in the film Back to the Future.
What’s more, there’s an epic anecdote that it was included as part of the Sounds of Earth on the Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977.
The moment that intro starts, your heart just races! Seeing someone seize their dreams with a guitar is so inspiring—it makes them feel like a hero.
It’s just incredibly cool and gets you totally pumped up!
Love Letters in the SandPat Boone
This classic ballad is marked by Pat Boone’s gentle, sweet vocals.
You can almost picture the bittersweet scene of a love letter written on the beach being washed away by the waves.
The song sings of the romance of a fleeting love, and the wistful whistling that comes in midway heightens the sense of melancholy.
Released in 1957, the track spent five consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the U.S.
charts.
It’s also known for being performed by Pat Boone himself in the film Bernardine.
With its simple melody, it’s a perfect choice when you want to slip serenely into the world of oldies at karaoke.
Tennessee WaltzPatti Page
Patti Page, known as the “Singing Rage,” delivers one of her signature songs here—a classic waltz that tells the poignant story of a lover being stolen away by an old friend at a dance.
Musically, it’s quintessential traditional pop, and its groundbreaking overdubbed harmonies—created by layering Page’s own voice—lend an elegant sheen to the protagonist’s heartbreak.
Released in November 1950 and originally treated as a B-side, it became a massive hit, spending nine consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Billboard chart.
In Japan, it’s also well known for its use in the film The Railway Man (Poppoya).
With its gentle 3/4 melody that’s easy to remember and relatively accessible English lyrics, it’s a great choice for anyone looking to try singing oldies in English.
Unchained MelodyThe Righteous Brothers
This song dates from 1955, but it became more famous than when it was first released because it was used in the 1990 blockbuster film Ghost.
It has been recorded in more than 500 versions in various languages, not just English, making it one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.
The video is the Righteous Brothers version used in the film.
I want to sing at karaoke! A roundup of recommended oldies classics and popular songs (21–30)
Where Did Our Love GoThe Supremes
This is a signature song by the African-American female vocal group, The Supremes.
Released in 1964, it became a huge hit.
It sings about a love that runs infinitely deep.
The bouncy rhythm and the charming vocals—which still don’t feel dated even today—are wonderful.
