Every karaoke night ends up with at least one of these four songs. Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Believin', Livin' on a Prayer and Sweet Caroline get the whole room singing, whether people can hit the notes or not. This One Gotta Go card asks which crowd-pleaser you would retire from karaoke forever.
Think about the song you always sign up for, the one you hear every single time, and the one the whole bar joins in on. Then make your pick, and see who at the table claims they can actually sing the high parts.
The 4 choices on this card
A. Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen moves from ballad to opera to rock in one song, and it's a thrill when a group takes it on together. The case against it is that it's long and very hard to sing well, so a solo attempt can turn into a six-minute challenge for everyone listening.
Keep it if: You love a big group performance with dramatic parts, and the opera section is your favorite moment.
B. Don't Stop Believin'
Don't Stop Believin' by Journey is the song that brings a room to its feet, from the piano intro to the big chorus. It's easy to sing along to. The case against it is that it's played so often that some people know it a little too well.
Keep it if: That piano intro gets you every time, and you love belting the chorus with the whole room.
C. Livin' on a Prayer
Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi is a big, fist-pumping anthem with a famous key change near the end. Fans love going all in. The case against it is that the high notes are hard to reach, so it can be more fun to watch than to sing.
Keep it if: You love a huge rock anthem and you always go for the high notes in the final chorus.
D. Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond is all about the crowd: everyone shouts the 'bah bah bah' and 'so good' parts. It's a sing-along at sports games too. The case against it is that the singer barely matters, since the crowd does most of the work.
Keep it if: You love a song where the whole room joins in, and you never miss the 'so good' shout.
Our take
We'd cut Bohemian Rhapsody from karaoke, but only from karaoke. It's an incredible song, yet it's the hardest on this card to sing and the longest to sit through when someone isn't quite nailing it. The other three are built for sing-alongs. Expect the most fun debate between the Journey fans and the Sweet Caroline crowd. For a bonus round, ask everyone to name their personal go-to karaoke song and how often they actually get to sing it.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which karaoke song should get a break from every bar for a year?
- What's your personal go-to karaoke song?
- Which of these is best sung as a group?
- Which karaoke song deserves a spot on this card instead?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Karaoke Songs: quick answers
What are the best karaoke songs for a group?
Don't Stop Believin', Sweet Caroline, Livin' on a Prayer and Bohemian Rhapsody are some of the most popular group karaoke songs because almost everyone knows the words. Songs with a big chorus or a crowd part tend to get the whole room involved, which is what makes karaoke night fun.
Why do crowds sing along to Sweet Caroline?
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond has short spots in the chorus that crowds fill in with 'bah bah bah' and 'so good', which makes it easy for everyone to join. It has become a sing-along at many sports games, including Boston Red Sox games at Fenway Park.
