In no particular order, these are the songs that are the most fun to sing along to in the car or in the bar. If you don’t know the words, just fake it.
“You Never Even Call Me By My Name” David Allen Coe. This song is also known as “The Perfect Country and Western Song”, and”You Don’t Have to Call Me Darlin’, Darlin. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it 5,000 times, and every time you grow to love it more. Most people only know the chorus and the good verse, but everyone tries to sing the whole thing anyway.
“Take This Job and Shove It” Johnny Paycheck. The classic song to sing along to after a tough day- or week- at work. Not everyone knows all the words, but you don’t really need to as long as you know the chorus: “Take this job and shove it. I ain’t workin’ here no more.”
Cheeseburger in Paradise” Jimmy Buffet. This is the classic party song for parrot-heads! “Big Kosher pickle and a cold draft beer. Good God almighty, which way do I steer?” I really do know every word to this song, but you don’t have to be a parrot-head to sing along.
“Back in the Black” AC/DC. OK, I know it really shows your age if you find yourself singing along to this before you realize that you’re singing along. This was the anthem for head-bangers before head-banging had a name.
“I’ve Got Friends in Low Places” Garth Brooks. “..where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases your blues away. It’ll be OK.” Tell me that’s not a classic drinking song!
“Don’t Let Him Go” REO Speedwagon. If you’re “of a certain age”, you can name this tune in one note. And you know every word. And this song sparks more than a few fond memories. I’ll help you spark a memory: “He’s a sweet-talkin’ stud who could melt a girl’s heart with his pout.”
“Pop a Top Again” Jim Ed Brown. “I think I’ve got time for one more round. Set ’em up, my friend…” Need I say more as to why this is a great party song?
“That’s Life” Frank Sinatra. This could arguably be called the first rap song: “I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king. I’ve been up and down and over and out and I know one thing. Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race. That’s life…” Sing it, baby.
“Rock and Roll Band, Boston. This song puts a smile on everyone’s face, a tune in their hearts, and the words on their lips. “Well we were just another band out of Boston… Smoked a big cigar, drove a Cadillac car, and said, ‘Boys, I think your band’s outta sight’…
“Moondance” Van Morrison. When you want to slow it down a little, just think about how “the night’s magic seems to whisper and hush. Puts you on the mood to slow dance while that special someone sings, “It’s a fantabulous to make romance”, doesn’t it?
“Banana Boat Song (Day-0)” Harry Belafonte. This song is all-out fun! “Come, Mr. Tally-man, tally me banana. Six foot , seven foot, eight foot, BUNCH.” This song from the 50’s is a ton of fun and enjoyed a renaissance when it was in the 80’s movie Beetlejuice.
“That’s Amore” Dean Martin. “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.” This is another song that got revitalized in an 80’s movie (Moonstruck). Dean-o’s whiskey-voice is timeless and just about everyone can sing along to this one.
“Gimme Three Steps” Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s, like, not a party without Lynyrd Skynrd, man. I know everyone likes “Freebird”, and so do I, but it’s hard to sing. Everyone can sing “Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mistah…”, so this is a great Skynyrd party song.
“Runaround Sue” Dion and The Belmonts. This puts a smile on everybody’s face- even if you’ve never heard of before! “Runaround Sue” is fun and catchy- “Hey, hey, bop-a-lay-de-day-hey. Keep away from Runaround Sue.”
“Sweet Caroline” Neil Diamond. I don’t care what anyone says, everyone starts singing along when Neil’s on. “Whoa-hoe-ho. Good times never felt so good.”
“There’s a Tear in My Beer” Hank Williams (Senior or Junior- they both did it well.) A classic country drinking song- It’s got the twang, it’s got the beer, and it’s got the lonely cowboy. What more do you want from a good bar song?
“Summer Nights” John Travolta and Olivia Newton John. OK- I realize that even when this song was popular a lot of people thought it was the stupidest song ever. Well, they’re wrong. It rocked then and it still rocks now. “Tell me more, tell me more…”
