It’s great to listen to music, and, of course, it’s also loads of fun to join in with any of the parts that we can remember. That’s generally not much, but even if this is only during the chorus, then that is fine too.
Because we’re not all blessed with a photographic memory, some of the best songs everyone knows and loves singing to often have simple lyrics or at least a simple chorus.
I’ve put together a few of my favorites. So, let’s get straight to it and check out the first song everybody will know and can sing.
Contents
Top 125 Songs Everyone Knows And Loves Singing To
1
Happy Birthday by Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill
This was initially written by two sisters in 1893. It was penned as a greeting to kindergarten kids and originally titled, “Good Morning to All.” At some point, there was a lyrical change to “Happy Birthday,” but it remains unclear when this happened.
There’s some controversy about who wrote the song, as the sisters never copyrighted either the tune or lyrics. However, in 1935, a third sister, J.Hill, became increasingly annoyed at people singing the song for free and lodged copyright under the umbrella of the Sunny Company.
From this point, the sisters got paid for anyone using their songs…
Things got more complicated when Warner Music bought out the Sunny Company. It was thought that the song would remain in copyright until 2030. But that changed in 2015 when it was judged to have already been in the public domain.
This was due to it being proved that the copyright was only for a particular piano arrangement that didn’t include the lyrics. Further, it also couldn’t be proved that the two Hill sisters had even written it in the first place.
The result is that it’s now a copyright-free piece of music…
And the consequence was that Warner Music also had to return $14 in royalties it had unfairly claimed. That’s great for a lot of filmmakers, YouTubers, or makers of social media content who can now use it to their heart’s content.
It doesn’t alter the fact that it remains the most sung song in history.
2
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Queen is one of the most successful bands of all time. Other than The Beatles, there isn’t another band that has sold more albums. Consequently, you’ll probably know more than just one of their songs.
Whilst “I Want to Break Free,” “Killer Queen,” and “We Are the Champions” are hugely popular, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the song most people are familiar with.
It was initially released in 1975, and had it not been for the 1992 movie, “Wayne’s World,” it might have remained buried in the 70s.
However, the inclusion of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in “Wayne’s World,” in one of its most iconic scenes, changed all of that. As a result, the song became known to a whole new set of fans.
More recently…
In 2018, a biographical movie for the band was released titled “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This further fueled interest in the song and the band to yet more new fans. No doubt, in another 20 years or so, they’ll come up with some other form of marketing genius to hook even more fans.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is Queen’s best-selling single. It went multi-platinum in several countries. The album it was taken from, A Night at the Opera, also released in 1975, sold well and similarly went multi-platinum around the world.
This is a long song, lasting almost six minutes…
At the time of its release, it struggled to get airplay because the radio and record industry was unaccustomed to such lengthy songs.
Fortunately, Freddie Mercury persevered to try to get it released in its original format. He eventually won over a succession of radio stations, and thankfully the public loved it and bought it in droves.
Very much a concept song and highly theatrical. It’s split into several pieces, with the part that everyone knows being the Operatic-style vocal sections. This flows into the Rock finale that it’s probably less familiar. It’s a masterpiece of a song.
3
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones
Like Queen, The Rolling Stones is another highly successful British group, with a huge back catalog of popular and well-known songs. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” comes instantly to mind, but then again, so does “Start Me Up,” “Angie,” “Wild Horses,” and “Brown Sugar.”
Please, don’t start throwing things at the screen if I missed a few because these are just a few examples.
I think you get the idea that I could have picked any of these alternatives, but there are a few reasons that “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)” was my ultimate Rolling Stones pick.
Here’s why…
Firstly, it has one of the catchiest riffs of all their songs. An amazing achievement since it was one of their earliest tracks, released back in 1965 when many of you weren’t even a twinkle in your mother’s eye.
Secondly, the lyrics, and the chorus, in particular, are superb by any standard. However, the chorus, together with the melody, is simply unforgettable.
Lastly, it’s commonly covered, which has very much kept it alive. Some of the greatest covers have been by Aretha Franklin in 1968 and The Grateful Dead in 1981.
However…
I prefer Devo’s 1977 cover, and Britney Spears did a pretty good job, too, in 2000. This all makes it one of the best Rolling Stones songs everyone knows and loves singing to.
Lyrically, the song takes no prisoners. There are clear references to sexual pleasure and also to the band’s frustration with the music industry. Other topics include references to their increasingly restricted lives due to fame. I don’t feel sorry for them about this, quite frankly.
On this last point, it was also only going to get worse. That’s because “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” became their first US #1 hit. They’ve now had close to 50 years to get used to global fame and recognition. And they seem to be doing okay.
4
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Thanks to the kids from Glee, this is one of those songs that everyone loves and will sing along to. It’s fair to say that most of you youngsters will associate the song with “Glee.”
That is fine because, quite frankly, it was a great TV series and a lot of fun to watch. However, some of you might not know about the original version.
Let me fill you in…
“Don’t Stop Believin’” was first released in 1981 as a single from Journey’s album, Escape. Both the single and the album were smash hits. The single went platinum in the US and the UK and sold four million copies in the process.
Kudos to the Glee Cast cover as well, since that also became a big hit. It sold two million copies and broke the Top 10 in the US and the UK. It’s a fantastic, fun, and uplifting version and every bit as good as the original. Although, my personal preference is for Journey’s 1981 classic release.
“Don’t Stop Believin’” is an all-out high-energy Classic Rock song. The driving music, wonderful solo, and uplifting lyrics make this a truly unforgettable song. It’s undoubtedly a great song to sing or maybe even work out to. Very much Journey’s signature song, and it’s easy to see why.
5
Hotel California by The Eagles
You’d either have to have been living under a rock or have never heard of Rock to not know this one. “Hotel California” is one of the most known songs of all time.
It was released in 1977 and has since become one of the most-played live cover songs. Also, it’s been recorded by multiple bands, including The Gipsy Kings in 1988 and Nancy Sinatra in 2002.
The song was The Eagle’s lead single from the same titled album, Hotel California. This has currently sold a staggering 32 million copies, which makes it the sixth best-selling album ever.
So, what is the song about?
It’s an account of Californian life in the 1960s. More specifically, it’s about the life of an ever-increasingly popular group of musicians living the high life… quite literally. We are talking about a serious amount of partying, drug taking, and alcohol use here.
Although it’s hardly representative of most people living in California in the 60s or anywhere else in the world, the song still struck a chord. This is because people could easily relate to the excesses in their own lives, as well as their battles to combat temptations and poor choices.
We can all get caught up in short-time artificial highs at some point; I’m sure you’ll agree. We can, therefore, also identify with the sentiment that it can indeed be “such a lovely place,” as the chorus enticingly echoes.
6
Like a Virgin by Madonna
It’s been a long time since Madonna was “touched for the very first time.” And it’s also been a long time since “Like a Virgin” first saw the light of day. To be precise, it was released in 1984, back when Madonna was still not a guy and wasn’t into muscles and powerlifting.
The song was synonymous with the 80s…
At the time, it seemed to be playing on every radio station on a continuous loop. With so much radio airplay, it’s hardly surprising that it sold a cool six million copies worldwide. The album, Like a Virgin, also achieved huge commercial success selling 21 million copies globally.
Although “Like a Virgin” was highly successful, it wasn’t her best-selling single. That accolade goes to “Into The Groove,” which came out in 1985. However, although this was her biggest hit, there’s no doubt that “Like a Virgin” has more memorable lyrics.
It’s a cool 80s song that’s fun to dance to and sing to…
Plus, it’s also a very popular karaoke song, and it’s easy to see why. As well as its musical merit, the loaded innuendo of the lyrics usually raises a few smiles. What’s more, most people know the chorus, so can easily join in. Madonna now lives alone in her mansion with her cats.
7
Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams
Well done to Bryan Adams and the record company for their perfect sense of timing. Most probably sensing a hit on their hands, even before its release, they brought out “Summer of 69” in June of 1984 slap bang in the middle of the summer. Nice one, guys.
Happily, since it is such a great song, it made it to #5 on the US Billboard charts. It then stubbornly hung in there until the days got cooler and sold a couple of million copies in the process.
It was taken from Adams’s fourth studio album, Reckless. This was a great album, and I should know because I bought a copy. It went to #1 in the US and #7 in the UK. More impressively, it sold over 12 million copies globally.
All very solid numbers…
Hardly surprisingly, “Summer of 69” is essentially about one summer back when Bryan Adams was making his way in life. This was with his group as well as with a series of relationships that would prove pivotal in his later life.
The lyrics are ambiguous enough to suggest that they may refer to glory years rather than months. Additionally, some have also interpreted the song as referring to a common sexual activity. However, this is something that Bryan Adams has consistently refuted.
Musically, it’s a high-energy Rock song with plenty of guitar work, hard bass, and drumming.
8
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
Let’s be honest here and admit that there’s no way on earth that you could sing this even half as well as Whitney Houston. Now, that is not to say that you shouldn’t try, because you should, and if you do decide to, you’ll be in good company.
That’s because it’s one of the most requested karaoke songs ever. If you do either sing it or join in you can be sure that most people know it.
Why is that?
Because it sold a mind-boggling 20 million copies, this has made it the most successful song by a single female artist. It’s a record that’s also unlikely to ever be topped since we now either download or stream most of our music.
A big reason for the song’s popularity is due to it being the main song for the 1992 blockbuster movie, “The Bodyguard.” The song was part of an equally popular original soundtrack. The album sold 45 million copies. That makes it one of the most commercially successful of all time.
All these reasons make it one of the best songs everyone knows and loves singing to. However, before we close this section, we should pay tribute to Dolly Parton. That’s because she originally wrote and released the song in 1974, almost 20 years before the release of “The Bodyguard.”
Dolly’s original song sold a million copies…
Although not close to Whitney’s power ballad is still highly respectable. The album it was taken from, Jolene also sold well.
Interestingly, Dolly Parton’s version went on to be included on the soundtrack album, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This was part of the 1982 movie of the same name that Dolly starred in alongside Burt Reynolds.
The movie created new interest in the song and was subsequently re-released. A nice little earner. All in all, a wonderful song and a great example of the superb writing ability of Dolly Parton.
9
Let it Be by The Beatles
It’s difficult to choose a single Beatles song because there are so many, and all of them are well-known and popular. Ultimately, it came down to either “Hey Jude” or “Let it Be.” It’s fair to say they could both make the list, but I decided “Let it Be” was a better choice for no other reason than I like it more.
It came out in 1970 as a single from the album, Let it Be. Sadly, it proved to be almost the last song they recorded and released. At around the same time, The Beatles split up, and the fab four were no more.
“Let it Be” was essentially penned by Paul McCartney. Then, Lennon added a bit of his own magic to produce the finished product. It’s a beautiful slow song that, in a lot of ways, reminds me of “The Long and Winding Road.”
What’s it about?
It’s essentially about the appearance of Paul McCartney’s mother in a dream ten years after her death. Her reappearance created some feelings of sadness. However, these emotions were also mixed with joy at being able to spend some time with her.
It’s a highly emotive and touching song…
One that those who have lost someone close can very much relate to. A song that can bring comfort, and consequently, it’s no surprise that it’s often chosen as a piece of music at funerals.
The appearance of his mother in the dream was presented as a thing of comfort and a chance to process his loss. “Let It Be” is this journey of acceptance over the death of a loved one. As any who’s lost a parent will know, it can be a very long road to get to this point.
Paul McCartney expresses these emotions and feelings so well in this beautiful song.
10
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Let’s finish with a song that makes us all smile and feel happy. “White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin and released in 1942. It’s the best-selling single of all time, with an incredulous 50 million sales to its name. And, it’s a record that’s likely to never be broken, given the digital age we live in.
It’s also worth noting that over the years, there have been numerous covers. When these are added to the sales of the original song, then total sales are estimated to be around 100 million. That’s mind-blowing and must have been a handy earner for Irving Berlin’s estate.
Before we come to Bing Crosby’s version, let’s first pay tribute to a few notable covers. These include Frank Sinatra’s in 1944, Elvis Presley’s in 1957, and what I think was the best cover, namely the Jazz-style Lady Gaga interpretation in 2011.
Now back to Bing Crosby…
As much as I love these and most other covers, there’s still no getting away from the fact that the original “White Christmas” is the best. It’s a wonderfully nostalgic and feel-good song that’s just so right.
The track provokes feelings of happiness and evokes great memories of every Christmas we’ve ever had in just three minutes. It’s an amazing song that’s an integral part of my Christmas, and I’m sure an integral part of yours too.
If I was a betting man, I’d wager that this is a song we’ll still be listening to and getting sentimental about in another 100 years. Not bad for something that took less than an hour to write.
11
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson,
12
Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi,
13
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin,
14
Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses,
15
Every Breath You Take by The Police,
16
Thriller by Michael Jackson,
17
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel,
18
Yesterday by The Beatles,
19
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion,
20
Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire,
21
November Rain by Guns N’ Roses,
22
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond,
23
I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher,
24
You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi,
25
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen,
26
All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey,
27
I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin,
28
American Pie by Don McLean,
29
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd,
30
Wannabe by Spice Girls,
31
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor,
32
Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin,
33
Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack,
34
The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News,
35
All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix,
36
Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers,
37
When Doves Cry by Prince,
38
Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye,
39
Torn by Natalie Imbruglia,
40
Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison,
41
Love Shack by The B-52’s,
42
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd,
43
I Want You Back by The Jackson 5,
44
We Will Rock You by Queen,
45
Hey Jude by The Beatles,
46
Imagine by John Lennon,
47
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana,
48
I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles,
49
Jump by Van Halen,
50
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper,
More 75 Songs Everyone Knows And Loves Singing To
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- Torn by Natalie Imbruglia,
- Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison,
- Love Shack by The B-52’s,
- Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd,
- I Want You Back by The Jackson 5,
- Somebody to Love by Queen,
- We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris,
- I Feel Good by James Brown,
- Crocodile Rock by Elton John,
- La Bamba by Ritchie Valens,
- I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton,
- Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by Backstreet Boys,
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens,
- California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas,
- Mamma Mia by ABBA,
- Dancing Queen by ABBA,
- Superstition by Stevie Wonder,
- I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys,
- We Are Family by Sister Sledge,
- My Girl by The Temptations,
- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics,
- Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley,
- The Twist by Chubby Checker,
- Tutti Frutti by Little Richard,
- Respect by Aretha Franklin,
- Shout by The Isley Brothers,
- Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley,
- Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley,
- Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry,
- Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees,
- The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson,
- I Got a Feeling by Black Eyed Peas,
- Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley,
- Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars,
- Stand by Me by Ben E. King,
- The Twist and Shout by The Beatles,
- Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna,
- Can’t Stop the Feeling! by Justin Timberlake,
- Africa by Toto,
- Smooth by Santana ft. Rob Thomas,
- Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets,
- Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson
- Faith by George Michael
- Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
- Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra
- What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
- Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz
- Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson
- A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
- Candle in the Wind by Elton John
- You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder
- Space Oddity by David Bowie
- All of Me by John Legend
- I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown
- Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
- Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
- Crazy in Love by Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z
- All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor
- Wonderwall by Oasis
- Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
- Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac
- Dancing on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie
- Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
- Kiss by Prince
- Livin’ Thing by Electric Light Orchestra
- Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
- Everybody by Backstreet Boys
- Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
- Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
- I’m Still Standing by Elton John
- Somebody to Love by Queen
Searching for The Greatest Songs of All Time?
We can help with that. Take a look at our articles on the Best Songs Of All Time, the Best Classic Rock Songs, the Best Hip Hop Songs Of All Time, the Best R&B Songs of All Time, and the Best Sing-Along Songs of All Time for more fun and fantastic song selections.
Of course, you need to hear them. So, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Headphones for Music, the Best Headphones for Hip-Hop, the Best Headphones For Rock & Metal Music, the Most Comfortable Headphones, and the Best Headphones Under $200 you can buy in 2023.
Songs Everyone Knows And Loves Singing To – Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. I hope my list of songs everyone knows and loves to sing contains at least one of your favorites. If not, then apologies for any glaring omissions. Sadly, with such a short list, there were plenty of great alternatives that didn’t quite make the cut.
Until next time, happy listening, and happy singing.
