80s Karaoke Songs

What makes an 80s song work at karaoke

The best karaoke songs share a few things: a melody simple enough to follow without much rehearsal, a chorus everyone half-remembers even when the verses are fuzzy, and enough drama in the vocal to make singing badly part of the fun. The 80s produced these songs by the hundreds, because the decade's biggest hits were built for arenas and MTV, not quiet listening.

This list leans on our year-round 80s hits mix but narrows it to songs built for a room full of people singing at once, including a run of duets that work even better with two mics.

How this list was chosen

Every song here was first released between 1980 and 1989 and picked for how well it plays in a room, not just how big it was on the charts. A few of the songs on this list, like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Don't Stop Believin'," are already essentials on other pages, so this page leans toward the songs that are just as fun to sing but don't already have a home elsewhere on the site.

Songs are listed in release order. Tap any title to start the playlist from that song, or press Play All in the player above. All picks follow our song selection rules.

The best 80s karaoke songs, year by year

1. 1. Human Touch — Rick Springfield (1983)

   A bright, driving rocker that never quite matched "Jessie's Girl" on the charts but hits the same easy chorus. It gives a singer somewhere to build to without the range demands of Springfield's bigger hit.

2. 2. Rock This Town — Stray Cats (1982)

   A rockabilly revival hit built on a slap-bass groove and a vocal that leans into hiccupping, Elvis-style phrasing. It rewards a singer willing to ham it up, and the tempo keeps a room moving.

3. 3. Vacation — The Go-Go's (1982)

   A bouncy, surf-guitar singalong about a relationship falling apart on a beach holiday, sung with a grin instead of heartbreak. Belinda Carlisle's easy, conversational melody makes it a forgiving one to lead.

4. 4. I Know What Boys Like — The Waitresses (1982)

   Patty Donahue's deadpan, spoken-sung delivery makes this one nearly impossible to sing badly, since the whole point is a smirking, sing-speak tease. It is one of new wave's funniest karaoke picks.

5. 5. Up Where We Belong — Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (1982)

   Written for An Officer and a Gentleman and winner of the Oscar for Best Original Song, this soaring duet is a karaoke-night staple for two singers willing to trade Joe Cocker's rasp against Jennifer Warnes' clear belt.

6. 6. Blister in the Sun — Violent Femmes (1983)

   A jittery acoustic-punk singalong that became a college-radio and mixtape staple well past its original release, thanks to a hook simple enough for anyone to shout back. It is a change of pace from the decade's bigger, glossier hits.

7. 7. The Warrior — Scandal (1984)

   Patty Smyth belts through a chorus built for full voice, "shooting at the walls of heartache" over a driving rock beat. It is a demanding but hugely satisfying pick for a confident singer.

8. 8. Almost Paradise — Mike Reno & Ann Wilson (1984)

   Written for the Footloose soundtrack, this duet pairs Loverboy's Mike Reno against Heart's Ann Wilson for a power-ballad trade-off that builds to a big, shared final chorus. A reliable pick for two singers who want a ballad with a payoff.

9. 9. 99 Red Balloons — Nena (1984)

   The English-language version of Nena's German hit "99 Luftballons," built around one of the decade's most instantly recognizable synth-pop hooks. Its Cold War storyline about balloons mistaken for missiles gives it a strange, singable urgency.

10. 10. Sara — Starship (1985)

    A soaring, mid-tempo power ballad and one of Starship's two Hot 100 No. 1s. Its long, building chorus makes it a favorite for a singer who wants a slow build rather than an instant hook.

11. 11. Kyrie — Mr. Mister (1985)

    The Latin chorus, borrowed from the Kyrie eleison of the Catholic Mass, gives this No. 1 hit an anthemic, almost gospel weight. It is one of the more dramatic ballad picks on this list, built for a singer who wants to go big.

12. 12. Chain Reaction — Diana Ross (1985)

    Written and produced by the Bee Gees in a deliberate throwback to Diana Ross's Supremes days, this UK No. 1 has a bright, retro chorus built for group harmonizing. It plays especially well with a second or third voice joining in.

13. 13. Look What the Cat Dragged In — Poison (1986)

    The title track of Poison's triple-platinum debut is glam rock at its simplest and loudest, built for shouting along rather than technical singing. It sets the tone for the band's whole unpretentious appeal.

14. 14. What Have I Done to Deserve This? — Pet Shop Boys (1987)

    Neil Tennant's dry, understated delivery trades verses with Dusty Springfield's warmer voice, making this a rare synth-pop duet built for two very different singing styles. It rewards restraint over belting.

15. 15. Should've Known Better — Richard Marx (1987)

    One of four Top 5 hits from Richard Marx's self-titled debut, built around a chorus with just enough range to feel like an achievement without demanding a trained voice.

16. 16. Whenever You Need Somebody — Rick Astley (1987)

    The title track of Rick Astley's debut album and the deeper-cut sibling to "Never Gonna Give You Up," with the same booming baritone and Stock Aitken Waterman production polish. A good pick for a singer who wants that voice without the meme baggage.

17. 17. Your Mama Don't Dance — Poison (1988)

    Poison's cover of the 1972 Loggins and Messina hit updates it with glam-rock guitars while keeping the original's goofy, generational-divide humor intact. It is one of the more purely fun picks on this list.

18. 18. Endless Summer Nights — Richard Marx (1988)

    A slow-building ballad from Richard Marx's second album, Repeat Offender, with a chorus that rewards a singer who can hold a long note without straining. It is gentler than "Should've Known Better" but just as widely known.

19. 19. Two Hearts — Phil Collins (1988)

    Written with Lamont Dozier for the film Buster, this bright, Motown-flavored single gives Phil Collins one of his most purely joyful choruses, a change of pace from his more famous ballads.

20. 20. Hungry Eyes — Eric Carmen (1987)

    From the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, this yearning, saxophone-backed ballad became a Top 5 hit on the strength of the film's popularity. Its steady build gives a singer room to grow into the chorus.

21. 21. Don't Know Much — Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville (1989)

    This Grammy-winning duet pairs Linda Ronstadt's clear pop voice against Aaron Neville's aching falsetto for one of the decade's most affecting karaoke ballads for two singers who want a real vocal challenge.

Build your own karaoke set

Want more uptempo rockers or fewer ballads? Open the custom 80s playlist builder, search for any song on the site and put together a set that matches your crowd.