“Time After Time”
by Cyndi Lauper w/ Sarah McLachlan
from The Body Acoustic
2005
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Cyndi Lauper, or at least my appreciation of her, is in the fine wine/better with age category for me. I didn’t have MTV growing up, but this song is one of the songs I associate with the times I got to watch it at a relative’s, and it was always my favorite of her hits.
“Oh Sherrie”
by Steve Perry
from the album Street Talk
1984
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This was inspired by Lance’s selection for the day, in that it also falls firmly in the category of “I randomly heard or thought of this song one day and remembered how awesome it is and holy crap I can totally hear myself singing this and I’m going to bust this out at karaoke next time!”
“Your Love”
by The Outfield
from the album Play Deep
1985 Sony
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I tried to sing this song a couple of times at karaoke and completely botched it. The song has such a high register, even for me. I had given up all hope until I heard a buddy sing it a couple of octaves lower. It took on a completely different vibe – almost sinister. I’m still trying to master it, but it’s so fun giving it a shot.
“Easy”
by Faith No More (originally by The Commodores)
from the “I’m Easy/Be Aggressive” double A-side
1992 Slash Records
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Again, this one of those covers that I stumbled across before I had ever heard the original. Thus – in my mind – it’s the superior version. This track kind of fits into the karaoke theme as well… I’m constantly on the hunt for the Mike Patton-pitched version.
“Train in Vain”
by The Clash
from the album London Calling
1979 CBS
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This is one of those karaoke songs I sing just for myself. No one else has ever come up and been like “YEAH!” In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say anything after this goes down. It just goes quietly into the night and that’s totally fine.
The first time I heard “Train in Vain” was in my friend Seedless’ car. Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Train In Vain”
“Punk Rock Girl”
by The Dead Milkmen
from the album Beelzebubba
1988
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I’m not sure when or why I first sang this at karaoke, but it’s been one of my staples for quite a while. I never got into the Dead Milkmen, with the exception of this song, which I always loved. Fun fact – I always had a friend do “Stuart” from the same album as a monologue in acting class.
It’s a testament to why I love my core karaoke crew so much, because I can pick this song, and not only will they know it (which is incredibly rare in that kind of setting), but they love it and back me up on the chorus. And man, is this a fun song to sing and bounce around to.
“Why Can’t I Be You?”
by The Cure
from the album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
1987
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Add this to the list entitled “Songs I Hope They’ll One Day Have at Karaoke But I’m Almost Certain They Never Will Until We Open the Chrance Karaoke Bar and Add It Ourselves”. There are certain songs that, if they haven’t been added yet, ain’t ever going to happen.
“Cult of Personality”
by Living Colour
from the album Vivid
1988
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When I started regularly hitting up karaoke, I was having a hard time figuring out what songs to sing. As previously mentioned, my tastes tend to run 80s/90s alternative and there just wasn’t much to choose from that seemed karaokey. So I ended up stuck with 80s ballads or pop songs.
One night after some failed attempts at winging new songs, I was dejectedly flipping through the Karaoke Champ book and I stumbled across the Ls. And then I saw it, right in the middle of the second page… Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Cult of Personality”
At 98, we all rotate.
“Mediate”
by INXS
from the album Kick
1987
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I had a different song in mind for our first #KaraokeTuesday, but then the background writing in Lance’s choice triggered this one for me (coincidentally released the same year as his Love and Rockets choice).
“No New Tale to Tell”
by Love And Rockets
from the album Earth Sun Moon
1987 Beggar Banquet Records
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The first song I ever sang at karaoke was “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. My friend Sasha finally dragged me to the stage after a few work outings where I would just stare at my friends performing, but never actually participate. She said, “We’re doing this now” and we did and it was horrible.
I was totally hooked. Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “No New Tale to Tell”