Theory of Karaoke Lessons
- Jason Burchard

LESSON 1: Develop a Core of Songs

It happens to everyone. You go to karaoke night to fuel your addiction. You look through the song book and take forever to find your first song to sing. Maybe it is the nervousness kicking in and you are stalling. How do you pick your first song of the night? It has to be perfect. It has to be just right, so you get the confidence to keep going that night. I’ll tell you what you need to do.

You need to get a core group of songs. Make yourself a list of five to ten songs that you know well and are comfortable singing. Practice these songs. Be sure to sing one or more each night. What you are doing is making these songs your fallbacks for the ever uncomfortable first song you sing. Use one of these and you will be more confident and relaxed to go up for the first time.

I use some of my core songs when I find myself spending too much time looking through the song catalog. Some of my core songs are John Lennon’s “Imagine”, John Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses”, Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes” and Pearl Jam’s “Last Kiss”. I’d say “Imagine” is one of the top songs I use. I have found that it is one of my favorite songs of all time. I feel the emotions of the song. I also have received a lot of compliments singing that song. Find songs that fit you like this and include them in your core. Once you have developed a good core of songs, you will be able to branch out of these and try other songs.

NEXT LESSON: Risk Being Bad