The most requested karaoke songs in New Zealand – Stuff

Its a familiar scene Saturday night out on the town, a few drinks too deep, stumbling into the old faithful karaoke bar.

What will you bless the other equally intoxicated patrons and bar staff trying to make money to pay rent with tonight?

ABBA and Shania Twain have never failed you before, but after reading the room youre thinking perhaps a ballad.

While youre mulling over your options, the hens party on the other side of the bar has already swarmed to the microphone. You hear the beginning of Taylor Swifts Love Story start up and the squealing begin.

Purple Rain will have to wait until the next round.

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From Celine Dion and Queen to Neil Diamond and the Spice Girls, this nation of supposedly shy small poppies seems to love a late-night croon.

So, what is New Zealands go-to karaoke song?

I asked around some of New Zealands favourite karaoke bars to find out what keeps Kiwis singing through the night and into the early hours of the morning.

As it turns out, the overall winner wasnt so clear. There were songs that popped up over and over again, but many answers tended to differ in terms of style and age depending on where in the country you asked.

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Which karaoke songs are Kiwis belting out into the night?

A bar I talked to in Queenstown said Fergies Fergalicious and Britney Spears Toxic were frequently on repeat, while no other bar mentioned these songs at all.

Up in Northland, another bar told me theyd always get Tennessee Whisky, while one bartender in Auckland said she has to listen to Frank Sinatras My Way every night.

In Wellington, the most played song on one bars karaoke machine was Queens Bohemian Rhapsody, while another bar keeps a Valerie jar in the back kitchen to track how many times the Amy Winehouse hit is requested.

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The popularity of Robbie Williams Angels is one of the worlds many wonders.

And through it all, this song seems to have a choke hold on karaoke-goers, particularly those of the white male variety.

As a Gen Z, can someone please tell me if this song was actually popular when it was released? Ive only ever heard it played in karaoke bars. Does it exist outside of karaoke?

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Amy Winehouses Valerie is beloved by tone-deaf drunks and talented vocalists alike.

Sure, those notes arent made for everyone, but the great thing about singing karaoke in New Zealand is that if you suck, people probably wont try to boo you or kick you offstage (although you might catch some shady looks).

Of all the overdone karaoke songs out there, Valerie is pretty harmless. The lyrics are sweet and simple, the song is danceable, and its a tune beloved by many.

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Darius Rucker covered Old Crow Medicine Shows Wagon Wheel in 2013.

Where did this song come from? Ive never heard it before, but apparently Kiwis across the country are belting it out like their life depends on it.

After giving it a listen I see the karaoke potential in it the chorus is catchy, the vocal range required isnt demanding, and I can imagine exactly the kind of crowd this song would be a hit with.

There must be a reason why New Zealanders are so drawn to those classic all-American country songs: Tennessee Whisky; Take Me Home, Country Roads; and apparently Wagon Wheel.

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At six minutes long, Queens Bohemian Rhapsody is test of stamina.

Many people underestimate the value of adding theatrics to their karaoke performance, and Bohemian Rhapsody provides an outlet for your inner performer to run wild and free.

Its a three-part act, first operatic-rock, then art rock, and then a slow-burn ending to draw in the crowd to an emotional finale. You dont even need the vocal range of Freddie Mercury, but good stamina and lung capacity will help.

I do have one gripe with Bohemian Rhapsody being played at karaoke requesting this song automatically makes you a microphone-hog.

Seriously, a six-minute song? When someones aunty and uncle are at the bar demanding Here Is My Heart from Once Were Warriors and the drunk girls want to sing ABBA for the fifth time? Read the room, people!

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Ive been inclined to believe Neil Diamonds Sweet Caroline will never fade in popularity.

From the football pitch to the karaoke stage, people around the world seem to love chanting this Neil Diamond classic released 53 years ago.

Even Atlanta rap group Migos sang it during their Carpool Karaoke feature with James Cordon if that isnt a sign of how far-reaching this song is, I dont know what is.

Its a safe choice as it doesnt require a lot of vocal ability and the voices of other karaoke-goers inevitably joining in will drown you out, but maybe thats why this song works so well.

The draw of Sweet Caroline seems to be its simplicity, nostalgia, and synonymity with the sports field.

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The most requested karaoke songs in New Zealand - Stuff