What are five songs that everyone knows? By “everyone”, I mean most people you know. By “knows” I mean knows the tune and at least the words to the refrain. And by “songs” I mean non-Christmas carols. The only one I could think of is Sweet Caroline.
Next year I want to learn five songs on the piano that everyone knows and can sing along to. I want to know them so well I can play them drunk. I get asked to play the piano about twice a year and I’ve never been asked sober. It’s time I had a stable of songs that I can play half in the bag. What should those songs be?
Kumbayah
Here’s my list:
I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Bridge over Troubled Waters – Simon & Garfunkle
California Dreamin – Mammas & Pappas
Fire & Rain – James Taylor
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Anything you want from Elvis – his are all well known
Good Luck!!!! This should be a riot!
Well the most recorded song of all time is Yesterday by teh Beatles. Though, I think that song sucks and isn’t really a sing along song. Other ones I though of are
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Piano Man – Billy Joel
Margaritaville – Buffet
Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
“The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin. I learned that in second grade and can still play the first few measures.
I want you to learn “Country Roads” by John Denver. And then “Friends in Low Places” (with the extra verse) by Garth Brooks. AND……… crap. I forgot. I’ll be back when I remember.
I agree about Sweet Caroline. Here are some other that I thought of: Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet; Don’t Stop Believing by Journey; Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger; Bennie and the Jets by Elton John (maybe only the chorus); Piano Man by Billy Joel; Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash; King of the Road by Roger Miller. Not sure EVERYONE knows the words to all those songs but I’d definitely consider them all ‘sing alongs’. Can I be invited when you do play them?
Good suggestions, all of them. Well, all of them except Kumbayah. Some are too slow (Bridge Over Troubled Water), some are too high (I have limited range) (Bennie and the Jets), and some don’t have any words (really DA). But I’m going to have a good list I can tell.
I can currently play the first few measures of Bennie and the Jets, but only at 1/0th the normal speed and only if I’m looking at the music. Someone should tell Elton John that he doesn’t have to use every finger for every note.
Another one that I thought of is the one that goes “I gotta little change in my pocket going jing-a-ling-a-ling…” Everyone knows that one right?
“The Entertainer” has lyrics. I created them. I’ll tell you at your recital.
The Georgia Satellites goin’ jing-a-ling-a-ling?
SAR’s list. Note: Not much thought was put into this.
1. Happy Birthday.
2. The Oscar Mayer Wiener song (I wish I was an Oscar Mayer Wiener…) or the Oscar Mayer Bologna song (My bologna has a first name…it’s O-S-C-A-R…).
3. The Simpson’s opening theme song…then again, you cannot sing along to that; rather just hum along.
4. Love Shack (B-52s).
5. And just to mess with people “It’s the End of the Word as We Know it…and I Feel Fine” (R.E.M.). That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane – Lenny Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn…
Trust me on the Oscar Mayer songs….they brought down the house at the piano bar at New York, NY in Vegas. Just ask the chicks next to me that were snorting lines off the bar.
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen;
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey;
Boston – Augustana