Music
“Karaoke is community, right?” says the actor and cabaret performer Bridget Everett, 53. “This is a perfect example. Everybody can sing along and it won’t make people think, ‘Is she going to try some vocal acrobatics?’ All the leather mommies and leather daddies are going to be on their feet. There’s nobody that can’t feel the freedom of that song.”
“When the choir sings,” says the writer and actor Natasha Rothwell, 45, “everyone in the room becomes the choir. It’s a fun accidental group number. If you’re midway through the night, not quite inebriated and want to sing something for yourself, you have to wait. But at the top of the night, ‘Like a Prayer’ is a no-invitation-needed jam.”
3. ‘Slow Hand’ (1981) by the Pointer Sisters
“Because karaoke is sex. I’ve never hooked up after one of my shows, but after a night of karaoke it’s gone well,” says Everett. “I have such a fond memory of that song. I have horrible retention, but many songs are embedded in my brain because of the emotional zing karaoke gives you.”
“It’s in the pocket, it’s groovy, it’s not too high in my vocal range, so if I’m drinking, I’m not sounding terrible,” says Rothwell. “I love that karaoke gives you permission to sound however you sound. If you’re feeling nervous and not sure how to land the plane, just commit.”
5. ‘Creep’ (1992) by Radiohead
“People think it’s easy to sing and then always find out it’s not,” says Everett. “It’s a song that the outsider inside of you can relate to. It has that beautiful ‘run, run, run.’ It’s a win every time because if somebody can really sing, it’s exciting, but if it’s somebody who’s full on, heart on the floor, just going for it because they feel the song, it’s just as exciting. Probably even more so.”
6. ‘Shoop’ (1993) by Salt-N-Pepa
“Two genres that are hard are hip-hop and Beyoncé, but ‘Shoop’ can work its way through,” says Rothwell. “Everyone knows it, even though they may not know all the words. If you’re doing a song that’s great to listen to but harder to sing, utilize what I call ‘the power of the skip.’ Just get to the chorus and let the next person go.”
“Every woman is going to want to sing this with you, so you’ll feel lifted up,” says Everett. “It’s an advanced song if you’re going to do it the right way, which in my mind is getting on top of the bar, ripping open your shirt and doing a flaming shot of sambuca. We live in a patriarchal society, but at karaoke, men want to see a woman dominate.”
These interviews have been edited and condensed.
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