Ticketbud Tracks- Marissa Reinert

Let’s face it Ticketbuddies, we have all been there. Be it a night out with the girls, or post game beer with the bros, at one point in your life you have found yourself at a karaoke bar…unprepared. Have no fear Marissa is here! My expertise lies somewhere between fearless nerd and karaoke connoisseur. I have complied a fabulous list of epic ballads, one-hit wonders and yes, even some TV theme songs that are sure to keep the heckles to a minimum.   1) Midnight Train- Journey …A classic. One of the most widely recognized 80’s ballads of all time. An air-guitar friendly,easy crowd pleaser, that everyone will sing along with. This is one of my go-to songs when I have a karaoke virgin with me.  It’s hard to screw up Journey, but not impossible.    2 )To Be With You- Mr.Big …A heartfelt ballad for a fearless duet. The high pitched falsettos and ridiculous over-emotion make it a blast to perform. This 1980’s super group wants to be with you….they really, really want to be with you.   3) Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith …The perfect performance for those who don’t take karaoke or themselves seriously. This song is fun, fast (less than 2 min) and EVERYBODY knows the words to it. EVERYBODY. If you are unfamiliar with the lyrics, you probably have a fake I.D. in your back pocket.    4) Friends In Low Places- Garth Brooks …Does the thought of singing in front of a group of strangers scare the daylights out of you? This is a      simple, familiar country ballad that you can literally talk your way through. It’s great for karaoke first-timers and guarantees crowd support. Everybody has friends in low places!   5 ) Only The Good Die Young-Billy Joel …Billy Joel is one of my all-time favorite musical icons. I love him and everything that comes out of his mouth, including this upbeat feel-good song. The words are simple and the tempo is slow enough to fake it till you make it!   6) Gypsies Tramps and Thieves- Cher …Cher is the diva of all divas. With an alto voice that’s hard to replicate, her music can be tricky, but this simple little track is a blast to sing along with. Man up!  If you’re out with the boys this is track, makes for a great laugh.   7) Miss American Pie- Don McLean Do you have 8 minutes and 33 seconds to spare? Good! Then sign up for this track and get ready to belt your tone-deaf heart heart out! No need for vocal skills on this puppy, just endurance and lots of stage presence. If you’re going to be performing for an extended period of time you must keep the audience engaged and entertained….I like to bring my own tambourine.   8) Hey Ya!- OutKast …Shake it, Shake Shake, Shake it like a Polaroid picture!  Sometimes karaoke can take a hard left turn, a few too many tequila shots and everyone is singing “ Baby Come Back” and “Joey” by Concrete Blonde.  Break the “Chains of Love” and bust out a little Outkast! Hey Ya is a fail-safe good time rump shaker!   9) Bye Bye Bye- NSync …You know the words (don’t lie), you know the dance, now get up there and perform it! This infectious pop single was one of the biggest smash hits of 2000. In fact, I bet you’re singing it in your head right now (sorry)! Have fun and lay the cheese on thick, ladies will LOVE it! 10) Take Me Home Tonight- Eddie Money …Oh Eddie Money, thank you for this to-the-point , innuendo-less, shameful, catchy song. I love it and I love singing it! “Just like Ronnie sang…Be My Little Baby..OH OH OH OH!” Do you feel the hunger? I do!   There you have it friends. A quick list of go-to’s  for a long night of karaoke madness! Remember, karaoke should always be considered a judgment-free zone, so be kind!  Now get up there and show ‘em what you’ve got!      ]]]]> ]]>