Whether its in the car listening to the radio, at a sports event, in a bar, or in the shower, one of the great things about pop music is it invites you to sing along. Some songs clearly are better than others for singing along, and it takes some time for a pop song to establish itself as a clear favorite. Read on for your guide's picks of the best of the best in singalong favorites.
1. Baha Men - Who Let the Dogs Out
This hit illustrates the narrow line between great singalong and disturbing annoyance. For most its the former and for some the latter...particularly faced with a rowdy crowd reveling in imitating barking dogs. The chorus is so irresistibly catchy it nearly forces you to sing along if only in your head.
2. Beatles - Hey Jude
As the legend goes, this song was originally written by Paul McCartney to try to cheer up a young Julian Lennon when his father John was breaking up with Cynthia. Regardless of how it came about, it soon had the world singing along about taking a sad song and making it better, and, particularly, that extended "Na na na na" chorus.3. Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
You always wanted to try out your falsetto, right? To get it absolutely right, you have to match Barry Gibb's other-worldly falsetto note for note while strutting down the street a la John Travolta.4. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
This is the gold standard for aspiring pop divas. If you can match Whitney Houston here, you might have the goods for divadom. If your tastes lean more to country than r&b, listen to Dolly Parton's original recording of this song and singalong with her.5. Tommy James and the Shondells - Mony Mony
Where would wedding dances be without "Mony Mony?" It's possibly the most memorable wedding dance shout-along in history. The original by Tommy James is still the best, but Billy Idol works up a good head of steam on his version as well.6. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock and Roll
You not only sing along with Joan, but you want to crank up that guitar as well. Few songs do so well at truly uniting rock and pop fans in 3 minutes of pure bliss.7. Don McLean - American Pie
"Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry, them good ol' boys were drinkin' whisky and rye singin' this'll be the day that I die." Could Don McLean have had any idea at all this would be one of the most familiar lyric lines in the history of pop music?8. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
The movie Wayne's World showed Wayne and Garth rocking out to this classic in their car, but it was only a reflection of what so many of us had been doing for 15 years. It's goofy and over the top, but easy to sing along and full of killer hooks, that's pop perfection.9. Santana Featuring Rob Thomas - Smooth
On "Smooth," Rob Thomas showed us all how an ordinary white guy could transform himself into a sexy Latin crooner. Sing along and you can imagine yourself there.10. Village People - YMCA
Thousands of people in stadiums and arenas around the world stand up, spell out letters with their hands and arms, and shout the abbreviation of the Young Men's Christian Association when this is played over loudspeakers. It is a pure singalong phenomenon.