Three Keys to Karaoke

Twice in the last two months, I've been interviewed at a major event in a fireside chat format where the subject of karaoke came up. The second occasion was no coincidence -- a participant in the discussion referenced the first event -- yet the outcome of both conversations was still surprising: An impromptu singalong with thousands of audience participants.

Long a staple in many cultures around the world, karaoke has become an increasingly global phenomenon when it comes to building professional relationships and blowing off steam after a long day of work. Having witnessed my share of good (and very bad) performances over the years, I've learned a few things that you may find helpful the next time you want to let your inner Idol shine. These three keys may also prevent a performance from going viral for all the wrong reasons:

1. Pick songs that work for you. If you're like most people, when the karaoke playlist finds its way into your hands, you inevitably flip straight to your favorite songs. This is not a good idea.

"Why," you ask? It's simple: Music legends are legendary for a reason. Your favorite song was most likely performed by one of the most talented musicians and vocalists in the world. As a result, your singing the same song may not exactly meet expectations. Think about it: If you could sing like Freddie Mercury, Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, or Whitney you're probably in the wrong line of work.

2. Keep it low and slow. Try to find songs that are lower in pitch and slower in tempo. Higher pitched, faster tempo songs can prove prohibitively difficult to sing. Worse still, you may not be aware of this fact until you hit the crescendo halfway through your performance. For a good example of this dynamic, look no further than Journey's karaoke standard "Don't Stop Believin." The song starts off slow, which lulls most people into the false sense of security that they can sing like Steve Perry. Then he hits the "Somewhere in the night..." part, holds that impossibly high note for far too long, and your burgeoning karaoke highlight reel is over before it began.

3. Have fun. Most importantly, pick a fun, familiar song that people can sing-along to. Like any effective public speaking engagement, the key to a good karaoke performance is not about the words you use (or in this case, the quality of your voice), but rather the way you make people feel. As an added bonus, if you get the entire crowd singing along with you, no one will be paying attention to the way you sing (or even be able to hear you.)

I've run a few different songs through the paces of this framework with varying levels of success. Inevitably, the further I stray from these guidelines, the tougher it is to pull off ("Bohemian Rhapsody," anyone?)

Here then, are my top three karaoke song selections. Look forward to hearing your picks in the comments below.

1. Sweet Caroline -- Neil Diamond

2. Lean on Me -- Bill Withers

3. (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay -- Otis Redding

Honorable mention: Hooked on a Feeling -- Blue Swede (Still not sure how strong a fit this is, but it's a great song).