Top 20 Most Difficult Songs to Sing

[Music] hey everyone i'm rebecca and welcome to watch mojo today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 most difficult songs to sing [Music] [Applause] [Music] hello [Music] for this list we're ranking the tunes that are simply beyond the reach of mere mortals epic vocal performances that require a truly strong practice and capable singer to hit all the right notes we're saving rap songs for another day but we want to know what are some of your favorites let us know in the comments alright let's get into it number 20 don't stop believing journey [Music] we're kicking off our list with a little friendly advice do not try to sing journeys don't stop believing at your next karaoke party [Applause] oh sure it may sound like a great idea at the time and everyone thinks they're going to be able to nail this absolute rock anthem with steve perry's grace and power but it rarely if ever works out that's not only because perry is one of classic rock's finest singers but also because the performance hinges so strongly on his combination of clarity power and range don't stop believing may start off slowly with that iconic keyboard intro but by the time the chorus finally hits we are firmly on that spaceship into infinity number 19 hello adele hello it's me speaking of power is there any popular female vocalist in recent memory that can compete with adele in terms of sheer vocal strength not many there's a reason the english singer songwriter's music has sold millions of albums and it's not because they're easy to sing though it's sure fun to try fans really seem to connect with her lyrics honesty and passion and it's the delivery that really brings it all together hello is a perfect example it's the sort of heart-rending ballad that fans adore it isn't so much the brooding intensity of the verse that makes hello challenging but rather the vocal control required to nail that epic chorus [Applause] there's just no one who does it quite like adele [Music] [Applause] number 18 take on me aha falsetto love it or hate it many artists and groups have taken the vocal style and run with it all the way to chart success [Music] aha was one of those bands a norwegian export that struck it huge in the 80s with their colossal synth pop hit take on me for our money we love morton harkett's falsetto note that he hits near the end of take on me's epic chorus and it's even more impressive when you take into account that harkett has to climb two and a half octaves from his starting point of a [Music] it's these vocal gymnastics that make take on me such a challenge for even the most seasoned vocalists number 17 i'll never let you go steelheart [Music] the world of glam metal has historically been one of powerful and dynamic singers even so there are few who can compete with the likes of steelheart's melienko matiervich who absolutely dominates on the band's highest charting single i'll never let you go again this is a song that starts innocuously enough [Music] matijevic begins with a clear mid-range verse before shooting for the stars with a crazy high note [Applause] oh and it only gets more stratospheric from there as the croatian-born singer seems to almost taunt us with how high he can actually go seriously there's high and then there's steelheart levels of high the level's perfected on songs like this one or she's gone [Music] number 16 i believe in a thing called love the darkness the spirit of classic thin lizzy lived on within the classic rock style of england's the darkness although the falsetto singing style of the darkness front man justin hawkins was probably the furthest thing from phil lennon's bluesy howl i believe in a thing called love was the darkness's biggest international hit and it quickly became infamous for hawkins trouser-pinching vocal approach [Music] not everyone can pull off an ultra high falsetto with the sort of conviction hawkins musters throughout the twin guitar epic but justin nails it with style and sleaze to spare number 15 chandelier sia one two three one two three one two three we have two words to describe chandelier that chorus [Music] it's difficult to explain just how much emotion and path though sia packs into her performance [Music] she pairs a comparatively subdued verse with an explosion of passion and cathartic anger sometimes a singer just possesses this nebulous quality an ability to connect with an audience with how they sing a song not just the mechanics of how a song's [Music] composed sia is an artist who not only possesses the knowledge and skill to get her vocal performance across but also the ability to make that performance unique and incredibly difficult to replicate number 14 sherry frankie valley and the four seasons [Music] we mentioned falsettos earlier in our list and there are few male vocalists who mastered this style better than frankie valli the lead singer of the four seasons valley made himself a legend off his ability to control his falsetto arguably better than any other male performer of his era showcasing the sort of control that verges on supernatural [Music] falsetto by nature can sound fragile and thin but valley sounds large and in charge throughout his performance in sherry which is no mean feat there's a reason why they're called classics after all and the four seasons definitely created one of those when they recorded this gem back in 1962 number 13 total eclipse of the heart bonnie tyler turn around every now and then i get a little bit lonely and you're never coming around you just don't make them like this anymore we're talking about the pompous in the best possible way extravagant and over-the-top operettas of meatloaf collaborator and songwriter jim simon [Music] these were the songs about muscular men and wild women the sort of ferocity encapsulated by bonnie tyler and her amazing performance on total eclipse of the heart its gothic sumptuous and decadent power balladry at its best amplified by tyler's gruff and breathy delivery [Music] seriously when the near seven minute album version reaches its vocal crescendo we're right there with bonnie on the mountaintop shielding our eyes from the eclipse as her vocals block out the sun in an epic show of power [Music] number 12 earth song michael jackson what about sunrise what about rain okay so we all know about michael jackson's pedigree for classic music videos but we admit that sometimes the singer's actual talent can get lost among all the visual spectacle not so with earth song a track meant for the king of pop's dangerous album but which didn't get released until the 1995 album history past present and future book one [Music] the song is a real showcase for jackson's ability to meld and cross-pollinate jars from operatic highs to gospel coral lows michael's legendary soul and power also make their presence known of course making this something of a forgotten classic from this iconic talent [Music] number 11 the star-spangled banner lyrics francis scott key in music john stafford smith [Music] it's been the honor and bane of many a singer's existence performing the star-spangled banner the national anthem of the united states is infamously difficult to sing even for the most accomplished performer because of how much control it takes to navigate its range of key changes the key is to start low and to conserve energy saving a big burst of power for the anthem's climax [Music] this is easier said than done of course with many great singers tripping up at either the performance side of things or something as simple as remembering the lyrics we're not gonna fault anyone for failing at the star spangled banner though because it's a massive challenge [Music] [Laughter] number 10 bridge over troubled water simon and garfunkel [Music] the world of folk might not be the first place you might look for a stratospheric vocal performance but do not sleep on simon and garfunkel if you do you will be missing out on one of the all-time greatest vocal achievements the incredible bridge over troubled water paul simon wrote the song and delivers some excellent backing harmonies but bridge over troubled water at its core is a showcase for art garfunkel [Music] it's the sort of vocal that builds from a place of quiet contemplation into an emotive explosion assisted by a perfect storm of string arrangements incredible production and session backing from drummer hal blaine we dare you not to get caught up as garfunkel sails away on that last high note [Music] number 9. withering heights kate bush kate bush possesses an extraordinary voice and progressive visual style which earned her a claim from both fans and critics [Music] withering heights serves as bush's biggest hit and for good reason as it sets on full display all of the singer's incredible vocal range [Music] the song has been recorded twice by bush and both versions are melodic masterpieces that hinge on bush's soaring vocals from the song's sparse intro right on through to the booming chorus finally bush lets it rip alongside the song's lead guitar accompanied outro proving her place as a member of art rock royalty with a performance that still evokes chills today [Music] number eight unchained melody the righteous brothers unchained melody was written in 1955 and has been performed by a number of different artists over the years it's the version recorded a decade later by the righteous brothers that's since gone on to become the definitive version however thanks largely in part to bobby hatfield's soaring vocal performance [Music] unchained melody actually starts off quite slow and somber but hatfield soon kicks things up with a level of emotion that is completely raw and delivered with unbelievable passion oh and since the drums kick in around the two minute mark forget about it there isn't a dry eye in the house number seven dream on aerosmith a good power ballad can be a wonderful thing and once in a while it can even define a band's career proof of this can be seen in that of aerosmiths who scored a massive iconic hit with this track from their 1973 self-titled debut dream on is another slow burn of sorts a sensitive song composed in f minor that reaches a crescendo a little past the halfway mark as steven tyler's measured vocals duel with joe perry's lead guitar [Music] tyler's powerful scream serves as the linchpin of dream on a gold standard against which many other classic rock singers have been measured number six all by myself celine dion the next song on our list has a long history of cover versions after its original artist eric carman adapted it from a rachmaninoff concerto in 1975. [Music] carmen's all by myself is still remembered fondly today but it's celine dion's 1996 version that is even more vocally impressive she hits an immensely powerful high note shortly before the three minute mark turning what was initially a great pop song into a tour de force for the french canadian singer to shine [Music] trust us when we say that you probably don't want to attempt this one at karaoke number five bohemian rhapsody queen there are many reasons why queen's bohemian rhapsody is an incredibly difficult song for just about anyone to [Music] sing for starters it's composed in multiple keys and shifts styles and tempos from a ballad arrangement to operatic accompaniment in straight up hard rock then there's the nature of the vocals which consists of all four members of queen layering their tracks in the studio to create a larger than life atmosphere there are high falsettos deep basses and hard rock screams to tackle all combined by lead singer freddie mercury and company simply stated mercury was an inimitable vocal talent and only the bravest singer should even attempt at laying their stamp on this one or the show must go on for that matter number four and i am telling you i'm not going jennifer holliday power this is perhaps how best to describe and i am telling you i'm not going a key song from the broadway hit dream girls [Music] [Applause] the song earned jennifer holliday a tony and a grammy award in 1982 for her absolutely inspiring performance while jennifer hudson would also score a hit with her take on the film version in 2006. the tune is incredibly difficult for even the most seasoned singer to perform as it never lets up for a second demanding range tone and yes power to give and i am telling you i'm not going the justice it deserves [Music] luckily holiday had all of these qualities and more delivering the vocal performance of a lifetime number three loving you minnie riperton minnie ripperton was the og when it came to striking gold with this sort of approach as evidenced by loving you and its chart-topping success back in 1975 the song is backed by a sunny keyboard performance from stevie wonder while ripperton sings a sweet ode to love and sex that hits the stratosphere when she hits those famous whistle notes fun fact minnie ripperton is actually maya rudolph's mother and can be heard singing her daughter's name during the outro on unedited and album versions of the track number two i will always love you whitney houston we are not taking anything away from the absolutely killer original version of i will always love you recorded by country legend dolly parton in 1973. for many however it's the arrangement whitney houston used for the 1992 film the bodyguard that serves as the most well-known houston used linda ronstadt's 1975 cover as a basis for her version yet she ultimately makes it her own thanks to an incredible vocal performance houston's uncanny ability to balance vulnerability and power not only makes i will always love you a stone cold classic it also served as a defining pivotal moment of houston's career as one of the great all-time singers so whitney's number two who could possibly beat her in terms of difficulty well i'll give you a clue uh they did a duet together for the movie prince of egypt okay that's enough clues uh so let's look through some honorable mentions and then we will get to that sweet sweet whistle tone that is our most difficult to sing song sinful passion gmash huday bergen from kazakhstan with love [Music] [Applause] given up lincoln park screaming and singing is no easy feat i've given listen beyonce a soul r b ballad where the vocals range from f-sharp 3 to g5 [Music] want more music content watch mojo produces an original podcast taking a behind-the-scenes look at all things music the show provides authentic interviews with artists from all around the world while also staying true to watch mojo's roots with top 10 music banter thrown into the mix what's the best advice alice cooper's ever given you looking back at the staying power does it shock you oh no we have naked pictures of the right people if you want exclusive interviews with award-winning artists producers singers songwriters check out inner sleeve number one emotions mariah carey it is not an exaggeration to describe mariah carey as one of the foremost vocal talents of her generation her prowess as a singer has been well documented over a career that has spanned over 30 years including such hits as vision of love honey and hero [Music] emotions might be the ultimate mariah carey jam however one that showcases the singer's uncanny ability to reach glass shattering high notes [Music] the song is also a great example of the sort of light and breezy r b that dominated charts in the 90s yet is punctuated by carrie's charm and charisma meanwhile her vocal histrionics steal the show from any pretender who might lay claim to her throne [Music] so how many of these songs have you stupidly tried to sing at karaoke i have definitely done bohemian rhapsody and don't stop believing in a group at least but i almost definitely tried i will always love you solo which may not have been my smartest move but anyway i really like karaoke anyway be sure to let us know in the comments what your most difficult singing experiences have been or come tell me on twitter or instagram rebecca brayton or on my youtube channel see ya

Channel: WatchMojo.com

Views: 2,339,669

Keywords: Music, Pop, a-ha, adele, aerosmith, best live performers, best musical performances, best singers, best vocal performances, celine dion, difficult songs, hardest songs, hardest songs to sing, jennifer holliday, journey, kate bush, list, mariah carey, michael jackson, mojo, most difficult songs, most difficult songs to sing, queen, simon & garfunkel, singers with the best range, songs, steelheart, top 10, watch mojo, watchmojo, whitney houston

Id: Z9FgDmQetIg

Length: 23min 55sec (1435 seconds)

Published: Sun Jul 04 2021