Comedian Ben Brainard launches a debate on the best karaoke songs

A comedian has sparked debate among die-hard karaoke fans over which song is best to play in front of a crowd.

Ben Brainard, who is also a US Army reservist, prefaced his list as being for educational purposes only because he was tired of walking into bars and hearing bad renditions of hit songs.

“If you don’t know what makes a good karaoke song, that’s fine, I’m here and I’m objectively right when I say these things,” Brainard told his nearly 3 million TikTok followers.

He didn’t list the classic hits in any order, but first nodded to three-time Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson.

“It’s not in any particular order, but obviously at the top of the list is Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’.”

The second song on the comedian’s list was Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” which Brainard called “a great song, even better karaoke.”

“Come on Eileen” was third on Brainard’s list, saying he didn’t care what people thought of the song in other social situations, but the Dexys Midnight Runners hit was a good song for karaoke.

“Number four, it’s a good middle ground. Don’t start the day with that and end your night with that song. But it’s a good middle song that people are going to enjoy, and of course it’s “Island in the Sun” by Weezer.

Brainard, known for his sketches entitled “The Table” where he tells the news by playing the role of the different American states, ended his list with what he called a controversial song: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” by REM.

“Why is this Ben controversial? it’s just a decent song,” Brainard asks. “Listen to me, if you step onto a karaoke stage with a mic in your hand and you’ve written the words REM’s and this song starts and you don’t know every word, then what everybody’s on the point to listen to is gonna be the worst thing they’ve ever heard in their life, no backup.

Brainards’ list drew mixed reactions, with some agreeing with the comedian and others coming up with what they thought were better songs.

“Tequila. Best karaoke song,” said one TikTok user, receiving a “boo” from Brainard.

“For Brits ‘I’m gonna be (500 miles)’ perfect karaoke song,” wrote another.

Some were surprised that crowd favorites such as “Sweet Carolina”, “Mr. Brightside”, or “Piano Man”, weren’t mentioned at all.

“We sang Living on a Prayer with about 55,000 people in a stadium last weekend,” a reference to Bon Jovi’s 1986 hit single. “I’d say it’s a good song for karaoke.”

Comedian Frank Caliendo joined the conversation simply saying that Brainard was “WRONG!”

“Literally any Weird Al Yankovic song is a good karaoke song,” wrote one commenter on YouTube. “Even better if you pick the song it’s a parody of, but still sing Weird Al’s lyrics.”

“Similar to The End of the World as We Know It, Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire is a song that will be instantly interrupted by a single missed phrase,” read another comment on YouTube. “You miss one, and you’re screwed for the rest of the song.”