Variations on a Theme: Songs to Belt

With this playlist, I tried to highlight songs that you don’t usually think of when you want to just scream along a little. Everyone knows the Ke$ha and the Madonna ones, but I hoped to introduce you to a little something different to pull out the next karaoke night.

1. “Hollywood” by Jukebox the Ghost

This is actually one of my favorite songs from this band. The contrasting styles present, and how well it illustrates the subject of the lyrics, make it stand apart from the rest. The song is about how having a Hollywood relationship would really just break your heart rather than be like it is on screen. So there is the slow, dramatic intro, and then a rollicking chorus that interjects. It is so fun to sing along to (the repetitiveness helps as well) and to just belt a lil.

2. “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” from Anything Goes!

Similar to the last one, this song starts off slow and then really gets going. Anything Goes! is one of my favorite musicals, with music by the impeccable Cole Porter. This part of the musical is when the characters seem in dire straits, but then the token nightclub singer comes out and sings a rousing chorus to get everyone in good spirits again, this time with a hefty dose of spirituality thrown in. I think it’s wonderful, and having been in the chorus for this number it is iconic and so much fun!

3. “Oh! Darling” by The Beatles

This is Paul’s song to his wife, Linda. It’s also a bit of a pastiche, not exactly the Beatles’ usual style. It was also written while they were in the middle of breaking up, so there is very little Lennon influence on this, awkwardly enough. It’s definitely not my favorite Beatles tune, but it’s so fun to sing along to.

4. “Water Under the Bridge” by Adele

An Adele song was probably a prerequisite on this playlist. Nearly everything that she does sounds great and involves belting. I particularly like this one because I think it keeps being overlooked. Think about it, usually other songs come to mind when you think of Adele. But the balance of this song and the harmonies are just so good here!

5. “Take On Me” by a-ha

Often covered, here’s a-ha’s biggest hit! It’s inspired things like this funny video among others. I still think it’s so good, and if you are saying that you haven’t done that silly dance while screaming the lyrics you are either lying or haven’t really lived yet. Get on out there and do it!

6. “Schumacher the Champagne” by The Wombats

I love this band and all that they do. This is from one of their earlier albums, and it’s just such an unashamedly sleazy song. It’s so satisfying to scream “take me as I am! Or not at all!!!” and own your faults.

7. “As We Stumble Along” from The Drowsy Chaperone

“The Drowsy Chaperone” was a musical made to embody all of the tropes of the musical genre. And this was made to be the rousing number. So of course it’s on this playlist. Seriously though, I love this song and this whole production in general. Because even though it was made to be a cliché, it’s still so relatable and good!

8. “The Good Life” by Frank Sinatra

There had to be a Sinatra song on here. This is one of his lesser known ones, still a fun song to sing and belt to. Especially the end. One of the issues I ran into with this playlist was that it just keeps building so it’s hard to put some kind of a progression to it. Thankfully, this song starts more mellow so it flows alright and doesn’t just leave you constantly at the top of the hype.

9. “Movin’ Out” by Billy Joel

Billy Joel has a couple of good yelling songs out there, thought I’d throw this one into the mix as well. It’s so good and so gratifying to sing, very cathartic. Not many belting songs are so snarky as this one, makes a nice change.

10. “What a Catch, Donnie” by Fall Out Boy

Ah yes, this song. If you didn’t spend some of your pop punk phase with Fall Out Boy, you’re probably lying. It’s a classic, you all probably know it, just enjoy it.

And that the belting playlist done with! Hope it was cathartic and fun for you. Next month we will be covering classical saxophone pieces so keep an eye out for that! (Yeah I know that classical music is a drag, but classical saxophone is so underappreciated that this is happening.)