Karaoke Forums

Hello all,

First time poster. I am in need of some big favor or advise.. But I am in a big competition her in Ohio, USA Called Dream Big which is Televised on NBC wlio lima ohio its an American Idol Star search type thing. Any way I am in a block about what to sing for the finals.. and the songs I have sang can't be sung again.. I have sang Barry Manilows-Weekend in New England. Clay Aikens version of Bridge over trouble water, Unchained Melody, Josh Grobans To Where you are, and Elton Johns-Don't Let The sun go down on me. Don't Let the sun go down on me was the one That made it over the others.. It was a great song great for stage controll and fun to sing... as the others just were not strong songs but slow and hard to show a lot of stage controll with.. This is why I am stuck I know the one who wins will be the one with the song that has it all. That is how they are judging this dream big ( as this is the second one and last seasons was based on talent only.) I used my big song so I could get in the finals as the others were not cutting it.. so here is my questions...

What songs to you feel or see as a show stopper a song that isnt rock but powerful and able to grab your attention as WOW FACTOR.. I know I am asking a lot but maybe someone out there can spark my mind as im at a loss..


Thanks All and I hope to be a long time poster here...

Bryon R. Sparks
www.bright.net/~bsparks

Just as a suggestion, if you want to go with the dramatic, Get the Sinatra version of Come Rain or Come shine, of course At This Moment is always a good showstopper,(although over used, and stay away from "My Way") It sounds like you may need an up song though to get the crowd working in your favor. Billy Joel's, It's Still rock and roll to me, is a good upbeat song, And the arrangement of "All By Myself" by Celine Dion is an incredible arrangement and very powerful.
Good luck to you no matter what you decide to sing.....MV

I agree with MV ..At this Moment ( One of my personal Favorites)
Other suggestions:
Faithfully by Journey
Already There - Lonestar
It's your Song - Garth Brooks

Just some more personal suggestions Good Luck

Meatloaf- 2 out of 3 aint bad
David Lee Roth- Just a Gigolo
Styx- Come Sail Away

All good show stoppers that I love to do and watch the expressions on peoples faces!

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Not very well known but have been effective with all sorts of audiences (for me):

You Will Be My Music - Sinatra (only one arrangement that I know of - Music Maestro)

Learnin' The Blues - Sinatra (best version - Music Maestro or Pocket Songs)

For Once In My Life - Sinatra (many good versions)

New York, New York (been over done, but if delivered and sung well, still effective)


Forgive my typing. Whatever I put in always comes out Sinatra

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Jazz and Swing Live (as long as I do).

One idea might be "God Bless The USA", Lee Greenwood. A lot of people here try it, but very few really nail it. Don't know about other parts of the country.

You want a real show stopper, try the Rodeo Song! That'll leave their jaws in their laps!

Please excuse my trivial interruption of your serious topic.

Good luck!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

I second The Rodeo Song"... !!!!!

I 2nd the vote for "God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood). You could pull the "Partiotism Card" if you can nail that song. People will always cheer for that song.

Let's see now.... my specialty is Broadway songs. I go for the powerful/emotional ones, such as "Why, God Why" (from Miss Saigon) or "This is the Moment" (from Jeckyll and Hyde). I would not recommend "MOTN" (from POTO) unless you can nail all of the emotion in that song.

Going in a different direction, some other suggestions that I have are additions to what was already stated. How about:
"For Crying Out Loud" (Meatloaf)
"Goodnight Saigon" (Billy Joel)
"Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" (Billy Joel)
"Mr. Roboto" (Styx)

If you can hang, go MOTOWN..................Stevie wonder, J5, Temps,Smokey you know what I mean? This stuff is killer in karaoke kontests........

depending on the age of the audience,i always go for "ive gotta be me"..........sammy davis jnr...........i know its been done to death in the states,and it reeks of sixties vegas..........but it is a cracker if you sing it with emotion...........and all the gays love the song.

The one that always works for me in my shows is the STTW version of 'If tomorrow never comes' (dance remix) by Ronan Keating.
Stops them dead every time.

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Imagine!

Keep them comming i pulled out this is the moment from jekyl and hyde
very very good song very powerful LOVE IT

I also found Eagles come home for christmas is a good one to so will see i am going to try all of those that were suggested I have till dec 6 for the semi finals. You all can check out the results if they ever update there page on www.wlio.com under dream big

I am very interested in the ronan song so should be intresting


Bryon

You should be able to get a small sample of it on

www.singtotheworld.com

on the Streaming page!

Barry

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Imagine!

My show stoppers are Old Time Rock and Roll and I sing Stairway to heaven.

Stairway to heaven comes in many cd+g's but there is only one version I like as it is most close to the original.

THe last few contests I have been in tho a whining baby doesn't like singers to have their own cd's so she complained and had the contest rules changed....so I can't use it as it is pioneer and most don't have it.

You can try those if ya got the voice.....Cryin' by Roy Orbison is also a good tune....if ya can pull it off.

T.B.K

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....and sometimes the beholder is definitely blind as a bat!

The options are endless...how's your range? If you want showstopper theater and you are a tenor,I suggest Bring Him Home from Lez Miserable, it's a big time tear jerker and it's perfect for contests.If you want something with a little soul,try Me and Mrs Jones.It's a bit cliche out here,but it works very effectively anyway.If you really want to stun them,and you have a strong falsetto Sherry(Frankie Valli) and Reasons(Earth Wind and Fire)are just the ticket.If you want something obscure and awesome,try Cara Mia(Jay and the Americans)This one combines tenor chest and power notes along with falsetto from hell.Also,it's uptempo.Goodluck

My range is pretty wide from bass to tenar

I can do high sherri to lightning stikes by lou christie

So range is not a problem.. I have been practicing A moment Like this but getting the emotions in the song is becoming the challange right now.. so I am still practicing all the songs suggested. I am making my final decision on wed of this coming week so I can stick it..

Thanks again everyone you made a new guy feel very welcome

Bryon Sparks

Some nice songs I could never sing:

"Look at Us" - Vince Gill
"Keeper of the Stars" - Tracy Byrd

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

for a real showstopper i always do gene pitney "im gonna be strong" it works every time.

Michael -

I've been following this string pretty close and read your comments (above).

You inspired me to dig out a dusty CDG in my collection with Sinatra's "Come Rain Or Come Shine". I've done it twice so far at different venues and it flew extremely well at both places. One of those venues is the toughest crowd I've ever seen. The applause are rare for anyone with any song but I got a pretty strong response there. I've always done Judy Garland's version. I think I'll switch.

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Jazz and Swing Live (as long as I do).

What a collective mindset & varied tastes.
My selections are:
'WHEN I GET YOU ALONE' - Thicke (If you can pull it off)
'SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH' - Dan Fogelberg (For the tearjerker)
'MOONDANCE' - Van Morrison
'DELILAH' - Tom Jones (For The Older Crowd)
'SUPERSTITION' or 'RIBBON IN THE SKY' - Stevie Wonder
'THE GREAT PRETENDER' - either Freddie Mercury or Roy Orbison version.


Good Luck & let us know what you choose & how ya go.

***Alex***

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He who holds the Gerbil in the palm of his hand shall stomp the corn.