Can you name a song that when it plays in a room everybody will know the lyrics?

1. 72

   EJ Lambertposted 10 years ago

   Can you name a song that when it plays in a room everybody will know the lyrics?
   
   Certain songs throughout the course of history have developed enough wide spread appeal that everybody can sing the lyrics from beginning to end.  Can you name some of those tunes?

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2. 72

   Man of Strengthposted 10 years ago

   I have a three way tie with Queen's "We Will Rock You" and "Another One Bites The Dust" and "We Are The Champions." All three songs are anthems and have been played at sporting events and have been in several movies.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Of those three I'd say the easiest lyrics to remember is We Are the Champions.  Good call.  Queen is an awesome go-to band for that.

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3. 93

   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   Of course it depends on the era but I pick three songs for television: the theme song from "Cheers," the theme song from "The Brady Bunch," and the theme song for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." It helps that a lot of these retro shows are currently running on these great old school cable stations.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Don't forget the "Greatest American Hero."

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      Man of Strengthposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think every one knows the theme song to the "Jeffersons" and even "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Now this is a story all about how my life got flip turned upside down.  Now I'd like to take a minute, just sit right there.  I'll tell how I became the prince of a town call Bell-Air.

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      Laura Schneiderposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh--I've got to add the lyrics to the theme song from Gilligan's Island. Everybody knows that one, too.

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   petenaliposted 10 years ago

   "Happy Birthday" - usually when it's sung, everyone in the room knows the person it's being sung to, so they even know the one lyric (the person's name) which changes every time!

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That is an obvious one but you are right.

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   Larry Wallposted 10 years ago

   For He's A Jolly Good Fellow and the Hokey Pokey come to mind. There are many songs that people know half the words to and hope that a few know all the words so they can follow along.
   
   Also, as someone already mentioned, Happy Birthday is a certainity, assuming everyone knows the name of the person, whose birthday is being celebrated.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Two old classic that nobody remembers until they're at a party.  Nice call, Larry.

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6. 61

   duffsmomposted 10 years ago

   One that comes to mind is California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas.  The scene from the movie Congo pops into my head.  The young man begins singing to Amy, the anxious gorilla. He starts with the first line of that song and suddenly all of the other people on the trip, packers, haulers, pilots, etc. chime in on the second line.  It's funny.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It's even better when a movie puts forth such a true statement.

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      Blond Logicposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good choice. I would have to agree with this, although when I am singing along, I'm not sure the words are correct.

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   ANKOSI0113posted 10 years ago

   Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd
   This song has become a Monument in American Blue Grass rock/country music, I feel as though the band is a very great band. The Song Free Bird is what every American can relate to, the idea of not being held down by any thing, free to do what ever one wants, with no strings holding them back. The Idea of not being constrained by the ideas of another persons concept of how another person is supposed to be, has been a major form of conflict between parents and their growing adult children for as long as one can remember, it is refreshing to see that someone thought enough to make a song about it.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The start of the song alone just makes you wish you had a lighter in your pocket.

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   Borsiaposted 10 years ago

   Hotel California, is one that is pretty well known internationally.
   In the US the theme from the Addams Family or Gilligan's Island.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Gilligan is a shoe in for sure.  Hotel California is so memorable but I'm not sure about the lyrics.  You could be right.

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      Borsiaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hotel CA is a song I've heard around the world, usually around midnight,,, I don't know why,
      I remember sitting in my window in Sanya, China every night and hearing it drifting on the breeze even though playing any loud music after 11 was forbidden.

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      Blond Logicposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Here in Brazil, my neighbors play Hotel California (in English). Many songs get  translated.. Last week I heard, "Whiter shade of pale" in Portuguese!

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   ZungTranposted 10 years ago

   This one time at a party "The lion sleeps tonight" started kicking in. Naturally some started singing the main lyrics and then, one by one, an impromptu perfect acapella followed. Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh Eeeeee eeeeeeee om om oh weh
   Unforgettable.

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      EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That song always brings it out of people.  Awesome.

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    BChild75posted 10 years ago

    the hokey pokey, as it is and oldie but a goody and is sure to get everyone involved in singing/ dancing

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       EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I put my left leg in, I put my left leg out, I put my left leg in...and something just snapped.

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       BChild75posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       L.O.L. EJ. Other songs that come to mind....the macarena and the locomotion

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    TheGodessPaulaposted 10 years ago

    One that people may remember is 'The Cha Cha Slide'. Many people may know the lyrics of this song when it is played as they remember the dance. For example; "Slide to the left, slide to the right, take it baclk now ya'll". It is very memorable and quite catchy come to think of it.

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       EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Nice choice.  I dance to that every time I'm at a party.

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12. 84

    bethperryposted 10 years ago

    "Stairway to Heaven". Practically everyone from my generation to my children's know those beautiful lyrics.
    The other one that comes to mind, is a wee bit embarrassing: "Beth" by KISS. I won't own up to how many times I've walked into a room and some jokester friend has started singing that song. I love KISS, but sigh..

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    Bri Richardposted 10 years ago

    I have personally witnessed this with "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. On multiple occasions, whether in a dining hall at college or in another public setting, if this song comes on most everyone will start to sing along. In the same genre, "Carry On, My Wayward Son" by Kansas can have the same effect.
    
    Some more interesting examples (at least for my generation) are many Disney movie songs, such as "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid and "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.
    
    There is also The Star Spangled Banner, if you want to go with the idea of "Happy Birthday" being on the list.

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    Abhinav Narangposted 10 years ago

    The song, which is almost a prayer sort of thing - We shall overcome, is the one known by everyone. Usually a person in distress sings or murmurs it to get self-inspiration and hope. And the best point is that its lyrics comprise only a paragraph of 7-8 lines.

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    cat on a soapboxposted 10 years ago

    "Auld Lang Syne" would be widely recognized for the tune but most don't know the lyrics, so my vote goes to "Mary Had A Little Lamb" or "Rock-a Bye Baby."
    Also contenders would be the Beatles, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and "Let It Be."

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    residentstoneposted 10 years ago

    Sadly, but true EJ. Piano Man by Billy Joel, it makes me wanna hurl, but I do know every word :0(
    
    One Bourbon, One Scotch and One Beer- George Thorogood and the Destroyers
    
    You gotta Fight, For your Right, To Party- Beastie Boys

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    1. 72

       EJ Lambertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Don't feel bad.  It's simply that kind of song.  Beastie Boys certainly own a niche with that one too.

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    Blond Logicposted 10 years ago

    Did anyone say The Star Spangled Banner yet?
    Happy Birthday of course.
    
    Many people may not know all the words to certain songs, but everyone remembers the chorus.
    
    I think women will remember 'I will survive'.
    Interesting question.

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18. 71

    toptendealsposted 10 years ago

    I don't have it memorized but I've seen so many people sing along to the Bohemian Rhapsody and it's so long.
    I have a terrible memory.

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    Wacky Mummyposted 10 years ago

    Barbie girl - just hearing the words puts the song in my head >.

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20. 57

    lostohanababyposted 9 years ago

    "Bad to the bone" ;    "Suki Suki" ;   "People are Wicked , People are Strange"...and ..."Riders in the Sky"  by the Doors.   "I Know A Place, I'LL Take You, There.."   I don't know who sings it , but its popular at a few places.     A lot of seventies songs still float around.   All genere, I quess.  I love Inspirational, Country western and Hawaiian Lyrics too.

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