The future of music

25 Hardest Songs to Sing Ever

December 14, 2023
hardest songs to sing

I’ve put together a list of the hardest songs to sing ever, each a true test of vocal range, control, and power.

This article explores the challenging pieces that are known for pushing singers to their limits, showcasing the epitome of vocal complexity and skill.

Top hardest songs to sing ever

  • “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
  • “Chandelier” by Sia
  • “Listen” by Beyoncé
  • “Emotions” by Mariah Carey
  • “Dream On” by Aerosmith
  • “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera
  • “All By Myself” by Celine Dion
  • “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
  • “Titanium” by David Guetta ft. Sia
  • “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban

1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen 

We don’t have to make a long explanation for this one.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is widely regarded as one of the most difficult songs to sing.

But it’s also considered one of the greatest songs of all time.

So if you’re confident enough to give it a try, adding “Bohemian Rhapsody” to your repertoire will certainly make you a more complete singer. 

And if you want to sing it at the next karaoke night, we suggest practicing it first – there are some parts of the song that might surprise you, even if you know the song by heart. 

2. “Chandelier” by Sia 

And if you’re looking for a hard song to sing for female singers, look no further.

“Chandelier” is one of Sia’s biggest hits, and it was a huge hit when it came out in 2014.

And when it comes to its difficulty, the song has a lot of high notes, and it requires you to have incredible control of your voice.

Besides being technically difficult, “Chandelier” is also very emotional and intense, so you’ll have to pour your heart into it too.

So this song might be a perfect choice for you if you want to work on your expression.

3. “Listen” by Beyoncé 

Beyoncé is hands down one of the best vocalists in the music industry.

Her vocal abilities are incredible, as well as her vocal range – her voice spans a little less than 4 octaves.

But Beyoncé also knows how to add emotion to her performance, and “Listen” is a perfect example of that.

Released in 2006, “Listen” remains one of Beyoncé’s most beautiful ballads.

And it’s an ideal song for advanced singers, especially for those who want to practice transitioning from low to high notes. 

4. “Emotions” by Mariah Carey

And this is arguably one of the best female songs with high notes. 

Mariah Carey has an impressive five-octave vocal range.

And “Emotions” is one of her most popular tunes from the 90s.

So if you’re looking for a challenging song that will test your singing skills, you’ve found your tune. 

5. “Dream On” by Aerosmith

And if you’re looking for male karaoke songs that will impress everyone, this one’s for you.

“Dream On” is a power ballad by Aerosmith from their 1973 debut album, and the song remains one of their greatest hits.

The song is also proof of Steven Tyler’s incredible vocal abilities.

All in all, “Dream On” is by far one of the hardest songs for male singers, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try – just make sure you warm up your voice properly first.

6. “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera

And the same goes for “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera – you shouldn’t sing this song without a proper warm-up.

Aguilera hits some extremely high notes in this song, and she showcases incredible control of her voice. 

Singing this song also requires an enormous amount of breath.

That said, if you want to work on improving your voice and enhancing your breath control,  “Hurt” is an excellent choice. 

7. “All By Myself” by Celine Dion 

“All By Myself” by Celine Dion might be overplayed, but it’s still worth considering if you’re looking for difficult songs to practice.

After all, Celine Dion is one of the best female vocalists in the industry, and some of her songs became all-time classics.

Therefore, adding “All by Myself” to your singing repertoire might not be a bad idea.

But maybe you shouldn’t sing it in a karaoke bar – unless you’re sure there are enough Celine Dion fans in the audience.

8. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

Rolling in the Deep” by Adele is also quite popular, to put it mildly. 

We all know Adele’s classic by heart, from start to finish. 

But “Rolling in the Deep” is one of the overplayed radio hits that are actually good, and singing it will never get old.

Many Adele songs are fairly difficult to sing, but “Rolling in the Deep” is definitely on the top – nothing can beat that crescendo.

9. “Titanium” by David Guetta ft. Sia 

“Titanium” is another song characterized by Sia’s incredible voice.

It’s one of those songs with high notes, and it’s very enjoyable to sing.

However, “Titanium” is not beginner-friendly, especially the pre-chorus and chorus.

But if you’re up for a challenge, this might be a great choice, even as a karaoke song.  

10. “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban 

“You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban is hands down one of the most popular talent show songs.

And it’s also a popular karaoke tune.

But not everyone can pull it off.

On the contrary – the song requires a wide male vocal range, good control of the voice, and the ability to hold notes for a long time. 

11. “Loving You” by Minnie Riperton

If you prefer old, soulful tunes, we suggest singing “Loving You” by Minnie Riperton.

Released in 1974, “Loving You” won the hearts of people around the world.

And it still sounds amazing. 

Plus, it’s a real challenge to sing it well.

Besides singing in a higher register, Minnie Riperton does wonders with enunciating lyrics and belting out complex tones, including some whistle tones.

12. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” by Jennifer Holiday 

When thinking about powerful female vocal songs, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” by Jennifer Holiday comes to mind.

It’s a love song from the famous Broadway musical Dreamgirls.

So if you’re looking for a difficult karaoke or audition song, you can give this song a try.

Just be ready for some serious vocal gymnastics. 

13. “My Way” by Frank Sinatra 

“My Way” by Frank Sinatra is a timeless classic.

It seems like the charm of Frank Sinatra’s music will never fade, and the magical “My Way” is perfect proof. 

However, don’t sing this song if you’re confident in your vocal abilities.

That crescendo in the end is exceptionally hard to master. 

14. “Stone Cold” by Demi Lovato 

Let’s go back to this century with Demi Lovato’s 2015 power ballad.

“Stone Cold” is one of the hardest female songs to sing because it swings between an F3 on the low end and a belted G#5 on the high end. 

And that’s challenging even for experienced singers.

That said, if you’re looking for difficult songs to sing, you should add “Stone Cold” to your list. 

15. “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M.

With an upbeat tempo and super-fast lyrics, this popular R.E.M. tune is considered one of the hardest songs to sing. 

But “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” is also very catchy and fun to sing.

Therefore, it’s a great karaoke song, especially for baritone male singers.

You’ll just have to put all your effort into getting all the lyrics right. 

16. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston 

“I Will Always Love You” is undeniably one of the best songs to show off your voice.

It’s a classic hit from the 1990s that has remained popular to this day.

Many singers use this song to work on their singing skills, especially because it has a bunch of high notes.

Moreover, singing this song well requires you to have good articulation and phrasing. 

17. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin

“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” is also a tough song to tackle. 

Aretha Franklin was an incredible singer, and the command of her voice allowed her to sing a variety of genres.

Nevertheless, people mostly associate her with songs such as “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” – her unforgettable hit from the 60s.

The song is challenging to sing because of the vocal control and the range it requires. 

18. “Faithfully” by Journey

Journey is one of the most popular rock bands of the 70s and the 80s, and “Faithfully” is arguably one of their most recognizable songs.

And thanks to its wide vocal range, it’s regarded as one of the hardest male songs to sing.

Nevertheless, it’s a great tune to sing, especially at a karaoke bar. 

19. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi 

Another rock tune you might enjoy singing if you’re a skilled singer is “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

This song is one of Bon Jovi’s greatest hits, and it’s generally one of the most famous rock songs of the 1980s.

So if you’re ready to put on a show in front of your audience, “Livin’ on a Prayer” is a safe choice. 

20. “To Be Loved” by Adele 

If you want to perform an Adele song that hasn’t been sung that much (yet), you can opt for “To Be Loved” from her latest album.

The lyrics are rather simple but very touching, and Adele’s vocal performance is top-notch, as always.

Melodies are also beautiful and easy to memorize, but you’ll have to struggle with some high notes. 

21. “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande 

Ariana Grande has impressive vocal skills, and her songs are always a real challenge to sing. 

And when it comes to her hard-to-sing pop songs, “Dangerous Woman” is one of the most popular ones.

The song is empowering, captivating, and emotionally intense.

But you’ll need to practice a lot to master it. 

22. “Love On Top” by Beyoncé

“Love On Top” by Beyoncé has a reputation for being an extremely difficult song to sing for a good reason.

But if you want to practice your vocal runs, you should give it a try.

Also, “Love On Top” is an upbeat feel-good song, so (if your vocal range allows you) it’s very fun to sing.

And if you want to add some dance moves to your performance, even better. 

23. “Alive” by Sia 

“Alive” by Sia at first seems like a slow, gentle tune, but then it transforms into a mid-tempo power ballad. 

We already mentioned Sia’s incredible vocals, and this song is another proof of her talent.

So if you’re looking for a new vocal challenge, singing “Alive” will meet your needs. 

24. “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith

“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” is one of Aerosmith’s biggest hits, and it can still be frequently heard in karaoke bars.

So if you’re looking for a hard karaoke song to sing, you can’t go wrong with this rock classic.

You’ll get loud support from the crowd.

Just make sure you’re ready for it, especially for those screams at the end. 

25. “My All” by Mariah Carey

Is there a better way to wrap it up than with a queen of vocally challenging songs?

Mariah Carey’s vocal skills are undeniable, and her song “My All” is arguably one of the hardest songs to sing ever.

Singing this song requires you to have great voice control and the ability to hit some high notes.

Nevertheless, you should add this sentimental tune to your repertoire, especially if you want to work on extending your vocal range. 

Hardest Songs to Sing – Final Thoughts

And that’s it for our hardest songs to sing.

Something is challenging in all of the songs we mentioned today – whether it’s a fast tempo, high notes, or a complex melody. 

But that just means that practicing these tunes will allow you to work on your singing skills and help you grow as an artist. 

You may also like: Easy Songs to Sing

Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

view profile

Best Drop D Acoustic Songs
Previous Story

20 Best Drop D Acoustic Songs With Tabs

Best AI Music Generators
Next Story

10 Best AI Music Generators

Latest from Singing