While it seems that mic is the least-loved of all the instruments and the go-to instrument for the coordinationally challenged, sometimes you get a really-real singer on the mic.  Make someone's day by suggesting one of my favorite singing tracks if you've got a reluctant vocalist who's secretly itching to shine.  

(Don't worry, guys, only one on my list features a female vocalist, and even that's debatable.)

Say It Ain't So - Weezer is fun for the whole band!  All four parts are pretty basic, but each has enough style to make everyone feel accomplished.  While any Weezer song will do (there are 3 or 4 between RB1, RB2, and downloads), this one is my favorite, because when the lead singer starts going (and I've had enough to drink and there's not a sleeping baby in my loft) I get to do a bit of belting and show off what's left of my atrophying singing skills.

(pre-post edit note: I aaaaalmost linked to Buddy Holly instead because that video amuses me, but I thought that might be confusing)

Creep - Have you ever really sat down and thought about these lyrics? They are, well, creepy.  All that musical/theatre training means I cannot help but emote a bit when I get to the angsty songs, and this song makes me feel a bit dirty.  That having been said, I think this one is the favorite of my favorites.  Sadly, when the list of songs is sorted in easy-to-hard, it's one of the first on the list that people recognize.  It usually gets picked early in the evening if there's a crowd, so I savor it when i get a chance to sing it.  

Still Alive - If your lead singer is a geek (and he probably is), he'll enjoy mock-singing it, despite the gender difference. Who doesn't love pretending to be a computer and making jokes about cake and killing people?  It's fun to sing for the shock value for people who aren't familiar with the lyrics, and it's fun to make my voice sound computer generated.  

Foreplay/Long Time - What? A song that is 1/3 a nobody-plays organ solo and only about 1/4 singing? I certainly don't break this out when I'm by myself, but if you've got a good group on all four parts, this is a blast.  Although a few songs come close, no other song gives you the feeling like you're just a group of friends jamming on stage like this one.  And that's so much fun, it doesn't even bother me that my hand/hip goes numb from the clappy parts.

(pre-post edit note 2: i linked to a random guitarist playing this on RB, because the closest thing i could quickly find on youtube to a really-real video was a picture of the album with the song playing in the background)

Self Esteem - True story: One time on the way to high school, I sang this so loud that my friend/carpool mate told me to be quieter because it was hurting her ears. Despite rumors to the contrary, I have never used my full volume within close proximity to another human being ever again. Okay, maybe once, to show my husband how awesome my new asthma meds were, but that's it.  Back to the song though, it gives me the freedom to wail without getting in trouble. Take that, Julie!

And that's the tip of the singing list.  I didn't get to the Pearl Jam, Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, etc., because all this writing and video-hunting has made me want to do more "research". Enjoy!

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