Lol, I might need to add this to my rotation of fuck this crowd music to play on the touch tunes at a bar. I've cleared a few bars out playing the hulk Hogan theme song, the 30 minute pink Floyd song Echoes, and previously the uncensored 2 live crew song doo wah Diddy.
They took the latter off the whole ass app probably because of me. The song opens with "I met this bitch standing on the block, she'll suck on my dick and I'll buy her a rock." All to the tube of doo wah Diddy. Boomers get all excited about it and then get all salty. They don't make em like they used to.
Bruce Springsteen. I'm not a fan, but it's the only thing my 3-note vocal range can sing. That's three notes, and not three octaves. I barely inflect enough not to be confused with a robot.
If you want one to bring the room to life, the answer is "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. It kills 100% of the time--everyone will sing along. You can't help it.
The first time I was at a bar that had karaoke, this dude went up and did ice ice baby. As soon as he starts, five buddies run up there and they all did THE dance, the entire way through, 100% on point. It was amazing.
If you want a fun karaoke night, first song(s) need to be something that will get most everyone singing. Younger crowds: something like Tayor Swift "Shake It Off". Middle age crowds, something like Nirvana or Aerosmith. Older crowds any Beatles #1.
I personally like Cyprus Hill "Jump Around" if you're willing to learn it well enough beforehand as to not butcher the lyrics. I've seen Vanilla "Ice Ice Baby" also get a similar reaction of everyone knowing the song and enjoying it enough to give you kudos for choosing it.
After everyone's over the initial hesitation, go belt all your love songs and power ballads; but get the party started first.
Whenever I'm in a rather Yee-Haw place, and bars are filled with folks wearing camo and baseball caps, my go-to is Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show, it gets people riled up.
Later in the evening, once folks have had a few drinks in them, Take Me Home Country Roads is unquestionably the song to end with.
Halfway through there's a drunk woman and her reluctant husband/boyfriend/male friend/drafted stranger who sings "Picture" by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.
I know someone who did that who is a REALLY GOOD, like pro level singer. Crowd was delighted when she started singing and they heard how great her voice was. Then they were slightly puzzled when some of the words were different. Then they realized she was singing a parody and they were like WTF. I suppose I'll try it anyway if the occasion comes up .
Here she is singing a Queen--Bohemian Rhapsody / Star Wars crossover parody: