When it comes to the most beautiful songs to sing at a talent show, you can never have enough options to choose from!
Whether the talent show is competitive or not, it is a great way to showcase your vocal skills. The goal of taking home the prize can motivate you to master some of the tunes for what could be the performance of a lifetime!
Public performances help you overcome stage fright and gain experience using a microphone while singing with a background track or even a band. With every performance, you’ll learn valuable skills in how to prepare and present your voice. But it does take courage to hit the stage!
If you’re feeling shy, nervous, or just don’t know what song to sing, this article will help you prepare. Check out the 50 best songs to sing, and stick around till the end.
50+ Most Beautiful Songs to Sing at Talent Shows
If this is your first talent show or if you’re new to performing, choose a song you know – one that you have practiced a lot and are comfortable singing.
You’ll sound better and look more comfortable on stage when you feel confident with the song you’re singing. Pick one of your favorite shower tunes or car-singing anthems that you know like the back of your hand, and let it fly!
Some of the most beautiful songs to sing at a talent show are ones with simple lyrics that you can remember. Steer away from overly wordy tunes, unless you’re 100% confident in your lyrical recollection!
To help you start brainstorming, here are more than 50 soulful songs to sing for your next performance.
Traditional/Folk Songs
- “Amazing Grace”
- “God Bless America”
- “Danny Boy”
- “This Land is Your Land”
- “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver
- “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel
- “The Rainbow Connection”
- “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary
- “Shenandoah”
- “This Little Light of Mine”
Oldies
- “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin
- “Imagine” by John Lennon
- “Killing Me Softly” by Roberta Flack
- “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
- “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
- “In My Life” by The Beatles
- “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas
- “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
- “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder
Broadway/Musicals
- “Dancing Queen” from “Mamma Mia!”
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz”
- “Anything Goes” from “Anything Goes”
- “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)” from “Man of La Mancha”
- “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music”
- “Tomorrow” from “Annie”
- “Fame” from “Fame”
- “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from “Grease”
- “Beauty and the Beast” from “Beauty and the Beast”
- “Footloose” from “Footloose”
SEE ALSO: How to Sing Better Instantly
Jazz
- “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald
2. “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra
3. “Misty” by Sarah Vaughn
4. “I Got Rhythm” performed by Judy Garland and others
5. “Georgia on My Mind” performed by Ray Charles and others
6. “At Last” by Etta James
7. “Feeling Good” performed by Michael Bublé and others
8. “Fever” performed by Peggy Lee and others
9. “Blue Skies” performed by Willie Nelson and others
10. “Someone to Watch Over Me” performed by Linda Ronstadt and others
80s and 90s Pop
- “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
2. “Something to Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt
3. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
4. “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
5. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
6. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
7. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
8. “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan
9. “Your Song” by Elton John
10. “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
Contemporary Pop
- “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones
2. “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
3. “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars
4. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
5. “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes
6. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
7. “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles
8. “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
9. “Stronger (What’ Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson
10. “Waiting on the World to Change” by John Mayer
Duets
- “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5
2. “When You Believe” by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
3. “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
4. “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
5. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
6. “Anything You Can Do” from “Annie Get Your Gun”
7. “Summer Nights” from “Grease”
8. “All I Ask of You” from “Phantom of the Opera”
9. “I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher
10. “One” by U2 and Mary J. Blige
Tips to Nail Your Performance
Now that you have an idea of the most beautiful songs to sing at a talent show, it’s time to start preparing.
If you really want to “wow” the crowd, practice is crucial! Chances are, singing along with the tune on the radio isn’t enough to prepare you for the show. To start, take a video of a mock performance of yourself, where you sing along with a backing track. To make the most of your singing skills, there’s no better way to prepare than with vocal lessons.
Try taking some free online singing classes for starters. You can also team up with a voice teacher leading up to the big performance. With every private lesson, you’ll receive a personalized plan to knock your talent show gig out of the park!
A teacher can help you choose the best song for your voice, overcome stage fright, and polish up your overall performance. Even if you have natural singing talent, you’ll still need to practice making the most of your voice. The right vocal coach can help you reach your full potential!
Above all, remember to have fun! When the nerves start to kick in about hitting that high note, remember these helpful tips:
- Know your material well, and bring extra copies of the music. This will help in case something goes wrong with the equipment or you lose your sheet music.
- Bring water and hydrate yourself regularly. One side effect of nerves is a dry throat, so drinking water will help.
- Do some meditation, yoga, or stretching right before you go on stage. This will help those tight muscles and body jitters.
- Be sure to warm up your voice! Follow your vocal teacher’s recommended warm-up regimen to loosen up your singing muscles and get your voice in tip-top shape.
- Bring headphones and listen to your song right before going on stage. You will sing much better if it’s fresh in your mind.
- Have fun! Your friends and family will be cheering you on.
Pick any of these talent show favorites and you’ll be ready to take center stage. We wish you the best of luck at your talent show!
Do you have favorite talent show tunes? Let us know in the comments below!
Post Author: Liz T.Liz T. teaches online singing and acting lessons. She is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in vocal performance and currently teaches all styles of music including musical theater, jazz, rock, and pop. Learn more about Liz here!