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Top 20 hardest songs to sing that test even the best singers

Published 1 day ago8 minute read

Ever wondered which songs challenge even the most seasoned vocalists? Among the hardest songs to do are Emotions, Listen, I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, and Hello. These hits not only showcase immense talent but also demand a great voice, precise control, breathtaking range, and remarkable stamina.

Close-up of a strained face while singing
The hardest songs to sing involve great diction, perfect notes and breathtaking range. Photo: zimmytws (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

This list highlights some of the hardest songs to sing, showcasing the exceptional vocal skill each one demands. The songs are presented in no particular order and include both contemporary and classic tracks. This selection is not exhaustive as is based on subjective criteria, as vocal difficulty can vary depending on factors such as vocal range, technique, and individual perception.

SongArtist
1EmotionsMariah Carey
2I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
3Lovin' You Minnie Riperton
4And I Am Telling You I'm Not GoingJennifer Holliday
5ListenBeyoncé
6 Bohemian RhapsodyQueen
7RunLeona Lewis
8Cry Me a River Michael Bublé
9You Raise Me Up Josh Groban
10All by Myself Celine Dion
11ChandelierSia
12Wuthering HeightsKate Bush
13I Believe In A Thing Called LoveThe Darkness
14Since U Been GoneKelly Clarkson
15Unchained MelodyThe Righteous Brothers
16Livin' on a Prayer Bon Jovi
17I Don't Want to Miss a Thing Aerosmith
18Stay With Me Sam Smith
19HelloAdele
20Billie JeanMichael Jackson

Emotions was the lead single on Mariah Carey's album with the same name, released in 1991. This song showcases her amazing voice. Emotions has a catchy tune and a beat that makes you want to dance. However, the song is hard to sing due to its demand for stunning vocal control, extremely high-range notes, and intricate agility when navigating multiple notes.

I Will Always Love You is one of the hardest songs to sing for a female. It was sung by Whitney Houston as a soundtrack for the film The Bodyguard. Singing the song requires a breathtaking vocal performance and emotional depth, making it one of the hardest songs to sing.

Lovin' You is one of Minnie Riperton's most famous songs. It's a soft and beautiful song, cherished for its unique melody and incredible vocal range. The song is a tricky one for singers because replicating Riperton's voice is hard. The high notes and challenging whistle are hard to register.

And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going is a strong song full of emotions and strong vocals. It was first performed by Jennifer Holliday in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls in 1981. The song is tough to deliver because of the intense emotional delivery and high vocal performance.

Listen is a strong and emotional slow song that Beyoncé sang for the Dreamgirls movie in 2006. It features a soaring melody, profound emotional depth, and requires a powerful vocal delivery. The song is a tough song for singers because it requires powerful vocals, emotional delivery, and delicate vocal control.

Bohemian Rhapsody is an iconic song by the British rock group Queen. The six-minute epic was written by Freddie Mercury, and is a mix of rock, opera, ballads, and a cappella. It is a complicated song that incorporates dramatic shifts in mood, tempo, and musical style. Like many hard songs, singers need to deliver a wide range of vocals and embody multiple distinct styles.

Run is a powerful and emotional song, originally performed by Snow Patrol. It was later covered by Leona Lewis, who made the song famous. The new version showcases Lewis' impressive vocal range and voice control.

The song is tricky for singers due to its soaring melody, which demands a wide dynamic and melodic range. The singer needs to sustain high notes with significant power.

Cry Me a River is a classic song, famously performed by Julie London in 1955. It was later released by Michael Bublé in 2009. His rendition maintains the song's original emotional core and incorporates a more modern band arrangement. Michael Bublé's rendition of Cry Me a River's major challenge is that a singer needs excellent breath control and dynamic shifts.

You Raise Me Up is one of Josh Groban's most famous songs. It is a slow song that features soaring lines and makes people feel inspired. Josh Groban's powerful delivery of the song challenges singers to deliver their intended grandeur and emotional connection.

All by Myself is another of the hardest songs to sing for a female. It is a powerful song, originally done by Eric Carmen in 1975. However, Celine Dion's rendition in 1996 took it to the next level, making it one of her signature songs. The song proves difficult due to its exceptionally wide vocal range, sustained high notes, and demand for excellent vocal control.

Chandelier is another powerful and emotional song by Australian singer and songwriter Sia. It is a difficult song to replicate due to Sia's distinctive and often strained vocal style. It demands powerful high notes, immense stamina, and the ability to convey raw emotions.

Wuthering Heights incorporates dramatic piano arrangements and a haunting melody. It is quite difficult for singers because its melodic structure is highly unconventional. It features unique vocal phrasing and a high, ethereal quality.

I Believe In A Thing Called Love is a famous song by the British glam rock band The Darkness. It was released in 2003 with Justin Hawkins's distinctive high-pitched vocals defining the track.

The song is hard to sing as it requires a powerful rock tenor voice. Singers must switch between vocal registers quickly and smoothly, and maintain high energy consistent with the glam rock style.

Since U Been Gone is tough for singers because it demands sustained, powerful vocals and the ability to hit high notes consistently. There is also a need to maintain high energy throughout the song.

Unchained Melody has been performed many times by different artists over the years, becoming one of the most beloved love songs of all time. Even though Unchained Melody sounds simple, it is hard to sing because it requires profound emotional expression, smooth transitions between vocal registers, and excellent breath control.

Livin' on a Prayer is a tough song for singers because it needs them to sing high in most parts of the song. Singers must sustain high notes, maintain high energy, and emulate Jon Bon Jovi's vocal quality.

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing is one of the hardest songs to sing for a male. The song is pretty tough for singers because it demands a wide vocal range, requiring transitions between high and low registers. Diane Warren wrote the song for the American movie Armageddon in 1998.

Stay With Me is an emotional and soulful slow song that made Sam Smith famous. The song is tricky for many singers, mainly because you need a clear voice to hit the notes perfectly. Additionally, you also require a strong emotional connection with the audience.

Hello is a powerful and emotionally charged song that marked the highly anticipated return of Adele to music. The hit is a difficult song to perform of its demanding vocal range, dynamic control, and profound emotional depth.

  • Genre: Pop
  • Released: 2 January 1983
  • Album: Thriller

Michael Jackson is one of the most popular black male singers of all time. He released his most famous and influential song, Billie Jean, in 1983 from his studio album Thriller. The song is one of the hardest songs to sing for a male because you have to have a good sense of rhythm and be able to control their breathing well.

It's tough to name one single hardest song to sing, as various songs are challenging for different people. However, the hardest songs include Emotions by Mariah Carey, I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

The best song to show off your voice depends on your vocal strengths and range. Choose a song like All By Myself by Celine Dion, I Believe In A Thing Called Love by The Darkness, and Chandelier by Sia.

Being a good singer requires rhythmic precision, strong breath control, and smooth vocal delivery. These skills are truly put to the test when attempting some of the hardest songs to sing, especially those performed by legendary vocalists.

Legit.ng published an article about emotional songs. Emotional songs are great when facing loss, grief, trauma, and pain. They give you words of comfort to people going through difficult life challenges.

Emotional songs have some magic that soothes you when going through struggles and challenges. They can help you overcome heartbreak, loss, and disappointment. Discover some of the best emotional songs about letting go and moving on to soothe your pain after a breakup or a loss.

Source: Legit.ng

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