Everybody loves karaoke! Whether or not you need an alcoholic beverage first, or already have your song picked in the car. Singing karaoke is as natural as leaving cookies out for Santa Claus. Although first invented in Japan, it didn’t take long for the entire world to catch on. Maybe it’s because deep down everyone wants to be a music star- to be on MTV and have a thousand adoring fans scream when you hit the stage. It could be argued karaoke was first invented in the shower. Before cars were invented and a person bathed themselves in a creek of water. We’ve seen it in cartoons. The beautiful princess searching for her prince who sings a love song in the pond. Or maybe during chores? Wherever it first happened, people love to sing! Naturally certain songs have become more popular than others. Below you will find the top 10 most common karaoke covers.

10. “There’s A Tear In My Beer” by Hank Williams Jr

This is a very common karaoke song for the simple fact a beer is involved. Sing this song at any local watering hole and chances are everyone in the place will raise their beer in the air. More than likely they will be singing along with you, too! “There’s a tear in my beer ’cause I’m cryinglove song. Drunk people love nothing more than singing songs that they can somehow relate to in their real life. Hank Williams of course being a huge country star and father to many other Williams singers. for you dear!” Who wouldn’t want to join in on the fun?! Plus you can’t go wrong with any kind of

9. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

Now this is a great song to karaoke! When choosing a good cover to sing ideally you want a song with changes. Something entertaining that jumps around musically. This song starts out very slow and wraps up very fast. It’s perfect! Songs that keep the same tempo the entire time can get boring and draw attention to just how bad your singing skills are. Pick this song and half way through everyone in the place will be too wrapped up with trying to remember the lyrics themselves to even notice how terrible you are! “Bohemian Rhapsody” was written by the late Freddie Mercury in 1975. Unfortunately Freddie passed away from complications brought on by AIDS in 1991. What better way to honor a great musician than murdering one of his best songs ever!

8. “Summer Nights” by Olivia Newton John and John Travolta

This one is a bit more complicated as you need both a man and woman, but if you can find a partner this one’s great. While most men might not know the words by heart, you can guarantee the girls will! This song became popular from the movie Grease in 1978. With other famous songs like “Sandra Dee” and “Greased Lightning”, you can’t go wrong with “Summer Love”. Plus it becomes much easier to stand on stage and sing with someone with you. The song was actually written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, but best-known from Olivia and John. Jacobs and Casey were in a band together called “DDT & the Dynamiters.” If you’re a big fan of “Summer Nights”, you might want to check them out.

7. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler

This one is mainly for the girls, but no doubt a favorite. Written by Jim Steinman and performed by Bonnie Tyler in 1983. Total Eclipse of the Heart is a popular karaoke cover coast to coast. Just about everyone in the world has heard this song and more than likely has seen someone sing it wherever there is karaoke happening. Bonnie Tyler first became famous in 1976 from a song called “Lost In France” and then became a huge world-wide music star with Total Eclipse of the Heart. While you may not know what this song is actually about, you’ll recognize it the second you hear “turn around.”

6. “YMCA” by The Village People

For obvious reasons this song is a favorite. Any time you’ve been drinking and you get to act out anything, you’re happy! First becoming popular within gay culture this song quickly became a hit in every circle. You can’t help but love a song that lets you form your arms into a letter. That and the fact you can even dress the part! The characters are a police officer, construction worker, cowboy, Indian chief, and a military man or biker. Walk up on stage wearing any of these six costumes and the crowd will lose their mind. Get the whole gang together and you could possibly start charging for tickets!

5. “Under The Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Written by Anthony Kiedis in 1992, this song is a classic karaoke cover. People enjoy the dark meaning and the slow heart-felt lyrics. This song was written during a time when Anthony Kiedis had achieved sobriety and felt isolation from his band mates, as they were still using drugs and alcohol. During this time Kiedis would wander the streets of Los Angeles alone and felt an unspoken bond between him and the city he lived in. This is all carefully documented in the lyrics. Keidis blamed his drug and alcohol addictions for destroying both relationships and his personal happiness. Just about every rock band has a song that’s similar. It seems to be a common thing in rock & roll.

4. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor

First performed by Gloria Gaynor in October of 1978, “I Will Survive” has easily become a world-wide classic. It’s been covered by many, many, other top performing artist such as Cake, Diana Ross, and R.E.M. You really can’t go wrong with singing this song. Whether or not you’re male or female, the crowd will love you for it. The amount of different movies and TV sitcom shows this song has been played in is ridiculously long and not worth listing (it’s literally in the hundreds). I Will Survive is included in the karaoke circuit, one of disco’s biggest hits, and Gaynor’s most famous song to date.

3. “Like A Virgin” by Madonna

This song is typically performed as a joke and purposely overdramatic. Wherever you go sooner or later, someone, usually a female, will torture your eardrums with this now anthem. Maybe for it’s sexual reference or just the fact that Madonna sings it, whatever it is women love it. “Like A Virgin“was written by Madonna in 1984 and helped pave her edgy reputation. Weird Al Yankovic wrote a parody to this song titled “Like A Surgeon” where he played a doctor using operating tools such as chainsaws, drills, and blowtorches. This version may even be more entertaining as a karaoke cover than the original. Either way, “Like a Virgin” is a karaoke favorite and guaranteed to be performed by a girl who’s always thought of herself as Madonna.

2. “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet

Does this one even need any kind of explanation? “Margaritaville” is quite possibly the most popular karaoke song ever. Like stated before, anything to do with alcohol will be a huge hit at the bar. A person could easily get on stage and just start naming different cocktails and the crowd would be amused. Whether or not it’s “Wasted Away” or “Wastin’ Away” the world may never know, but one thing is for certain: singing Margaritaville will put a smile on everyone’s face. There is a lost verse to this song Jimmy Buffet only sings during concerts that goes “Old men in tank tops, cruisin’ the gift shops. Checkin’ out chiquitas, down by the shore. They dream about weight loss, wish they could be their own boss. Those three-day vacations can be, or become, such a bore.”

1. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi

The second hit from their album Slippery When Wet, “Livin’ On A Prayer” is a must-do karaoke cover. This song was actually a hidden track from the album 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong and at first disliked by Bon Jovi. After some convincing by band mate Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi recorded the song once again and agreed to include it on the Slippery When Wet album. Obviously Richie was right because the song quickly became a classic. People love watching this song being performed live because there really isn’t anyway to talk your way through it. When the chorus hits, you have no choice but to sing it at the top of your lungs. “Wooooo, Ohhhhhh! Livin’ On A Prayer! Take My Hand, We’ll Make It I Swear. Woooo, Ohhhhh, Livin’ On A Prayer!” That spells entertainment!

Casinos are a psychological minefield. Their architectural design, as well as everything in it, has a methodical function devised to keep you, the player, inside spending your money. Some tactics they use are as conspicuous as the nose on your face, while others are guile and subtle. However, they all play on the players’ psyche and make them feel comfortable, wanted, and most of all, optimistic. Following are ten maneuvers casinos use that keep them rolling in our money.

It’s surprising that a lot of people really don’t wear watches. Casinos know this and aren’t about to assist people in keeping them punctual. It’s a fact that when someone is engaged in an activity time seemingly drifts by at a faster pace for them, and you will rarely see humans more engaged than in a casino. Whether it be at a slot machine, table game, or poker table, most are in a trance-like state while chasing their dreams. With no clocks adorning casino walls it is not difficult to simply let time slip away deep into the night without a care in the world. Don’t expect to get the time from dealers either since they are told not to wear watches for this very reason.

Day melds into night and night into day and schedules dissolve into nothingness. Add that to the fact that if you’re in a casino you are most likely on vacation, and that contributes to the indifferent attitude you may have about sticking to your standard routine and spend more time than you had planned repeatedly slapping dollar bills down. Some casinos, likes those in the UK, have passed laws saying that players must be aware of how much time they have spent gambling, and the casino must encourage taking breaks from playing.

In most casinos there may be windows near the entrance or exit, but once you get inside the belly of the beast you will be hard up to see any. This tactic goes hand-in-hand with having no clocks. When they get you in, they don’t want you to have any inkling of what is occurring in the outside world. If you were to see it getting dark outside, or even getting light with the dawn, your internal clock would kick in and tell you it’s time to move on and do something else, like go to sleep. However, this will tear you away from gambling and the casino can’t have that. In addition, they don’t want you to see anything remotely interesting happening outside. If you’re playing in a casino on the Las Vegas strip, there is enough visual stimulation outside to draw anyone’s eye to it. Therefore, the casino you are in will do its best to make that outside world nonexistent.

A casino is a cacophony of wonderful and alluring stimulation: bells ringing, siren-like lights flashing, change clanging, slot wheels whirring, digital sounds beeping – it’s all captivating. Why is it captivating? Because it’s non-verbal communication saying, “Win! Win! Win!”. It gives the impression that everyone is indeed winning when, in reality, most are losing.

However, even as these people are losing, whatever machine they are on is still blaring out festive, euphoric sounds. It makes people want to get in on the action and become part of the winning as well. It’s such a happy place, how can I lose?! Everything is slick, burnished, and gleaming with a hypnotic draw to it. On some level, everyone, regardless if they are a big or small bettor, is attracted to these ostentatious displays of excess and flamboyance.

Ever notice how the lighting in a casino is low and mellow? This is to give it a homey, friendly feel, kind of like sitting on your couch in your living room at home – and who wants to get off of their comfortable couch? Harsh lighting can be grating to the eyes, but a more subdued motif allows gamblers to settle in, kick back, and enjoy themselves while feeling safe, secure, and cozy.

Also, the carpeting in casinos isn’t just picked out randomly. Many may say that the patterns and designs on these carpets are downright tacky, with colorful swirls, lines, and splashes being the norm. However, to the human brain they are mesmerizing, welcoming and pleasing to the eye. In addition, the color of the walls is often times red which studies say evokes a safe, comfortable feeling.

And like shopping malls and stores, the soundtracks played at casinos are always soft, easing, and mollifying which helps get the gambler in the trance-like state that is desired.

Related to this category is the cleanliness of casinos. Any reputable one will be spotless with no clutter or waste in sight. Workers continually sweep and pick up after players which makes them feel somewhat pampered and catered to, as well as gives them a pleasing environment in which they want to stay.

If you want to use the restroom, get something to eat, or cash out your chips, you must burrow yourself deeper into the bowels of the casino. Often, these services are wedged as far back as possible. This is a last-ditch effort to keep you inside since you have to walk through the whole place again and pass all of those tempting machines and tables. You have just cashed in your winnings and perhaps you may want to try your luck one last time before leaving. It’s the same principle stores use in hopes of getting a customer to make that last impulse buy during that long walk to the exit.

In larger casino/hotels, the casino is buried deep inside the building itself. Taking various escalators, stairs, etc. is the only way to get to and from it and is one way to keep you on the property.

Next to actually winning, nothing gets your adrenaline pumping like nearly winning and the realization that you almost took money from the casino. But if casinos gave out money to everyone who almost won, they would be broke after one day. Every game, whether it be a table or machine, is designed to payout small wins in the short run, but eventually take more from you in the long run. Slot machines constantly make small payouts while perpetually being one cherry or star away from the big jackpot. Players always win hands at blackjack which gives them the impression that the game is winnable, but the house edge is always grinding away at their bankroll and their money slowly dissipates.

Other games give the gambler a feeling of “control” such as craps or keno. Here, the player has a direct influence on the outcome, such as throwing the dice or picking their own numbers. This is yet another ploy that gives the player a false sense that they can beat a game and therefore will cause them to play longer.

Basically, players overestimate their chances and probability of winning. Near wins are what essentially keep casinos in business. Giving players a taste of winning will almost always guarantee that they visit again.

Free or reduced services, otherwise known as comps, are another lifeblood of the casino. Players will often receive coupons for free meals, buffets, shows, etc., or point cards which enable them to win other prizes in order to get them to keep coming back. It makes them feel important, even if they are low rollers and don’t gamble substantial sums of money. Even if they lose, they still feel as if they have gained something and are more likely to return. They are important to the casinos because the vast majority of money made comes from these smaller gamblers, so their business is even more coveted than the high rollers’.

Are they simply being good hosts to their patrons? Not really. It’s all calculated to keep them there so they play more and longer. Whatever casinos give out in comps, they make back hundreds-fold from the same people. It’s sort of like persuading a child to behave well in exchange for a cheap toy.

This could have gone under the freebies category but deserves to be discussed independently. It’s as obvious and transparent a trick as freebies but may be the most powerful. Free drinks work on a couple of levels. First, they’re FREE. Unless you’re a teetotaler, who doesn’t love free drinks? Cocktail waitresses swarm the casino floor, their trays full of various drinks at all times. It’s no secret why this would keep a player put, satisfied, and feeling cheerful.

Next, alcohol makes even smart players sloppy. If you’re a player who uses basic strategy in blackjack, alcohol will slow your brain therefore corrupting your ability to make the proper decisions. Gamblers will also become more liberal with their money if buzzed or drunk, throwing their chips around like they’re nothing more than the pieces of clay that they are. To many, sucking down free drinks while playing enjoyable games is pretty much as good as it gets.

Although small bettors are important, casinos surely want to keep the high rollers as well. Those fortunate enough to win big are treated like kings. They basically make these players offers they cannot refuse, from free suites to extravagant, special treatment. The longer a big winner lingers inside the casino/hotel, the more money they will inevitably spend there. The casino may lose money giving away a free suite or room, but by keeping that person there they can make it back in the casino; the house edge ensures that.

Players feel like they are treated like royalty because they are important, yet it’s their MONEY that is important. In addition to keeping the money there, casinos are also gaining free advertising and marketing when other high rollers learn how they will be treated at that particular establishment. Pandering to big winners is so crucial for casinos that a large part of their resources, from VIP hosts to limousines, is dedicated to it.

Casinos are essentially giant mazes that are intentionally set up for you to literally get lost in. A sea of machines and tables create obstacles and barriers that keep the player from leaving. There is no logical arrangement; a bank of slot machines may be in one location, then another bank of the exact same machines will be 200 feet away. Confusion is the end result. You know the exit was near the video poker machines, but which set of video poker machines?

Nooks and crannies abound with various twists and turns. This plays on the common mental error people make when they mistakenly believe that if they walk in along a certain path, they can easily turn around and walk out the same way. However, the path leading out is unfamiliar because visually it is completely different. The tall slot machines which make up most of the floor layout also hinder people from seeing far which further disorients them. Moreover, more modern casinos have lower ceilings which prevent someone from seeing any landmarks on the walls or ceiling in the distance that may help orient them, but instead keep them hemmed in. For many, especially those who have been imbibing alcohol, finding their way out is like participating in one, large, interactive brain teaser.