Top 10 Songs for Singing Competition

Trust me, when I tell you that choosing the right song to sing in a competition is very important. You need to show your vocal range, unique styles and your versatility to connect with the judges. Here are the some of the top choices of solo songs competition. With the mix of both English and Tamil songs.

The Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queens

This is one of the most iconic songs ever written in the Rock genre. There are about 4 sections, each in different music styles and this makes it one of the songs for singing competition.

The introduction has rich vocal harmonies with a soft piano accompaniment. It then transitions into a slow ballad with Freddy Mercury’s emotive vocals. The third section is written in an Operatic style with lush harmonies and expressive Dynamics. Now we’re back to Rock ballads with a reflective tone using a coda.

Shallow’ by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

Needless to say, it is one of the hardest songs to perform and do justice to its emotional depth! Set in the pop/country genre, ‘Shallow’ has a gentle yet poignant feel throughout the song. It has a memorable chorus line with built up intensity and powerful vocals compared to the verses.

The bridge serves as a climax and features Bradley Cooper’s vocals. One must be careful with the raw delivery of the feel of vulnerability that the song is about. Being one of the best songs to sing for a competition, a successful delivery lies on the ability to reciprocate the raw emotional expressions and exceptional dynamical changes.

‘All of Me’ by John Legend

Let me begin with ‘All of Me’ is a beautifully crafted love ballad with deep and touching lyrics! The key element that makes you sing this song perfectly is your ability to connect with the audience(saying it from my experience). Since the accompaniment is soft and gentle the vocals have the spotlight. The more expressive your vocals are the more it helps you build an emotional narrative. 

Combination of soft vocals with subtle articulation makes your performance 10x better. With that being said, ‘All Of Me’ is one of the finest Songs for singing competition.

‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston

Originally written by Dolly Parton is a timeless classic most famous for its powerful vocal delivery. The subtle piano accompaniment allows the vocals to shine in the limelight. The minimal accompaniment makes this one of the best songs to sing for a competition. The standout component of this entire piece is the rise in dynamics in the chorus. ‘I Will Always Love You’ is apt for soprano voices. The interplay among the soft, intimate verses and the powerful vocal delivery along with climactic choruses is quite difficult to perform.

But hey! Proper understanding of Articulation and Vocal Dynamics will help you give an impactful performance.

‘Halo’ By Beyonce

Have a pretty wide vocal range? Well, this one’s for you! . Breath control is a must as it has long phrases and accented notes. Proper breathing technique, Diaphragmatic Breathing allows you to have the long phrases and the dynamical shifts under control. What better songs for singing competition can there be, more than ‘Halo’! There are soft passages as well as commanding ones like the choruses. The entirety of the song has tons of crescendos and diminuendos. One must look into that for an expressive performance.

Tamil Songs for Singing Competition

Some of the best songs to sing for a competition in tamil for you!

Let me remind you that the songs you choose needn’t have a complex melody or riffs! It just needs to bring out the best in you!

“Kannathil Muthamittal” From Kannathil Muthamittal

One of the most memorable songs composed by A.R.Rahman is also one of the good songs for singing competition. One must be able to highlight the emotive and tender tonality of Singers Chinmayi and Jeyachandran who performed in the female and male versions respectively. It is set in a moderate tempo which allows a reflective and immersing listening experience. This would help you connect with the judges emotionally.

Flowing dynamics and longer phrases would require strong breath control.

“Isaiyil Thodanguthamma” from Hey Ram

One of the masterpieces of the Maestro Ilayaraja is one of the excellent choices of songs for singing competition. With classical instruments like violin, veena, flute accompanying, this song has a rich and melodic texture. The lush orchestrations also compliments the vocal performance. Isaiyil Thodanguthamma has a subtle rhythm allowing the vocals to shine bright. It has the flavors of ragas hamsadhwani and sudh sarang.

“Kaatrin Mozhi” from Mozhi

Such a beautiful creation by Vidyasagar and yet another one of best songs to sing for a competition. It is praised for its soothing melody and its somber yet reflective tone. The moderate tempo allows a singer to narrate the lyrical expression of love and longing. The riffs and runs also help to connect with the listeners emotionally. It is pivotal to articulate the words clearly to get a perfect resonance. Moreover, pay attention to minute details in the notes sung.

“Adiye” from Kadal

Yet another one of excellent songs for singing competition. It’s an end result of blending traditional and contemporary elements of music. Interestingly, the interplay between the melody and rhythm creates a sense of fluidity carrying across an ethereal tone. There is a lot of room for improvisation and any singer can show the judges what you are made of.

“Kangal Etho” from Chiththa

This is a recent favorite for so many of us and is also one of the best songs to sing for a competition. The rich arrangements of harmonies and instrumentals creates a sense of both intimacy and grandeur. The subtle runs on a few notes allows an immersive musical experience. The lyrics and the vocals take the center stage to enable deeper connection with the listener. It is important to remember to keep the vocal delivery tender and expressive to capture the authenticity of the emotional narrative.

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