Put your singing range to the ultimate test. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 50 Hardest Songs to Sing.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 50 hardest songs to sing.
00:1450. Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis
00:2650. Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis
00:35From the X Factor champion to international sensation, Leona Lewis took the 2000s by storm
00:41with this track. Bleeding Love encompasses all of the passionate work that ultimately won her
00:46the singing competition. Not only are Lewis' vocals perfect, she gives the performance an
00:51extra quality that's hard to match. She's able to glide gracefully into high notes like it's no
01:04big deal, even though it definitely is. She makes every note seem easy, but any attempt to do this
01:10at karaoke will quickly put you in your place. Don't forget about the big notes near the finish
01:15either, which prove that Lewis is much more than your average contest winner.
01:2949. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
01:41Smells Like Teen Spirit represents the commercial peak of grunge music.
01:45It also reminds people of why Kurt Cobain was such a unique singer. His gritty voice
01:50combines punk and rock styles into an unstoppable force. Intricate lyrics allow for some clever
01:56wordplay on top of the extraordinary vocals. Cobain leaves nothing to the imagination in
02:09a fierce delivery, using every last bit of energy to offer up this breakthrough performance.
02:14In the song's final moments, he strains his vocal cords to create an unforgettable noise.
02:19The reverberations are still felt to this day, in a track that never seems to age.
02:2548. My Immortal – Evanescence
02:42This band doesn't get enough credit for their truly staggering and diverse work. With Amy Lee
02:48as lead singer, Evanescence continually shows that they're a force to be reckoned with. My Immortal
02:53places Lee at the top of her game in a delicate arrangement. Embracing the emotional edge of the
03:04track, she beautifully sustains a number of extended notes. That, and the way she's able
03:09to carry the weight of a more minimal composition with her voice alone, isn't something that just
03:14anyone can do. Nothing short of haunting, My Immortal is difficult to master on both technical
03:19and personal levels. 47. Alone – Heart
03:35One of the great 80s power ballads, Alone reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987,
03:52and held onto that top spot for three weeks. This is one of those tracks that might seem doable
03:57at first, as Ann Wilson takes a calm, relatable approach to the opening verses,
04:03with just a piano accompaniment. But then, when it's chorus time, the guitar kicks in,
04:15and so does Wilson's, as one reviewer put it, quote, signature billowing, riveting vocals.
04:21We don't know about you, but no one would ever call our vocal abilities billowing or riveting.
04:2746. Back in Black – ACDC
04:42Because of the hard-hitting guitar chords and Angus Young's shorts, many of us may have forgotten
04:47just how hard the vocals are in this classic ACDC track. The Back in Black album was the first one
04:53featuring Brian Johnson as the lead singer, having taken over for Bon Scott, who had passed
04:58away earlier in the year. And Johnson wasted no time showing off his impressive pipes in this song,
05:04hitting some high notes that have tripped up many who've tried to sing this one.
05:18You'll find many who just scream their way through Back in Black,
05:21but it takes a really talented vocalist to sing it properly.
05:3345. Run to You – Whitney Houston
05:42This is arguably one of Houston's most deceptive numbers. It displays the many
05:47stunning textures of her voice and her unparalleled endurance. Whitney tackles
05:51the number with power and conviction, while still providing a warm and vulnerable tone.
05:56The song features a gradual build-up, but that bridge can really sneak up on you.
06:06And then there's the chorus, which takes everything you have emotionally and vocally.
06:18Whitney's voice rises from the very depths of her chest, and her vibrato is stirring enough
06:23to shake up the time-space continuum. It's a risky song to attempt to say the least.
06:28You don't want your audience to run from you, now do you?
06:4144. Fly Like a Bird – Mariah Carey
06:47Mariah Carey's singing prowess and dominating range are next level, to put it mildly.
06:56Some might have thought that her whistle notes peaked in the 1990s. On the contrary,
07:00the singer continued to impress with Fly Like a Bird off of her The Emancipation of Mimi album.
07:06The song lets her go all out in a show-stopping performance that's
07:09basically impossible for the average person to deliver.
07:17With a finale that ranks among her best, this sometimes underrated track is wonderfully bold.
07:25You'll likely have to pick your jaw up off the floor after hearing this one,
07:29and then go do a bunch of vocal exercises before even attempting to sing it.
07:3343. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
07:51Aerosmith continued to adapt to changing trends in the 90s,
07:55recording I Don't Want to Miss a Thing in a rare ballad for them.
07:58Steven Tyler sings as well as he did on the group's first record.
08:02His ability to nail every note of the chorus shows his timeless talent.
08:15The song from the Armageddon soundtrack elevates the multi-decade career of the act
08:20better known for hard rock. Tyler belts it out like the best of them,
08:23even yelling and screaming by the end of it all. While it's fun to sing along to the catchy hook,
08:28it's also impossible to copy the singer's performance.
08:4042. Purple Rain – Prince
08:54Great singing isn't just about hitting the right musical notes,
08:57but about hitting the right emotional notes as well. And that's exactly what you're going to
09:01have to achieve if you have any chance at doing justice to Prince's 1984 hit, Purple Rain.
09:15From the get-go, Prince is feeling this one with a depth that comes through
09:19even if you aren't watching the accompanying music video slash scene from his similarly titled film.
09:25Then, while you're scouring the depths of your soul, now you have to also hit those notes. Enjoy!
09:42And if you manage that one, give When Doves Cry a try next.
09:4541. Video Games – Lana Del Rey
09:55It's the song that put her on the map, and for good reason. Video games sounded unlike anything
10:01else released at the time. The slower tempo and dreamy production helped it stand out amongst the
10:06standard pop fare. It may not seem like the most complicated track to learn due to it primarily
10:19being in a lower key. However, Del Rey's distinct style makes it much harder to pull off.
10:30She infuses the lyrics with pure emotion, all while carefully riding the line between having
10:35a rich and airy tone. This creates a unique sound that's tough to emulate. Without either
10:41component, the performance runs the risk of becoming tedious, something she's managed to
10:46avoid her entire career. 40. Long, Long Time – Linda Ronstadt
11:00Loving someone who doesn't return your feelings is a pain like no other.
11:04Linda Ronstadt manages to capture this bittersweet sensation perfectly in Long, Long Time.
11:17It's a masterclass in dynamics. She has the ability to quickly fluctuate between
11:22softer spoken lines and louder belting. It takes a well-practiced vocalist to be
11:37able to pull off such an effortless switch, and she does it so well that she makes it seem easy.
11:43Except it's far from simple. It's just that Ronstadt has a powerful voice,
11:48which is particularly apparent after the final refrain.
11:52She sings a series of deceptively simple-seeming notes, and while they aren't the hardest to reach,
11:57one needs major skill to pull them off without sounding uncomfortable.
12:0139. Take On Me – A-Ha
12:21When most of us think of this song, the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic music
12:26video about a girl pulled into the world of a comic book. And at over 1.9 billion views on
12:31YouTube, we obviously aren't alone. But what might be getting lost in all that pencil-drawn
12:36awesomeness is just how impressive the Take On Me vocals are. The range throughout the song is
12:52deceiving, and even just in the chorus, lead singer Morten Harket starts off pretty low and
12:58hits some higher-than-average notes as well. One reviewer called the song, quote,
13:03emotionally resonant thanks to Morten Harket's touching vocal delicacy.
13:07Is your voice touching and delicate?
13:1738. Bang Bang – Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj
13:22Trying to emulate one powerhouse is tough enough. Having to mimic three is a feat like no other.
13:28Bang Bang may just seem like a fun summer bop, but there are actually several layers
13:33of complex vocals. Each star brings their own unique style to the song. Between Jessie J's
13:43commanding voice, Grande's effortless belting, and Minaj's signature flow, every aspect of it
13:49is tailored to show off their artistry. They could've easily overpowered each other,
13:54but they complement one another instead. This type of restraint isn't easy, and goes to show how much
14:06work they've put into their technique. Thus, Bang Bang is a surprisingly elaborate hit that's
14:11difficult to master in all its glory. But that doesn't mean it isn't fun to try.
14:1937. Chopsuey – System of a Down
14:35Blending rock and metal, System of a Down defy classification with songs like Chopsuey.
14:41Lead vocalist Serge Tankian shouts into the microphone in a terrifying opening.
14:46Through melodic changes, he reveals his speed and tenacity. Indeed,
14:50he's able to both scream and whisper, switching between styles practically within seconds.
15:04Almost no one can catch up to Tankian's sheer ferocity as a performer. Even if you survive
15:10the first verse and chorus, there's still a bridge that's full of additional shouting.
15:15The lung capacity needed to perform it well is reserved for the most elite musicians.
15:2936. Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
15:38You may think their ballads would be the hardest to pull off, but that distinction goes to their
15:42debut single. Bring Me to Life not only put Evanescence on the map, it also gave their
15:47lead singer Amy Lee the perfect opportunity to showcase her stylistic range. She starts off with
15:54a lighter sound during the verses, and then switches to a more powerful tone as soon as
15:58the chorus kicks in, without sounding strained at all. The notes come in at a difficult place,
16:11requiring the performer to slip into their head voice while still relying on their lower register
16:16for support. While some can pull it off, no one can hit those nuances quite like Amy Lee,
16:22especially not a beginner.
16:3035. Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland
16:42It's hard to believe she was only a teenager when she first started performing this iconic piece,
16:49originally written for The Wizard of Oz. Judy Garland wowed audiences across the
16:53globe with her performance of the hopeful yet melancholic Over the Rainbow.
17:12It's a wistful number, all about how Dorothy wishes she could be anywhere other than home.
17:17The forlornness in the delivery is where the real complexity comes in.
17:21Without it, the number loses most of its magic. While other musicians have taken on the challenge
17:26and done a serviceable job, none have been able to come close to Garland's original interpretation.
17:4234. Faithfully – Journey
17:57We picked Faithfully, but the truth is that most songs in the Journey catalogue
18:01could have made this list. And the reason for that is Steve Perry,
18:05lead singer of the band and one of the truly great voices in the history of rock and roll.
18:1135. Rolling Stone – John Bon Jovi
18:22Rolling Stone ranked him as number 76th greatest singer of all time,
18:26and his friend John Bon Jovi nicknamed him The Voice. And Faithfully puts that voice on
18:32full display with its beautiful tones and amazing range. Now, we don't want to discourage people
18:37from believing in themselves, but if someone thinks they can sing Faithfully as well as Perry,
18:42well, maybe they should stop believing.
19:0033. Since You've Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
19:04After winning the premiere season of American Idol, Clarkson proved she was a star time and
19:08again. Her second studio album gave us this instant classic, one that has been
19:14imitated both in real life and on screen. Her anger is palpable during the track,
19:26particularly during the bridge and final hook. Her voice is filled with intensity,
19:31delivering each word with scathing fury. That coupled with her impressive upper range
19:36makes this one of the most technically demanding pop bangers to reach the charts.
19:48The end is by far the most impressive part, as the singer maintains a perfectly controlled tone
19:53that never falters. It's clear to see why this was the audition song in Pitch Perfect.
19:58It's perfect for testing one's prowess.
20:0832. All I Wanted – Paramore
20:14There are plenty of numbers by the band that highlight Hayley Williams' exquisite vocals,
20:20but none have quite the same effect as this one. All I Wanted starts out as a classic Paramore
20:25tune, only for the gears to switch once the chorus starts.
20:35Williams flawlessly reaches those higher tones without it sounding forced.
20:40That's much easier said than done for the rest of us. She belts them out like it's second nature,
20:45effectively communicating the sentiment of the piece through her voice alone.
20:49It's undoubtedly ambitious, especially the extended note near the end.
20:54The music temporarily cutting out puts her raw talent at the forefront,
20:57creating the perfect musical climax that not just anyone can pull off.
21:0931. You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
21:13You Raise Me Up was originally written by the duo Secret Garden. The Norwegian-Irish
21:25twosome released the track back in 2002, and since then it's gone on to be covered by over
21:30100 different artists, both male and female. One of the most popular covers is the 2003 version
21:37by Josh Groban, and copying that version is quite difficult for other male singers.
21:53Groban's vocal range is wide, and trying to replicate it isn't easy, or even possible for
21:58many other male vocalists. In 2005, Irish boy band Westlife released their version of the song.
22:05It's a very nice version of the song, but as you can hear, the vocals stay in a much narrower range.
22:1930. Stone Cold – Demi Lovato
22:23Already proving to be one of the best of their Disney Channel cohorts,
22:27Lovato showed just how versatile they are on this heart-wrenching single.
22:31Nailing Stone Cold requires a ton of impressive skill,
22:34including transitioning between octaves like it's nothing.
22:46Lovato pours every ounce of feeling into it, creating a modern-day soul number.
22:51Plus, the fact that the instrumental is relatively stripped back means there's
22:55nowhere to hide, making the final product a true testament to their vocal ability.
23:01While hitting the notes is hard enough, the breath control Lovato utilizes to properly
23:11support them also can't be understated. Needless to say, an amateur would need
23:16some serious practice and then some before covering this powerful ballad.
23:2629. Crawling – Linkin Park
23:31Chester Bennington was a phenomenal vocalist, and gave Linkin Park one of the most unique
23:44sounds of the 2000s. But the notes Bennington could hit isn't really what makes the song
23:49Crawling a difficult song to master. Rather, it's the range of styles and techniques he
23:54employs throughout the three-and-a-half-minute track.
24:01From the softer, more melodic singing of the verses to the loud, emotional screaming of the
24:10chorus, it covers a lot of ground. You better prepare your throat if you plan on attempting
24:15this one. 28. Defying Gravity – Idina Menzel
24:29and Kristen Chenoweth Wicked is one of the most famous musicals of the 21st century,
24:34and for good reason. It has a litany of unforgettable numbers. One of the most
24:38beloved and complicated songs, of course, is Defying Gravity, which Elphaba sings,
24:44joined in some spots by Glinda and the chorus, as she embraces her true power.
24:49This arc is evidenced by her dynamics and cadence gradually increasing,
25:01eventually culminating in that seemingly insurmountable riff. It's also the final
25:06moment before the end of the first act, meaning it requires some serious acting ability to pull off.
25:12Countless people have taken on the piece, but it's a challenge for anyone to execute well.
25:21While some have done it justice, Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel's rendition
25:26remains the blueprint. 27. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman – Aretha
25:47Franklin Aretha Franklin's voice was one in a million, which is why it's so hard to perfectly
25:53nail one of her tracks. One of her most complex by far is You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman,
26:03a ballad expressing how a lover makes the narrator feel down to her core. Franklin effortlessly
26:09shows off her vocal range throughout, ranging from rich lower tones to gorgeous lilting higher notes.
26:1528. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
26:23It isn't a song for the faint of heart, as reaching those without being pitchy is nearly
26:27impossible. The self-control needed to pull the technique off while maintaining that passionate,
26:33joyful sound is something that only experts have, making this one of the most intricate songs ever.
26:3926. My All – Mariah Carey
26:57As soon as those sultry guitars come in, you know you're in for a performance.
27:02Mariah Carey is one of the greatest vocal performers we have, and on the fifth single
27:06from her album Butterfly, she proved it again.
27:18Carey starts off quietly on this sexy, passionate song, content to show off her melisma skills,
27:24and affords us soft runs all over the place. In the second and third choruses,
27:30her voice grows stronger as she lets out those high notes.
27:37But as any good singer should, Carey never loses control,
27:46effortlessly switching between her belt and her head voice.
27:5725. Earth Song – Michael Jackson
28:07If you think you can throw on a red leather jacket and a bedazzled white glove and this
28:18song will be smooth sailing, well then you have another thing coming. Everyone remembers how
28:22amazing Jackson was as a dancer and performer, but his vocal abilities are sometimes overlooked.
28:28Well, they can't be overlooked on Earth Song.
28:30The song speaks to our destruction of our planet, and requires real, heartfelt emotions to pull it
28:41off. Also, one needs to range into higher notes that aren't a moonwalk in the park for many singers.
28:4824. My Heart Will Go On – Céline Dion
28:581997 didn't just give us James Cameron's masterpiece of a film. It also brought us one
29:04of the best songs ever written and performed with it, a song that would be sung at karaoke
29:09until the end of time. Still, it might be best to leave this one to the pros. Not only because
29:23My Heart Will Go On is sung by the incomparable Céline Dion, but also because it's incredibly
29:28difficult to get just right. Dion captures the emotion of the love ballad in a way no one else
29:41can with her effortless control. Her voice grows steadily stronger as the music progresses,
29:47before completely exploding at the end, attacking those high notes perfectly.
30:0023. How Can I Ease The Pain – Lisa Fisher
30:04Here's one of the most impossible-to-nail slow jams of all time.
30:08Seriously, we don't know how Lisa Fisher does it. She's a goddess.
30:17It was released in 1991 and remains one of Fisher's biggest hits to this day.
30:24Fisher manages to stretch her notes like no other, and listening to her attain those high
30:28notes so flawlessly makes us wish she got more opportunities like this to show off her chops.
30:41How Can I Ease The Pain requires an incredibly strong belter to get up into that high register.
30:46While still pouring passion into the words.
30:49And once Fisher lets loose on those whistle tones, please.
31:0122. Unbreak My Heart – Toni Braxton
31:05Don't leave me in all this pain. Don't leave me out in the rain.
31:14It's not just the high notes that can be difficult to hit. The opening of Unbreak My
31:18Heart doesn't necessarily make you feel like the song's going to be that hard to sing.
31:23But then you hear the incredible range of Toni Braxton.
31:26Why you can't go?
31:32From that first verse, Braxton's smoky vocals follow through the lower notes of her register
31:37with incredible strength and power. On top of that, her talent only shines stronger on the
31:43second verse, when she shows us all how low she can go while still maintaining precise control
31:48over her stellar runs.
31:5921. Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler
32:08The rock ballad is one of the best subgenres music has given us over the years.
32:13And Total Eclipse Of The Heart is rock ballad execution at its finest.
32:17This song not only requires melodramatic rock and roll passion at a high level,
32:22but tremendous breath support as well.
32:30Bonnie Tyler stays up in that higher register for most of it,
32:34and not for nothing, those verses and choruses have a lot of words.
32:38With so much movement and not a ton of time to breathe,
32:41Total Eclipse Of The Heart is certainly one of the most impressive ballads of its kind.
32:4820. Livin' On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
32:57You can take our hand, but when it comes to properly rocking this track,
33:01we can't swear to the fact that you'll make it.
33:0321. Livin' On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
33:13Awesomely awful 80s hairdo aside,
33:15Jon Bon Jovi powers through Livin' On A Prayer with some subtly impressive vocal stylings.
33:29The song might seem like a rather simple 80s rock ballad,
33:32but as many karaoke audiences know,
33:35making it through that chorus ain't as easy as many think it is.
33:46Most guys should probably just remember that it's all for fun
33:50and it doesn't make a difference if they make it or not.
33:5319. Imagine – Ariana Grande
34:02Oh, you wanted more whistle tones in modern pop music?
34:05Well, Ariana Grande heard you and she delivered.
34:14It's no secret that Grande is an expert singer,
34:17but with her hit Imagine, she went further than we could've imagined.
34:21The song's chorus requires the singer to make a large vocal leap on the word imagine,
34:27and necessitates pinpoint precision in its notes.
34:34But all that aside, if you want to sound like Grande when you sing this song,
34:38you've gotta try and go for those whistle tones at the end.
34:41Definitely not an easy task.
34:5218. Rolling in the Deep – Adele
35:04Rolling in the Deep was the song that first brought English singer Adele to international
35:09stardom, and for good reason. Written in response to a heated breakup she once had,
35:14the lyrics tell a personal story. It's a song about a lover telling her ex that he is too
35:19foolish to see how much he could've had with her. It's an angry, passionate tune. There are
35:33no whispers of despair in this brassy number, and only a strong singer with both low and high
35:38range vocal power can pull it off. Adele beautifully communicates the anger in the
35:43track without sacrificing the purity of her sound.
35:5317. And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going – Jennifer Holliday
35:58When Jennifer Holliday originated the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls on Broadway in 1981,
36:04this number brought down the house. Holliday won a Tony Award,
36:08and was set on the path to pop and R&B fame.
36:1318. And I Am Telling You This song takes place after a stormy scene,
36:21where Effie finds out she's been thrown out of her singing group.
36:24She adamantly insists to the manager that she's staying no matter what because she loves him.
36:37Strong, high belting, and convincing drama are essential to the musical number,
36:42which makes it effective only when sung by a very talented singer and actress.
36:55And this isn't the only difficult song from Dreamgirls.
36:58I Am Changing definitely strains our vocal chords a bit.
37:0216. Lovin' You – Minnie Riperton
37:17Though she performed with Stevie Wonder and Rotary Connection,
37:20Minnie Riperton spent most of her career struggling to be noticed.
37:24She died tragically young, succumbing to cancer when she was only 31 years old.
37:29However, she did have one smash hit single, and this is it.
37:33Lovin' You is a soothing, repetitive track, seemingly simple but by no means easy to pull off.
37:39Some notes are so high they've been mistaken for bird whistles.
37:50There actually are some bird twitters in the background,
37:53but those sweet fluting notes are all Riperton, who makes them sound amazingly effortless.
37:5915. I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
38:15We're not exaggerating when we say I Believe in a Thing Called Love is a good time from the first
38:20second, with fans fully rejoicing at Justin Hawkins' amazing vocal range.
38:25Indeed, he indulges in all of the eccentricities of glam and hard rock styles.
38:30Of course, a good time doesn't mean an easy one.
38:41The entire chorus functions like a minefield that's hard to travel through without absolute
38:45control of your voice. With one high note after another, Hawkins flies up and down his register
38:51without missing a beat. This melodically sophisticated throwback never ceases to
38:55stump even the most capable artists. 14. Don't Rain on My Parade – Barbara Streisand
39:13Notoriously difficult, Don't Rain on My Parade is from the musical Funny Girl,
39:17which was based on the life of Fanny Bryce. Barbara Streisand, who played the lead role on
39:30Broadway in 1964 and won an Oscar for her performance in the movie adaptation,
39:35makes it sound quite natural. However, the song's tricky rhythms, frequent leaps,
39:40and consistent high energy have daunted many aspiring vocalists.
39:48Although a few professionals like Bea Arthur and Idina Menzel have covered the song,
39:55the musical wasn't revived on Broadway for decades, possibly because of the challenge
39:59of finding someone for that dynamic leading role. That changed in 2022, however, with the revival
40:05that eventually cast Lea Michele as Fanny. 13. Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
40:27Inspired by Emily Bronte's tale of tempestuous romance, the song Wuthering Heights focuses on
40:32the part of the story where Catherine's ghost returns to Heathcliff after many years of anger
40:37and misunderstanding in life. The song took the world by storm in 1978, topping charts throughout
40:48the UK. Kate Bush has a style that is extremely difficult to imitate, and while her voice sounds
40:54natural and sweet in the single's high falsetto runs, they are extremely difficult for most
40:59singers to achieve. And as if that weren't enough, the backing track gives almost no support,
41:12as many karaoke performers have discovered to their dismay.
41:24And just in case you were thinking about it, no, we wouldn't try running up that hill either.
41:3012. Dream On – Aerosmith
41:52Every time Steven Tyler looks in the mirror, he sees a man with an amazing singing voice,
41:57but for most any other vocalist out there who thinks they can sing like Tyler,
42:02we have two words for you. Dream on.
42:13And it isn't just the vocal range and the sheer power of Tyler's voice that makes this a tough
42:18one. There's also the change in melody which can catch some singers off guard.
42:2811. I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston
42:36The Bodyguard, the 1992 movie that stars Whitney Houston as a famous singer and Kevin Cosner as
42:42her, well, titular bodyguard, is somewhat of a cheesy mess, but that soundtrack is definitely
42:47the silver lining. I Have Nothing is but one of the amazing singles that came from The Bodyguard,
43:03and also one of the toughest in Whitney Houston's roster. The song requires
43:08incredible force and resonance, particularly when it hits the chorus.
43:17We don't know about you, but we can't imagine anyone other than Houston giving
43:27this one the passion it deserves. 10. Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers
43:48Originally released in 1955, Unchained Melody has been recorded over 1500 times by more than
43:59670 artists, but for the purposes of this list, we will focus our attention on the 1965 version,
44:06recorded by The Righteous Brothers. We can't imagine any singer listening to Bobby Hatfield
44:12and think to themselves that it would be easy to do that.
44:32Even Elvis Presley, who has a great voice and does a great version of the song,
44:36doesn't try to hit the same high notes and pull off the same crescendos that Hatfield does so
44:41effortlessly. 9. Vision of Love – Mariah Carey
44:59It seems too far out of reach to picture a time when Mariah Carey wasn't popping off
45:04in her whistle register. Turns out, this time was actually before 1990.
45:15The release of Vision of Love was actually the first time audiences would hear Carey
45:19hit those tones, and it was incredible. Still, the whistle notes are not the only
45:33thing that makes Vision of Love so impressive. It requires a singer with an incredible depth of
45:38range, downright insane breath control, and the ability to transition vocally without a hitch.
45:548. Listen – Beyonce While this song is also technically from
45:59Dreamgirls, it did not appear in the original musical. It was specially written for the 2006
46:04movie adaptation. Listen is sung by a character who has felt stifled and uncertain throughout,
46:16until she finally breaks out in this show-stopping number,
46:19and demands that people listen to what she has to say.
46:22It's a fierce and dynamic tour de force, with big leaps, florid riffs, and long runs that require
46:34a strong, powerful voice to perform well. Beyonce does an amazing job of keeping up
46:39the passion and volume without sacrificing any of that gorgeous flexibility.
46:517. Chandelier – Sia Sia has made a successful career writing
46:56songs for other singers, and originally, she intended Chandelier to be sung by Rihanna,
47:01with some sources also adding Beyonce. But as she crafted the track, she realized it
47:07was one she needed to sing herself. Although it is somewhat gritty and raw, describing the
47:20effects of hard partying and addiction, Chandelier still requires an accomplished singer,
47:25from low, rapid mutters to high leaps and strong-held notes. It's a wild ride.
47:39Sia's voice blends pain and lyricism in a way that makes this song uniquely hers,
47:44and because of both her talents and her personal connection with the song,
47:48it's doubtful whether anyone else could perform it so effectively.
48:016. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
48:04Where do we start with this one? Bohemian Rhapsody is a prog-rock classic. Part ballad,
48:20part opera, part hard rock anthem all wrapped up in an almost six-minute
48:24vocal trip that has humbled many a singer who has taken the ride.
48:35And we aren't the only ones who think Freddie Mercury's performance of the song is a vocal
48:39feat not to be taken lightly. In a Rolling Stone Reader's Poll, Mercury's performance of the song
48:44was voted as the greatest in the history of rock and roll. But yeah, you can go ahead and try to
48:49sing it if you want. Just remember, this is the real life. This isn't just fantasy.
48:555. Hurt – Christina Aguilera
49:13Christina Aguilera is one of the most prolific singers in Hollywood.
49:17Unfortunately, one of her greatest, most difficult songs to sing is not one of her most famous.
49:25Hurt is a number from Aguilera's 2006 album Back to Basics. It sort of got buried under the
49:34pizzazz of the rest of the tracklist, which includes the likes of Ain't No Other Man and
49:38Candyman. However, in Hurt, Aguilera slows things down and delivers a masterful performance with
49:44incredible range. The chorus necessitates a kind of emotion and resonance that is rare to come by.
49:554. All By Myself – Céline Dion
50:07Céline Dion has won acclaim for many dramatic and challenging songs,
50:11but this one stretched even her impressive powers. A quiet, introspective beginning leads to a
50:17swelling key change, and finally, a passionate outpouring of sorrow that demands strong,
50:22sustained high notes relentlessly. As with all deeply emotional pieces,
50:33the singer must be expressive without losing the beauty of the sound. Not an easy task at any time,
50:39but particularly hard when you're belting very high and very loud in front of a large audience.
50:45All By Myself has become one of Dion's most iconic songs, despite being a cover of an Eric
50:50Carmen original, and there's a good reason you rarely hear someone else attempt it.
51:043. Love On Top – Beyoncé
51:07It's time to talk about key changes. Beyoncé's 2011 hit,
51:11Love On Top, is one of the pop diva's most fun songs.
51:21From the outset, it doesn't seem like it will be particularly difficult to sing.
51:26Not more difficult than any other Beyoncé song anyway. But by the end, we've found
51:30ourselves with so many key changes, we don't even know how to begin counting them off.
51:43As Beyoncé's voice keeps getting higher and higher, our jaws keep dropping lower to the
51:48ground. It's insanely impressive how high up she can get, never mind the absolute clarity
51:53with which she does. 2. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
52:06Whitney Houston had a voice unlike anyone else's.
52:09And I wish you joy and happiness. She won fame singing not just original songs,
52:18but covers and classics that had been done a hundred times, like The Star-Spangled Banner.
52:24However, this tune, originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton,
52:28is probably Houston's most famous.
52:39The stamina and versatility required to sing I Will Always Love You are just the beginning.
52:44Because of the single's wide range of notes and dynamics,
52:47the singer must be able to adopt many different vocal characters.
52:51From sweetly quiet to powerfully low, and finally to triumphantly but gorgeously high.
52:573. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
53:07Or at least, that's the way Houston sang it.
53:10And nearly everyone else has been too daunted to tackle it since.
53:19Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get
53:23notified about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or
53:28all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
53:351. Emotions – Mariah Carey
53:45Many of our audience members probably guessed that a vocal performance by Mariah Carey was coming.
53:50They just didn't know which.
54:00Like Whitney Houston, Carey seems to be capable of performing vocal feats that are beyond those
54:05of regular mortals, and this one is a perfect example. Emotions is an upbeat R&B post-disco
54:12hit with no room for rest. One cannot help but wonder at Carey's constant high-energy belting,
54:18seemingly effortless runs, and of course, those incredible high notes soaring up into the
54:24stratosphere. A good operatic soprano could probably hit them, but rarely are notes so
54:36high heard with such pure and beautiful clarity. It all adds up to make this a
54:40fitting choice for our top most difficult song.
54:48Which song do you think would be the hardest to tackle? Let us know in the comments.
54:53Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo,
54:56and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.