21 Best R&B Karaoke Songs - Music Grotto (2024)

R&B music makes excellent karaoke songs due to their drum machine-backed rhythms, powerful vocals, and everything else that makes this genre unique. Fortunately, this category of music gave birth to some of the most well-known karaoke songs of all time.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration for party tunes, planning your next showcase at the karaoke bar, or wanting to belt out at home alone in your room, here are the top 21 best R&B karaoke songs.

1. Independent Women Pt. 1 – Destiny’s Child

It’s like an unspoken rule: any R&B karaoke list must have at least one Destiny’s Child song on it. How could it not?This particular hit made the list because it’s one of those songs that causes every lady to throw their hands up and feel the power and energy.

This particular hit made the list because it’s one of those songs that causes every lady to throw their hands up and feel the power and energy.

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2. Milkshake – Kelis

Anyone who’s ever listened to R&B knows just what to say to someone talking about their milkshake, “It brings all the boys to the yard.” This banger is a track that most people know, and it has a beat you can shake it to, making it a very popular tune for karaoke.

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3. I Don’t Need a Man – The puss*cat Dolls

Want to get at least one lady at the party to stand up and belt out how she doesn’t need a man to support her? This number meets all the criteria a hot karaoke track needs—a rhythm to dance to and lyrics that make a person feel strong and in control.

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4. Burn – Usher

This isn’t the typical song you think about when you hear the phrase “best R&B karaoke songs,” but it makes this list for a reason. It has lyrics that almost every rhythm and blues lover knows, and it truly evokes emotion.

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5. So Sick – Neyo

You can’t be sick of this love, well, break-up song. It’s an ideal karaoke song for any man or woman who wants that special someone to know they’re missing them.

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6. No Scrubs – TLC

When this song first came out, women everywhere were aggressively singing how they didn’t want a loser guy catcalling them from their best friend’s ride. To this day, most women “feel” and sing loudly when this joint comes on, making it a quintessential tune for any R&B karaoke list.

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7. Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys

Anyone will feel strong, sexy, and confident when this song plays, which as you’re probably well aware, will get people up and ready to sing, even if they’re not the best vocalists.

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8. It Wasn’t Me – Shaggy

Remember when this first song came out? Anytime anyone asked who did something, people’s response was to sing, “It Wasn’t Me.” And 90s babies still do that to this day. This is one of those songs that’s one of the best R&B karaoke songs for nostalgia purposes.

9. Single Ladies – Beyoncé

This is the single girls’ anthem. What better way to get everyone up and dancing than to put on an upbeat Beyoncé song about unpartnered ladies? It’s also a great song to make a former partner in the audience jealous.

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10. Same Script, Different Cast – Whitney Houston Featuring Deborah Cox

This is an awesome karaoke song for a duo. They can easily feed off of each other’s energy as they fight over the same lover.

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11. The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica

Fight over a common significant other is in this classic song about two women in love with the same man. It has the back and forth suitable for a duo doing karaoke together.

12. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

Fabulous singers can belt out this ballad like it’s nothing, while it’s hysterical to listen to people sing it off key and miss the high note, making it a fun song for karaoke night.

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13. (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

Whether you’re an R&B enthusiast or not, this song is such a classic that almost everyone knows it. For this reason, it’s a popular karaoke tune.

14. Lean on Me – Club Nouveau

Friends love to sing this ditty together, showing each other how much they mean to one another. It has simple lyrics and a catchy beat. Can you say karaoke perfection?

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15. Work It – Missy Elliot

This ranks on this list because it’s a tune most people know, but it’s also one that few people know the true lyrics to, making it a number to sing.“Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gnaht ym tup i,” by the way, is “I put my thang down flip it and reverse it” backward.

16. Respect – Aretha Franklin

She might not have been the first one to sing this song, but who’s going to tell “the Queen of Soul” that she doesn’t deserve respect? Plus, it’s an upbeat song that most people know the lyrics to—a recipe for the perfect karaoke tune.

17. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

Good melody, a tune to dance to, and empowering lyrics are what karaoke hits consist of, and this song brings it, earning it a spot on the best R&B karaoke songs.

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18. It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls

This song has a good beat and interesting lyrics. The fact that most people know it only sweetens the pot.

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19. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

This is probably the ultimate couple karaoke song—one plays the role of Martin and the other of Tammi. The crowd gets to see the passion between the two.

20. Beat It – Michael Jackson

“Beat It” is one of those songs most people know, and it’s one that you can put a deal of emotion into.

21. I Heard it Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye

Many people can recognize this song from the first few notes. It’s notorious for bringing back memories and being an overall fun song to sing.

No matter the reason you’re searching for the best R&B karaoke songs, these rank highly. Some are upbeat and emotional, others are well-known, and the rest are humorous, a perfect blend for a super karaoke night.

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