A long day of classes leaves me wanting nothing more than a hot shower and an American Idol-style singing session. I do all my best singing in the shower—just ask my roommate. Don’t be afraid to belt out those tunes for your whole floor to hear. Let the world know you’re a star. And if you’re in the mood for good vibes only, these songs to belt out will definitely get the serotonin flowin’.
Keep reading for 21 songs to belt out when you need a good jam session.
1. “Schoolin’ Life” by Beyoncé
So you don’t have as much soul as Beyoncé does. Don’t let that stop you from schoolin’ it.
2. “Shower” by Becky G
If this song didn’t make our shower playlist, then is it really a shower playlist?
3. “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé
If you are the type of person who takes morning showers, bellow Buble’s lyrics and you’re bound to have a confident day ahead of you.
4. “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding
Don’t worry about hitting the high notes in this one… the running water will mask your amateur singing skills. Own it, rock it.
5. “I Don’t Mind” by Usher
Sing like Usher but don’t try to dance in the shower, or you’ll end up wiping out.
6. “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer
Classic. Need I say more? Your shining shower solo will probably have your roommates concerned for your mental health.
7. “Everybody” by Backstreet Boys
A major throwback calls for some major enthusiasm. Backstreet Boys were the jam back in the day, why not bring ‘em back on your Thursday showers? #tbt.
8. “Ignition Remix” by R. Kelly
“Can I get a toot toot, can I get a beep beep, runnin’ her hands through my ‘fro.” Okay, so this is a song to throw in some dance moves. Jiggy along to these lyrics, and now you’ve got a shower show.
9. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls
It’s impossible not to get in the groove of this and start using your shampoo bottle as a mic.
10. “Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap
This song gets stuck in my head way too easily. I find myself jumping into the shower already singing it.
11. “Nobody Love” by Tori Kelly
The chorus is so catchy; I go to this one when I’m in a super good mood.
12. “Shut Up and Let Me Go” by The Tings Tings
After an especially long day, I don’t want anyone talking to me. Shut up and let me go, forreal.
13. “Gold Digger” by Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx
Ah, no playlist is complete without a little Kanye. Am I right or am I right?
14. “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland
Nelly and Timbaland will have you shaking your hips even after your shower is over.
15. “Love is Blindness” by Jack White
Jack White really gets some volume in this song, so you can too. Scream it—don’t sing.
16. “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys
Careful not to crack a mirror trying to hit the high notes with this one.
17. “Suavemente” by Elvis Crespo
Salsa and sing (or mumble some made-up Spanish words) to the tune of this one and you’ll get your cardio in before your shower is even over.
18. “Fergalicious” by Fergie
Any song that has you spell out words are totally shower sing-able, D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S.
19. “Bad Girls” by M.I.A.
Live fast, die young, sing till you can’t no more.
20. “Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony
Another Spanish single, the song translates to “to live my life.” It’s a cheery tune can always turn around a sour mood.
21. “Roses” by Outkast
Land this verse and you’re golden: “I hope she’s speeding on the way to the club, trying to hurry up to get to some baller or singer or somebody like that and try to put on her makeup in the mirror and crash, crash, crash into a ditch!”
10 Songs to Sing in the Shower When No One Will Listen to Your Demos
Written by Andrew Checchia
While the dreams of “American Idol” and “The Voice” hopefuls wilt away with cable TV’s continued downward spiral, college students still belt their hearts out in communal showers across the country. You might not sing during your daily cleanse for a chance at fame, but you should still perform the best songs for the occasion. Check out our list of iconic songs and deep cuts to add to your rotation of songs that will piss off your roommates. Maybe these will do it just a little bit less.
22. “Self Control” by Frank Ocean
Gen Z’s emotional state generally oscillates between internet-radical outrage, depressive apathy and overwhelming emotional devastation. So when you want to get in that last mood, listen to this song. Aside from Frank Ocean’s position as a culturally ubiquitous artist, “Self Control” stands as one of the best examples of songwriting from the past decade. The beautiful guitars, the choral build and the lyrics about lost love coalesce into the perfect way to start or end your routine on one of those days. Try not to get choked up in the process.
23. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
The white boy national anthem may soundtrack indie kid memes and conjure up memories of terrifying scenes at college parties, but in the shower, everyone can get down with the Killers’ electrifying hook and iconic lyrics. You don’t need the opening guitar riff or drum backing to pour your emotions into “coming out of my cage and I’ve been doing just fine.” I can’t vouch for the side effects of scream-singing in a communal bathroom, but you may just make some interesting new friends.
24. “Freaky Girl” (feat. Lil Kim) by Nicki Minaj
For Barbz—Nicki Minaj’s dedicated stan community—across the world, quoting some early morning bars from the Queen makes any day better. In this early 2010 deep cut, Nicki wields her trademark lyricism and catchy hooks on top of Gucci Mane’s iconic “Freaky Gurl” instrumental, taking a page from fellow Young Money rapper Lil Wayne’s mixtape playbook. “Wake up, cook three overeasy eggs and sausage served with oat milk for breakfast, go to church, go to our local farmers market, and get home for a nice shower while dissociating to ‘Freaky Girl’ by Nicki Minaj,” Texas A&M sophomore Shane Pesek said. Nothing says ‘Zoomer emotions’ like an apathetic listen to Nicki taking on a classic beat.
25. “It Wasn’t Me” (feat. Rik Rok) by Shaggy
You don’t need to say much more than “Picture this, we were both butt naked / Bangin’ on the bathroom floor.” This iconic 2000’s throwback can make your shower experience as exuberant and promiscuous as you’ll let it. While you might struggle with Shaggy’s Patois verses (and should probably avoid offensive attempts), you can slip right into Rik Rok’s perfectly smooth hook and maybe remind yourself to stay faithful in the process.
26. “On My Own” (from Les Misérables) by Samantha Banks
However terrifying the threat of a theater kid wanting to talk to you about musicals may appear, sometimes musicals urge you to truly belt during that afternoon shower. Without the judgment of others, you can really get into those little vocal inflections and bombastic bridges. Plenty of tunes fit the bill, but this classic song from Les Misérables does it best. “It’s extremely dramatic. I can add extra dramatic effect in the shower,” UCLA sophomore Shay Embler said. I wouldn’t recommend this one to students with rocky roommate relationships, but for those that find the confidence, go for those high notes!
27. “Life’s a Bitch” (feat. AZ & Olu Dara) by Nas
“Life’s a bitch and then you die”—a solemn reminder of mortality will kick start your day like nothing else, and few artists do it better than Nas and AZ. AZ’s infectious first verse would keep you entertained working out the rhyme schemes and flow patterns all on its own, but the iconic hook and Nas’ equally dexterous second verse will keep shower rappers engaged and stumbling through missed lines for weeks before nailing that perfect rendition. Next time you start steaming up your apartment mirrors just try to squeeze “Keepin’ this Schweppervescent street ghetto essence inside us / ‘Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us” into two clear bars.
28. “The Breach” by clipping.
So you mastered “Life’s a Bitch” and need a new challenge for your morning raps? Well, nothing can stop you from going straight to one of the most absurdly difficult lyrical exercises ever put on record. Take a stab at “The Breach” from the Daveed Diggs led experimental rap group clipping. The cut from the group’s 2016 sci-fi epic “Splendor & Misery” can prove itself a full-fledged challenge to undertake. “It works perfectly in the shower. With no beat and cool atmosphere you can get into trying the crazy rap skill,” Southwestern University sophomore Joseph Eaton said. So if you want a mental exercise while cleaning yourself off, try out this deep cut next time.
29. “Right Round” (feat. Ke$ha) by Flo Rida
Sometimes a good song only really needs a good hook. Flo Rida and Ke$ha seemed to have agreed when they interpolated Dead or Alive’s 1985 hit “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).” They managed to take an already instantly memorable melody and whittle it down to an even catchier exercise in sugary sweet pop: a perfect distillation to sing behind that shower curtain. No one knows the verses, but why would you? With a chorus that good, you can sing it round and round for hours—just try not to waste too much water.
30. “Cash Shit” (feat. DaBaby) by Megan Thee Stallion
“Hot Girl Summer” conquered the world for a reason: Megan’s unique lyrical style never fails to make you feel like a bad bitch. The Houston Hottie’s memorable lines like “he say he hungry this pussy the kitchen” will burrow into your head all day—so either let them sink in for your walk across campus, or risk getting too hyped-up to fall asleep at night. And take care with the sexually explicit DaBaby verse should you get that far. Your roommates might call you out on that one.
31. “S&M” by Rihanna
For more great hooks that get your blood pumping, almost any Rihanna song does the trick. But “S&M”’s sexually charged chorus and silky smooth verses combine to produce the perfect shower track to motivate you early in the morning. You probably remember and can sing literally every part of this song with confidence, down to the “na na na come on” that starts it off. So go ahead and relive some middle school memories of pop radio with this continually incredible throwback!
*Updated on July 30, 2020 by Andrew Checchia to include songs 22-31.
9 More Songs to Belt Out in the Shower
Written by Danielle Tabatneck
Something about the shower really brings out the performer in all of us, despite your musical talents. Nothing compares to a good karaoke shower session. Have you ever thought to yourself, what song should I listen to next? Well, we got you covered. Here we have a compiled list of the best songs that you should definitely be listening to in the shower.
We hope that you make use of this list and bring out the “American Idol” star in you.
32. Buy U a Drank by T-Pain
The iconic “Buy U a Drank” makes everyone break out in song. The early 2000s tune gets anyone in a great mood and dancing along.
“‘Buy U a Drank’ absolutely never gets old, no matter how much time goes by, I refuse to skip this song,” Millersville University junior Gabriela Karch said.
We would definitely recommend adding this T-Pain song to your go-to shower playlist. You won’t be able to stop yourself from using your shampoo bottle as a microphone!
33. It’s Gotta Be You by Isaiah Firebrace
Every time you listen to this song, you will be in your feels. What better encouragement to sing along than a heart-felt, powerful song? “It’s Gotta Be You” pulls at your heart strings, especially when Firebrace sings “I don’t want to fight it / It’s gotta be you.” Firebrace tells the story of missing his significant other after their breakup, as she cannot be replaced. “It’s Gotta Be You” desires a designated spot within your shower playlist, as nothing compares to the passion behind this love story.
34. The Middle by Zedd, Maren Morris, & Grey
A classic sing-along… it can be difficult to resist “The Middle.” The song tells the story of being in a fight with your significant other, asking for them to meet you halfway. The upbeat rhythm of the song and hopeful energy makes it so appealing to listeners. In the shower, you can sing on the top of your lungs “I can’t just let you go,” along with the passionate music. We can guarantee that anyone who can hear your music in the bathroom will likely join along and duet.
35. Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
Hands down, no one can resist “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus. This upbeat song will get anyone in a good mood, as the song and music video blew up when it was first released. Therefore, just about everyone knows and remembers the words, making it the perfect song to listen to in the shower.
“I love listening to older hits when I’m in the shower, like ‘Party in the U.S.A.’ or anything like that. It takes me back to the last time I heard it,” University of Delaware junior Sarah Iannuzzi said.
The perfect shower playlist needs to consist of music that you can connect to, with “Party in the U.S.A.” being an automatic go-to!
36. High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco
Every part of the song “High Hopes” really gets your blood pumping. The lyrics remind listeners to never give up. “Had to have high hopes for a living / Shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing”! Now, how could you not be encouraged by these lyrics? Panic! At the Disco really connects with their listeners. So next time you go to turn on your shower music, make sure to add “High Hopes” to the queue.
37. Dynamite by Taio Cruz
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic keeping you inside, you can listen to music that reminds you of going out. The song “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz has the power to liven up any room. It also reminds people of being at a party or club and dancing with your friends.
“Nothing compares to going out with friends and listening to good music that everyone knows and can sing along to, “Dynamite” is one of those songs,” UMass Amherst junior Jacob Berman said.
“Dynamite” can be known as an extremely popular and catchy song, making it ideal for your shower karaoke session.
38. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) by Katy Perry
Everyone has a wild memory of an unforgettable night. “Last Friday Night” by Katy Perry describes an insane Friday night that definitely took first place in the list of wild nights. The song reminds listeners of going out, feeling free, and having the time of your life. How can you not sing along? Being one of Katy Perry’s most iconic songs, “Last Friday Night” truly deserves a spot on your shower playlist.
39. Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
Singing in the shower allows you to escape the world for a little while. Take advantage of it and jam out! We recommend listening to “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon, as we can guarantee that it will boost your mood. It can be extremely difficult to listen to this song and not instantly begin dancing and singing along. Being in the shower, you will be taken back to good memories and maybe even the first or last time you listened to the song.
“When I need a mood-booster, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ always does the trick,” Ramapo College junior Victoria Rak said.
What better reason to add the song to your shower playlist than instant happiness?
40. Kings & Queens by Ava Max
This song can be described in one word: powerful. If you want to feel like a badass belting every word to the song, “Kings & Queens” would be your answer. The song describes women empowerment, and how women do not need a man for rescuing. What better way to express this topic than singing? Or better yet… in the shower! Since we all know that shower-singing can be the best kind of singing.
*Updated on January 4, 2021 by Danielle Tabatneck to include songs 32-40
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