Press release
Care home residents share the best songs to sing along to
Is singing good for you?
There's nothing like a good singalong to energise a room. But have you ever wondered how singing lifts our spirits? Here, we explore the wellbeing benefits of singing for all ages, along with a definitive list of classic karaoke songs.
What karaoke songs are our residents singing?
Singing is fun for people of every age. If you're planning a karaoke party we've done the hard work for you. We surveyed Bupa's care home residents across the country to find out their favourite karaoke songs. Here's what we found.
- Karaoke songs are timeless - Our residents chose songs that ranged from the Victorian era to the 2010s.
- There were hits from this side of the millennium - Over ten percent of the songs chosen are from the 21st century.
- The 60s and 70s are still swinging - Almost a quarter of song choices were from the 1960s and 1970s
Most popular karaoke songs for senior citizens
No matter our residents' age or location, there were some songs that kept everyone singing.
Dancing Queen
Abba
Originally called Boogaloo, Abba's Dancing Queen hit discos and dance halls in 1976. It spent six weeks at number one in the UK. To this day it has over one billion streams on Spotify proving it s still a firm favourite by listeners.
Chosen by:
- Gill Mitchell, 78, Alveston
Leys Bupa Care Home - Rosemary Mills, 90, Ashley
Park Bupa Care Home
Daisy Bell
Harry Dacre
19th century classic, Daisy Bell, was written by songwriter Harry Dacre. It's since been used in film, TV and probably heard in school playgrounds across the country, too. A true timeless tune.
Chosen by:
- Enid T, 96, Elm Grove
Bupa Care Home - Julie Hall, 87, The Links
Bupa Care Home - Brenda Abel, 86, The Links
Care Home
Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley
It wouldn't be a top 40 without the King of Rock and Roll making an appearance. Released in 1961, it didn't reach number one in the UK until the following year. It spent four weeks at the top spot before being knocked off by Mike Sarne and Wendy Richard with 'Come Outside’.
Chosen by:
- Irene Stamp, 86, The Links
Care Home - Ron Harding, 88, The
Links Care Home
You Are My Sunshine
Jimmie Davis
Along with the original Jimmie Davis rendition, Christina Perri's 2011 version also made our residents' top 40 list. Davis track made it into the Grammy's Hall of Fame in 1999, 60 years after its original release.
Chosen by:
- Joan Taylor, 94, The
Highgate Bupa Care - Phyllis Levy, 90, The
Highgate Bupa Care
Hits from the 40s and 50s
The 1940s and 50s proved to be popular eras with our residents, showing that great songs can stand the test of time.
(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover
Vera Lynn
The Happy Wanderer
Obernkirchen Children's Choir
40 top sing-along songs for seniors
If you’re putting together the perfect karaoke playlist, here are our residents’ top 40 tracks.
Songs 1-10
1. Abba - Dancing Queen
2. Elvis Presley - Can’t Help Falling in Love With You
3. Harry Dacre - Daisy Bell
4. Jimmie Davis - You Are my Sunshine
5. Obernkirchen Children’s Choir - The Happy Wanderer
6. Very Lynn - (There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover
7. Abba - Mamma Mia
8. Audrey Hepburn - Moon River
9. Bing Crosby - If You Were the Only Girl in the World
10.Bing Crosby - When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Songs 11-20
11. Boney M - By the Rivers of Babylon
12. Cat Stevens - Morning has Broken
13. Christina Perri - You Are my Sunshine
14. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
15. Doris Day - Que Sera Sera
16. Ella Fitzgerald - I Want to be Happy
17. Florrie Forde - I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside
18. Frank Crumit - Show Me the Way to go Home
19. Frank Sinatra - New York, New York
20. Freddy Quinn - Oh My Darling Clementine
Songs 21-30
21. Gabrielle - Sunshine
22. Gene Kelly - Singing in the Rain
23. John Lennon - Imagine
24. Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow
25. Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
26. Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (to be Loved by You)
27. Morecambe and Wise - Bring me Sunshine
28. Nancy Sinatra - These Boots were Made for Walkin’
29. Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
30. P!nk - Raise Your Glass
Songs 31-40
31. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
32. Richard Rodgers - Edelweiss
33. Shirley Bassey - Goldfinger
34. Steve Songs - She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes
35. The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
36. The Corries - The Skye Boat Song
37. The Dubliners - Molly Malone
38. Tom Jones - Delilah
39. Laura Wright - Last Rose of Summer
40. Yazz - The Only Way is Up
Benefits of singing for seniors
Whether you're pitch perfect or stick to singing in the shower, singing has wellbeing benefits for both body and mind.
Psychological benefits of singing
Build relationships
Singing can help foster a sense of community. This can have a positive impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing. From local singing groups to karaoke sessions, singing can be a great way to connect with those around you.
Train your brain
Learning a new song can be great for brain activity and rejuvenation. Recalling words and tunes from memory can also help to keep your mind active.
Reduce stress
Along with improving your mood, singing can help to reduce life’s stresses. Singing releases your body’s happy hormones. Hormones like oxytocin and endorphins help to keep stress levels low.
Make time for yourself
If you enjoy singing, dedicating time each week to sing can be an important way to care for your mental wellbeing. This time can also allow you to be more mindful and connect with the present moment.
Set and achieve goals
You may want to set yourself a goal to learn a new song each month. Or why not perform in front of an audience? Achieving these kinds of goals can provide a huge boost for your sense of self confidence and pride.
Physical benefits of singing
Introduce movement
Warming up your body before a singing session helps to release tension in your neck and shoulders. And who can resist clapping or dancing to your favourite tracks?
Improve posture
How you sit or stand when you sing affects how well your voice projects. The best position to sing is with your head held high, your shoulders back and down, back upright and chest relaxed. These positions inspire a better posture.
Support cardiovascular health
Singing is thoughts to help care for your lungs. It teaches you to slow down, control and deepen your breathing. If you’re anxious or have a lung condition like asthma or COPD, singing can serve as a good reminder to reset your breathing.
Singing can help you breathe more easily too. It helps to naturally strengthen your abdominal muscles - something that supports your breathing.
Help when you need it
Choosing a care home can be stressful, especially if you've never done it before. Where do you start? Well, right here. Our helpful, understanding care advisers offer free advice on anything from funding to finding just the right home.
Call a customer care adviser on 0370 218 7714 ^
Ask us to assess your situation and talk to you about paying for care, and how funding works.
Find care homes that might be right for you, and book one or more visits.
^ Lines are open 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm Saturday. Closed Sundays and bank holidays. Calls are charged at no more than local rate and count towards any inclusive minutes from mobiles. We may record or monitor our calls.
