The Most Difficult Song to Sing, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the song you think is the most difficult!
Updated on Apr 30, 2024 06:26
Singers often challenge themselves with complex pieces, pushing their vocal limits and skillsets. Ranking the most difficult songs to sing can be a fun way to see which tunes test the very best, providing both aspiring and seasoned vocalists with a benchmark of high difficulty. It sheds light on the intricate melodies and demanding vocal gymnastics required in some compositions.
By participating in such a ranking, users have the unique opportunity to influence which songs are deemed the most challenging. This interactive ranking not only engages users but also creates a community of music enthusiasts eager to share their opinions and experiences. Whether you're a professional singer or a shower soloist, seeing how your opinions stack up against others offers a delightful engagement with the world of music.
What Is the Most Difficult Song to Sing?
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186votes
"Queen of the Night Aria" from The Magic Flute by Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus MozartThis aria requires a wide vocal range, precise coloratura technique, and great stamina, making it one of the most challenging pieces in the operatic repertoire.The Queen of the Night Aria is a highly challenging and complex soprano aria from the opera The Magic Flute composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is known for its virtuosic coloratura passages and demanding vocal range.- Vocal Range: G3 - F6
- Difficulty Level: Very Difficult
- Tempo: Presto
- Time Signature: 2/2
- Key: F minor
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219votes
"Nessun Dorma" from Turandot by Puccini
Giacomo PucciniThis aria is known for its soaring high notes and requires a powerful tenor voice to deliver the emotional intensity and dramatic impact of the piece.Nessun Dorma is an aria from the opera Turandot composed by Giacomo Puccini. It is considered one of the most challenging songs for a tenor to sing. The aria is sung by the character Calaf in the final act of the opera, and it has become one of the most famous and recognizable opera pieces worldwide.- Key: F major
- Range: G3 to B4
- Length: Approximately 3 minutes
- Dynamics: Requires a wide dynamic range
- Vocal technique: Requires strong breath control and controlled vibrato
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332votesThis song requires a strong emotional connection and vocal control to convey the depth of feeling in the lyrics.'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' is a powerful and emotionally charged song from the musical Dreamgirls. It is widely considered one of the most difficult songs in the world to sing, requiring exceptional vocal range, control, and emotional depth. The song serves as a defining moment for the character Effie White, expressing her determination and refusal to be cast aside. It demands a singer to showcase their vocal prowess and deliver a heart-wrenching performance that captivates the audience.
- Vocal Range: The song spans an impressive range of five octaves, from the low F#3 to the high F#8.
- Emotional Intensity: It requires the singer to convey strong emotions, including desperation, defiance, and vulnerability.
- Belting: The song incorporates intense belting (powerful, full-voice singing in the higher range) that demands control and stamina.
- Sustained Notes: It features long sustained notes, including a famous 16-bar powerhouse section at the end.
- Melismatic Runs: The song includes challenging melismatic runs that require precise vocal agility and dexterity.
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls in other rankings- Position 4 of 10 in Most difficult song in the world to sing
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421votesThis song is notoriously difficult to sing due to its wide range and challenging intervals, as well as the pressure of performing it in front of large crowds.
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522votesThis song requires a powerful voice and the ability to sustain high notes for an extended period, as well as the emotional depth to convey the heartbreak and longing in the lyrics."I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular love song of all time
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular cover song
- Position 3 of 10 in Most beautiful pop song
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous song lyrics
- Position 7 of 10 in Most dramatic song
- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular wedding hymn
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613votes
Queen · Public domainThis song is difficult to sing due to its complex harmonies, multiple vocal parts, and rapid changes in tempo and mood."Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous old songs
- Position 1 of 10 in Most dramatic song
- Position 2 of 10 in Most beautiful rock song
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous song lyrics
- Position 3 of 10 in Most fun Karaoke song
- Position 6 of 10 in Most beautiful lyrics of all time
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711votesThis song requires a strong, sustained vocal performance to convey the heroic and triumphant spirit of the lyrics.The Impossible Dream
- Songwriter: Mitch Leigh (music), Joe Darion (lyrics)
- Musical: Man of La Mancha
- Year of release: 1965
- Genre: Broadway, Showtune
- Vocal range: Baritone or tenor
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812votesThis aria requires a delicate, nuanced vocal performance to convey the longing and hopefulness of the lyrics, as well as the emotional impact of the tragic story.
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94votesThis song requires a powerful, emotional vocal performance to convey the despair and hopelessness of the character, as well as the beauty of the melody.
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105votes
"Defying Gravity" from Wicked
Stephen SchwartzThis song requires a strong, sustained vocal performance to convey the determination and defiance of the character, as well as the emotional impact of the soaring melody.Defying Gravity is a powerful and challenging song from the Broadway musical 'Wicked.' It is widely considered one of the most difficult songs to sing due to its wide vocal range and demanding vocal techniques.- Vocal Range: The song requires performers to have a wide vocal range, including high belting and sustained notes.
- Emotional Intensity: The song expresses defiance and determination, requiring the performer to convey powerful emotions.
- Belting Technique: Defying Gravity incorporates belting, a challenging vocal technique that allows singers to project their voice with strength and power.
- Sustained Notes: The song features long sustained high notes that require breath control and stamina.
- Technical Control: Performers need precise control over their vocal technique to execute challenging runs, vibrato, and vocal dynamics.
"Defying Gravity" from Wicked in other rankings- Position 8 of 10 in Most difficult song in the world to sing
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Ranking factors for difficult song
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Vocal rangeThe span of notes the song requires the singer to hit, from the lowest to the highest. A song with a wide vocal range can be challenging for singers who don't have a broad vocal register. 2. Key changes: A song with multiple key changes can be tricky as it requires the singer to shift their vocal pitch and adapt to the changing harmonic environment. 3. Melodic complexity: A complex melody with intricate phrasing, leaps, and unusual intervals can be difficult to navigate and memorize. 4. Rhythm and tempo: A song with complicated rhythm patterns or fast tempo can be challenging for singers to keep up with and maintain accuracy. 5. Dynamic variation: A song that requires the singer to control their volume level across a wide spectrum, from whisper-soft to full-voiced belting, will demand greater vocal control and technique. 6. Emotional depth and interpretation: A song with a deep emotional message or a complex storyline may be challenging for the singer to convey convincingly through their performance. 7. Technical difficulty: Songs that require advanced vocal techniques, such as extensive use of vibrato, falsetto, or coloratura runs, can be challenging for a singer. 8. Breath control and phrasing: A song with long phrases or minimal rest points may challenge a singer's breath support and control. 9. Stamina: A song that demands consistent power and energy throughout its duration can be taxing on the singer's vocal cords. 10. Style and genre: The required vocal style and genre of the song can play a significant role in its difficulty. Different styles, such as opera, jazz, or rock may present unique challenges for the singer in terms of technique, expression, and overall approach.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult song to sing. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or song is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2284 views
- 225 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each song once every 24 hours. The rank of each song is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most difficult song to sing
When it comes to singing, we all have our favorite songs that we love to belt out. But there are some songs that require a higher level of skill, control, and technique to perform. These songs are considered to be the most difficult to sing, and only a handful of singers can do them justice.
The difficulty of a song to sing can vary depending on various factors such as the range of notes, the tempo, the key, and the complexity of the melody. Some songs require a high-pitched vocal range, while others demand impressive breath control and precision.
Many iconic songs like Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," Mariah Carey's "Emotions," and Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" are known to be some of the most challenging songs to sing. These songs require a level of vocal control, power, and precision that only a few seasoned singers possess.
It's no wonder that many singers often avoid covering these songs as they can be intimidating to perform. However, those who can successfully pull them off earn the respect and admiration of fans and fellow musicians alike.
In short, the most difficult songs to sing are a true test of a singer's skill, and only a few can rise to the challenge.
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