Newly updated! Items added from later in the thread start with a ">".
Hello everyone,
What a great list! Thank you, bunnyf for getting the thread going again.
Below is a compiled list, ordered by decade, following seeso's lead. If a song doesn't have a "via" at the end, then it's part of his awesomely thorough listing.
Intriguingly, several of the songs suggested without an artist specified have been sung by many artists, so I either listed the writers or the person most well known (according to our friend Wikipedia). Note that some have also been popular across time. If you were thinking of a rendition by a different artist or decade, let me know so I can update and folks can be inspired by what inspires you and your sing-a-long friends.
Thanks, everyone!
—Veronica
1920s
Show Me The Way To Go Home, Irving King (via timebug)
Side by Side, Gus Kahn & Harry M. Woods (via timebug)
Ain't She Sweet, Milton Ager & Jack Yellen (via timebug)
1930s
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Solomon Linda (via Freeda)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg (via janeray1940)
Blue Moon, Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (via Cheeso)
> Minnie the Moocher, Cab Calloway (via igorthebarbarian)
1950s
Hey, Good Lookin', Hank Williams (via peewee)
The Banana Boat Song (Day-O), Harry Belafonte (via Cheeso)
> Witch Doctor, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (via ksiegel)
>
Jambalaya (On the Bayou), Hank Williams (via vanflynn, seconded by teruterubouzu)
1960s
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', The Righteous Brothers
Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin/Carole King
Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison
Space Oddity, David Bowie
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Bob Dylan
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens
Under the Boardwalk, The Drifters
Do Wah Diddy, Manfred Mann
My Girl, The Temptations (via seeso and Cheeso)
Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin
King of the Road, Roger Miller (via frisbee fred)
Louie, Louie; The Kingsmen (via Cheeso)
Twist and Shout, The Isley Brothers (and many more) (via Cheeso)
On Top Of Spaghetti, Tom Glazer (via peewee)
Those Were the Days, Gene Raskin (via Olarte)
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, Franky Valli (via Cheeso)
1970s
Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
The Joker, Steve Miller Band
Drift Away, Dobie Gray
Down on the Corner, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Tiny Dancer, Elton John
Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
The Gambler, Kenny Rogers
American Pie, Don McLean
Fire and Rain, James Taylor
Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown, Jim Croce
Hotel California, Eagles
Piano Man, Billy Joel
My Sharona, The Knack
Baba O'Riley, The Who
The Weight, The Band
Lola, The Kinks
Rock and Roll All Nite, Kiss
Lean On Me, Bill Withers
Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen (via Puotta)
> Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett (via hent)
1980s
Jack and Diane, John Mellencamp
Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners
Don't Stop Believin', Journey
Free Fallin', Tom Petty
In Your Eyes, Peter Gabriel
Walking On Sunshine, Katrina & The Waves
Livin' on a Prayer, Bon Jovi
Tainted Love, Soft Cell
Faith, George Michael
Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor
Should I Stay or Should I Go, The Clash
Blister in the Sun, The Violent Femmes
Sister Christian, Night Ranger
Like a Prayer, Madonna
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), The Proclaimers
I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Joan Jett
Just a Friend, Biz Markie
Purple Rain, Prince
> I Know What Boys Like, The Waitresses (via coolkayaker1)
1990s
Waterfalls, TLC
Word Up, Cameo
Alive, Pearl Jam
I Want it That Way, Backstreet Boys
The Rooster, Alice in Chains
What I Got, Sublime
Santeria, Sublime
Where It’s At, Beck
Friends in Low Places, Garth Brooks
I'll Make Love to You, Boys II Men
Today, Smashing Pumpkins
Stay, Lisa Loeb
Say it Ain't So, Weezer
Creep, Radiohead
Give Me One Reason, Tracy Chapman
Livin' La Vida Loca, Ricky Martin
Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
MMMMBop, Hanson
What's Up?, 4 Non Blondes
You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette
Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
General ideas
Look up pub songs of various cultures (via Puotta)