Between the ages of 16 and 21, many boys decide to take up singing which can be a positive pastime with far-reaching benefits, that include social, physical, psychological, intellectual, musical and spiritual benefits.
The vocal change process (which occurs for many boys between the ages of 11 and 15) can cause boys to feel self-conscious and ultimately turn them off singing. However, by the age of 16 most boys have achieved a degree of vocal stability. Although, it is still possible for there to be some transient difficulties.
Boys in the senior secondary years may find their identity among the musicians and the singing culture of the school, through jam sessions, garage bands, school choirs, school musicals, and song-writing.
My experience teaching singing to boys over 30 years, has demonstrated that most boys grow in confidence and skill quickly when their classes include a combination of both group and individual singing. Boys also respond well to singing methods that are based on vocal function, the physical training of muscles, and knowledge of how the voice works.
Finding appealing and singable repertoire is another key factor for success. So if you are a male who has just taken up singing or if you’re a singing teacher who works with boys, here is a list of more than 120 songs that have proved successful
Pop/Rock - Classic
- Let it Be (Beatles)
- In My Life (Beatles)
- Blackbird (Beatles)
- Imagine (John Lennon)
- Your Song (Elton John)
- Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
- Losing My Religion (REM)
- Stand by Me (Ben E King)
- Up on the Roof (Drifters)
- Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)
- These Arms of Mine (Otis Redding)
- Heard it Through the Grapevine (Marvin Gaye)
- What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
- You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
- Only You and You Alone (Platters)
- Spiks and Speks (Bee Gees)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)
- Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis)
- Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis)
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Joy to The World
Pop/Rock - Contemporary
- Little Wonders (Rob Thomas)
- Man Who Can’t Be Moved (The Script)
- Count on Me (Bruno Mars)
- Fireflies (Owl City)
- One Call Away (Charlie Puth)
- Someone You Loved (Lewis Capaldi)
- Lanterns (Birds of Tokyo)
- Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
- Drop in the Ocean (Ron Pope)
- Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
- High (Lighthouse Family)
- Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House)
- Fields of Gold (Sting)
- Fragile (Sting)
- Home (Michael Buble)
- Pospekt’s March (Coldplay)
- Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson)
- One Man Can Change the World (Big Sean)
- Little Lion Man (Mumford and Sons)
- She’s Got a Way (Billy Joel)
- And So It Goes (Billy Joel)
- I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
- Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Music Theatre and Film
- Bye Room (Jon and Jen)
- Old Devil Moon (Finian’s Rainbow)
- Freeze Your Brain (Heathers)
- Can’t Stop the Feeling (Trolls)
- It Takes Two (Hairspray)
- River in the Rain (Big River)
- Waiting for the Light to Shine (Big River)
- Kiss the Girl (Little Mermaid)
- Any Dream Will Do (Joseph)
- Close Every Door (Joseph)
- Dentist (Little Shop Horrors)
- Don’t Shoot the Hooey to Me Louie (Over Here)
- Giants in the Sky (Into the Woods)
- Kid Inside (Is There Life After High School)
- Winters on the Wing (Secret Garden)
- Wick (Secret Garden)
- Leaning on a Lamp Post (Me and My Gal)
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Wizard of Oz)
- Corner of the Sky (Pippin)
- If I Can’t Love Her (Beauty and the Beast)
- Me (Beauty and the Beast)
- Purpose (Avenue Q)
- Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance)
- Santa Fe (Newsies)
- All that’s Known (Spring Awakening)
- Why? Cos I’m a Guy (I Love You’re Perfect)
- Different (Honk!)
- Now I’ve Seen You (Honk!)
- Her Voice (Little Mermaid)
- Mad World (Gary Jules)
Folk and Folk Pop
- Wellerman (Sea Shanty)
- Blowing in The Wind (Bob Dylan)
- Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan)
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Spiritual)
- Danny Boy (Irish Traditional)
- Deep River (Spiritual)
- Sound of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel)
- Boxer (Simon and Garfunkel)
- Streets of London (Ralph McTell)
- Hallelujah (Koen)
- Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens)
- Wild World (Cat Stevens)
- Riverman (Nick Drake)
- Heart of Gold (Neil Young)
- Catch The Wind (Donovan)
- Tenterfield Sadler (Peter Allen)
- My Father’s House (Bruce Springsteen)
- The Water is Wide (James Taylor)
Jazz Standards
- It Had to Be You (Harry Connick Jnr)
- Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra)
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Frank Sinatra)
- Swinging on a Star (Frank Sinatra)
- Straighten Up and Fly Right (Robbie Williams)
- On The Street Where You Live (Harry Connick Jnr)
- Cheek to Cheek (Frank Sinatra)
- Frim Fram Sauce (Nat King Cole)
- Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Nat King Cole)
- Sway (Buble)
- The Girl from Ipanema
- One Note Samba (Al Jarreau cover)
- Give Me the Simple Life (Jamie Cullum cover)
- That Lucky Old Sun (Louis Armstrong)
- There Will Never Be Another You (Chet Baker)
- Blame It on My Youth (Kurt Elling cover)
- I Can’t Get Started (Jamie Cullum cover)
- Nature of Power (Vince Jones)
Country
- If I Die Young (Band Perry)
- Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
- The Dance (Garth Brooks)
- Better Man (Clint Black)
- If Tomorrow Never Comes (Ronan Keating)
- Somebody Like You (Keith Urban)


