Songs for Talent Shows and Auditions: How to Choose

You often get one chance and under two minutes. The song you choose does a lot of work in that time, and the safe-sounding pick is often the wrong one.

This guide covers how to choose, what to avoid and a few things to check about rules.

Show what you do

The OnStage Blog advises choosing material that shows your strengths and that you could sing "in your sleep," when sick or when nervous. It also says to pick songs that represent who you are, not who you think you should be.

That is a good test. If you have to work hard to sing the song, a nervous day will make it worse.

Fit the voice and the key

Ensemble Schools advises choosing something that suits your voice, avoiding notes outside your comfortable range and transposing when possible. Berklee Online's Take Note blog makes a similar point: the best key is one where you do not have to struggle for notes.

Try the song in two or three keys. Pick the one where the loudest moment feels easy.

On Starchild, the pitch control lets you shift the key while you listen, so you can find that spot before you license anything.

Do this with the real backing in your ears, not just with a piano. The arrangement changes how a key feels.

Match the event

Ensemble Schools says to make sure the song is genre- and style-appropriate. A pop show wants a contemporary pop or rock feel, while a classical program wants something classical.

Look at who has won before and what the judges seem to like. Then pick a song that fits the same world without copying anyone.

If the event is local, ask the organizers what the audience is like. A school hall, a bar and a festival tent each reward different kinds of songs.

Keep the language clean and the subject suitable for the room, because a great song that misses the mood of the audience still lands badly.

Avoid the overdone

The same guide says to avoid songs that are overdone unless you are confident you will outshine everyone on that song. Judges may hear a famous song a dozen times in a day.

An original song that is new to them can be a real advantage. Our guide to original songs to cover explains why artists choose them.

Pick a song you can feel

OnStage suggests asking yourself what you would sing if it were your last day and you had one more song. Your honest answer is a good sign of an authentic choice.

Look for lyrics with an image or a moment you recognise from your own life. Berklee Online's songwriting advice says specific detail "allows your audience to step into your shoes," and that applies to performers as well.

Cut the song to fit

Ensemble Schools notes that audition cuts often run between 16 and 32 bars, or about a minute. Choose the section that shows your best moment, with a clear start and ending.

For a talent show with a longer slot, plan a version that builds. A quiet start and a strong final chorus usually work in a live room.

Check the rules before you commit

Some competitions accept original songs and some require covers or ask about rights. Read the entry terms carefully and ask the organizer if anything is unclear.

A Starchild license covers performing the song live. If a contest needs the song to be yours alone, our guide to exclusive licenses for contests explains the option.

Find a song to try

Use the search to describe the moment you want to have, such as "big emotional ballad with a build in the last chorus." Listen free, change the key, and see which version makes you want to stand up and sing. See the license options if you decide to go ahead.

Plan for nerves

Nerves narrow your range and speed up your tempo. Choose a song that gives you a moment to settle, such as a verse that starts quietly, rather than one that opens on the hardest note.

Rehearse the entire song standing, in the clothes and shoes you will wear, at the volume you will use. Record yourself once and listen for rushing.

Ballad, mid-tempo or up-tempo?

A ballad shows tone and control but gives nowhere to hide. An up-tempo song shows energy but can cost you pitch and breath if you run out of air.

A mid-tempo song with a clear build is often the safest choice for a talent show. If you have two slots, pair a ballad with something brighter, as Ensemble Schools suggests when it recommends building a repertoire with different tempos, eras and ranges.

A checklist for the week before

Once you have picked the song, use the last days to make it dependable.

• Sing it in your chosen key three times in a row to check stamina.
• Mark a cut that fits the time limit and practise starting from it cold.
• Prepare a backing track or accompanist and test it on the real system.
• Write the first line of each section on a card, in case nerves wipe your memory.
• Have a second song ready in case the organizers ask for another.

Sources

• OnStage Blog: How to Select the Perfect Audition Song
• Ensemble Schools: 8 Tips on Choosing and Cutting Your Audition Song
• Berklee Online Take Note: Discover How Range, Key, and Register Shape a Brilliant Pop and R&B Performance
• Berklee Online Take Note: Use Destination Writing and Object Writing to Craft Vivid, Image-Rich Lyrics