Idol hopefuls beware. Your choice of song may turn off the judges so much they don't care if you sing like an angel - in fact, you may sink like the Titanic.
A survey by researchers at Waikato University looking for New Zealand's worst song has identified the 10 most hated, with the title of worst song going to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.
NZ Idol judge Paul Ellis said songs soon lost their charm at auditions when they were sung time and again. "Last year every third or fourth person sang His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Lauryn Hill, while this year Somewhere Over the Rainbow seemed to be the crowd favourite, he said.
Singing Whitney Houston could also cause auditioners to come unstuck, said Ellis.
"The Whitney thing is the whole big notes get big votes, and people do try and pull Whitney out of the bag but this is a super diva with a super turbo voice. You may think in your head you can sound like Whitney Houston - wrong."
Although there was no particular song Ellis disliked, he thought I'm Too Sexy was "a naff song".
And if you fancy your chances at an audition, Ellis advised picking a song that was in your range.
"Many people pick songs that are just too big for them," said Ellis. "They couldn't hit the notes or they would screech, or run out of breath. It's amazing how people forgot to breathe while they were singing."
Worst songs
1. My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion
2. Achey Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus
3. I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
4. Britney Spears: Assorted songs, mainly Toxic and Oops, I Did It Again
5. 50 Cent: assorted songs, primarily In da club and Candy Shop
6. Who Let The Dogs Out, The Baha Men
7. Shania Twain: assorted, particularly Man, I Feel Like A Woman
8. Kylie Minogue: assorted songs, particularly I Should Be So Lucky
9. Dave Dobbyn: assorted songs, particularly Loyal
10. Mmm Bop, Hanson
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
What not to sing for wannabe Idols
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