Retirement Place Reviews

What songs to sing at an old folks/retirement home?

If I were to go sing at a retirement/old folks home, what songs should I sing? Ive got about 45 minutes to sing. Should I go for folk music, or jazz, or something else? Any specific song or artist suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Public Comments

1. Something from their era, so they can sing along if they want. But honestly, you could sing almost anything and they'll be thrilled!
2. sinatra
3. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine, by Peter Paul and Mary
4. wheels on the bus old mac donald had a farm threee blind mice.lol have fun
5. Kum ba ya, Big Pimpin
6. study richard cheese's lounge aginst the machine. that would be kwl
7. anything motown, they'll eat it up
8. try row row your boat
9. Their era. Sinatra, ella fitzgerald, billie holliday...etc.
10. I vote for the Thong song....old dudes be going to get viagra
11. Music from Doris Day, Patti Page...STANDARDS... If you need more ideas...contact me! =)
12. rent some Lawrence welk DVDs
13. Old folks seem to like old sing-along americana songs like Oh Susannah, Baby Face, old popular hymns etc. 50's songs are good also because they remember dancing to most of those.
14. Frank Sinatra, Andrews Sisters, Dean Martin, anything from the 30s, 40s, or 50s. My grandfather was crazy about big band, swing, anything from his era, and that's usually the way to go. Maybe if you call in advance to see if whoever's coordinating the engagement s/he can check and see if the seniors themselves have any requests. I've done a few things like that before, it's a load of fun! Good luck!
15. jazz is a very good suggestion. go with classics like ella fitzgerald, billie holiday, or songs like "misty", "all the things you are", "my funny valentine", etc. good luck!
16. This is the End - The Doors Tears in Heaven Hell Ain't a Bad place to Be - Ac/Dc Please Release Me Old Man - Neil Young
17. I do old standards from the 30's to the 50's, then a lot of broadway. Many will appreciate jazz, but not all. A touch of classic, even; a Chopin Prelude or so will also be appreciated. Speak slowly and enunciate. We're all hard of hearing now...:-)
18. You should look for 1940's or 1950's or 1960's material. Crazy by Patsy Cline Ny, Ny by Sinatra Hank Williams Senior Frankie Lane
19. gospel. I worked at a nursing home, and those people grew up on religion.
20. My church has a program we do every Sunday afternoon at the nursing home and retirement village here in the Springs. We have a mixture of old hymns -- "Old Rugged Cross," "The Garden," "Amazing Grace," and we also have tunes from the 30s and 40s, "Harbor Lights," "My Funny Valentine," "Pennies From Heaven," "They Can't Take That Away From Me, " "Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All The Time)." Those are some we do, and the folks just sing along, and bee-bop in the chairs, and some of them even get up and dance!!!! They are such a blessing to us all!!
21. Go eclectic. A few love songs, a couple of dance tunes, some sing alongs. Pick fun songs that your audience can participate in. The genre is not all that important...it is the fun element for audience participation.
22. songs from there time period.
23. Go to the "old Folks/retirement home" were you are going to sing and ask the people there, "what kind of songs would they like to hear"?
24. OK, old folks home. That means people in their 70's, 80's, 90's, which would mean their musical tastes probably formed no later than 1950 and mostly includes music from the 30's and 40's. That would include stuff like big band, Gershwin, Rogers and Hammerstein (or the other great composers of musicals from that time), Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Sinatra, Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, the Judy Garland classics. If you Google any of these names you'll find the names of hundreds of songs that are are ripe for your audience. If you REALLY want to get into it, check out the Top 10 songs from the years 1930 - 1950 to find some hidden gems that your audience will probably remember and enjoy even if you haven't heard of them. Check out this website for a year by year breakdown of hits: http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/ushist/top_songs.htm Good luck and have fun!
25. classical, smooth jazz, oldies. etc. like "puff the magic dragon" lol jk. go to a music store that sells accompaniement tracks and ask the cashier. good luck! break a leg!
26. Whatever you pick...Do NOT sing Burry me in the East Burry me in the West! I once had a friend do that and he had cane marks for three weeks
27. I am a music therapist and I work in a nursing home. If you are spending time with seniors, they will love anything you do. Mix up your program: some old pop standards (think Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra), songs like "Danny Boy", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "Wonderful World". They love those songs! And include some folk. If they are like my clients, they will like religious music. So throw in a spiritual or two. Do one or two things they can sing along with. Get them participating. "You are my sunshine" and "Amazing Grace" are two you won't go wrong with. Someone requests them every time I do a music group. Good Luck!
28. Sing some Mariah Carey songz, they'll jus love it!
29. I was born in the late 30s and I love the music of the second World War Era, I always have. Great to listen to during dinner, for a quiet evening alone or with someone special ... or just socializing with friends. It is fun, and they are classics. Other post war songs are from the era 1946 to 1956 (My Formative years) I can sing along with each of the choices I made so I hope this will get you started . Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer Sentimental Journey Lili Marlene We'll Meet Again (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover Swinging On A Star Bell Bottom Trousers I'll be seeing you Dont sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me. When Johnny comes Marching Home again Waiting for the train to come in This is the Army Mister Jones A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square G I Jive Jukebox Saturday Night Praise The Lord & Pass The Ammunition Straighten Up And Fly Right Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Long Ago (And Far Away) It Had To Be You The Trolley Song Rum And Coca-Cola Chattanooga Choo Choo Sentimental Journey On The Atchison, Topeka & The Santa Fe It's Only A Paper Moon Mairzy Doats Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive It Might As Well Be Spring Chickery Chick Old Buttermilk Sky Peg O’ My Heart Mule Train The Tennessee Waltz Come On-A My House Chattanooga Shoe shine boy Glow-Worm Don’t Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes Sh-Boom Love letters in the sand Rock Around the Clock Mr. Sandman Sixteen Tons Ain’t That a Shame Don’t Be Cruel Memories Are Made of This Love Me Tender Young Love Wake Up Little Susie You Always Hurt the One You Love Swinging On a Star Crazy Patsy Cline Pretty woman Stormy Weather Brother, Can You Spare a Dime Ghost riders in the sky Cry Me and my Shadow Deep Purple And the Angels Sing Paper Doll Earth Angel
30. MITCH MILLER AND HIS SINGERS SING LOADS OF SONGS FOR THE OLDER FOLKS ON TAPE OR CD. ALSO GET SOME MAX BYGRAVES TAPES/CDS TO GET THEM TO SING ALONG TO. THEY'LL LOVE IT HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING IT. HAVE FUN.