10 Perfect Shower Songs

Living above Manulife Centre means you can get most staple items without having to go outside. In some cases, you even have options. Take bath soap, for example: you can go to the Pharma Plus on the concourse level for the brands you know. Or you could walk down the hall, turn right and treat yourself to a Dead Sea special from GRATiAE.

Here’s another benefit: thick walls and powerful showers, a perfect combination for the aspiring rock stars that call 44 Charles home. So whether your “microphone” is a $9 bottle of shampoo or a $99 tube of Purifying Facial Cleanser, you can belt ’em out to your heart’s content.

We took another informal poll (we do a lot of these) looking at the most popular shower songs. As you can imagine, we got zero consensus, but plenty of passion. So we started thinking about what songs we’d recommend for the shower. And more specifically, songs we’d recommend for particular kinds of showers.

Diana Ross – I Will Survive
At first I was afraid, I was petrified…
You don’t have to be getting over a break-up to get into this groove. It’s perfect before work or a workout  because no matter how tough the going gets, you’re gonna survive, sister (or brother!). And on days when your boss is a jerk, that cute barista doesn’t recognize you and the TTC is delayed again, it’ll wash away the stress as you well wash away the stress.

Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
Don’t stop believin’ / Hold on to that feelin’…
Rule #1 of singing in the shower: never stop believing. So close your eyes, raise your shampoo bottle in the air (ensuring that the cap is sealed tight) and transport yourself to a 50,000-seat amphitheatre circa 1981. You’ll feel like a rock god for a glorious four minutes and ten seconds.

Taylor Swift – Shake it Off
I’m dancing on my own / I make the moves up as I go…
Say what you want about Tay-Tay, but the lady knows how to write a song perfect for a sudsy serenade. This one’s our go-to when we’re getting ready to hit the town on a Friday night. Step into the shower in work mode, step out in party mode. Pro tip: you’ll want to make sure you have a no-slip shower mat in place for when your feet start moving. And they will.

Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight
Rub the sticks and stones together, make the sparks ignite…
Showers for two can be a delicate dance. It takes a committed couple to figure out things like who gets to be under the showerhead first, when to switch and, of course, loofah duty. But when it goes right, the name of this song says it all.

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
I see a little silhouetto of a man…
You’d better hang a “do not disturb” sign on the bathroom door, because when you start this, you’re going to see it through to the end, guitar riffs included. From every “Scaramouche” to every heartfelt “Maamaaaa,” this ballad will have you singing so loud the neighbours will join in — and they know the words as well as you do.

OutKast – Hey Ya!
Now what’s cooler than bein’ cool?
Now that we’ve gotten you to yell “ICE COLD,” you can see why this song made the list. Try singing it without grinning, we dare you. But be warned, this one comes with a special disclaimer: don’t sing it in the shower without being prepared to hum it all day. For those of us who don’t mind a serious ear-worm, Andre 3000 and Big Boi have offered up a fantastic early morning caffeine replacement.

Hanson – MMMBop
Mmmbop, ba duba dop / Ba du bop, ba duba dop…
A shower is a judgement-free zone and, as I mentioned earlier, no place for haters. So go ahead and reconnect with your inner 13-year-old. Belt this one out, then put on your suit, straighten your tie and get ready for that big meeting. No one will know except you.

Aretha Franklin – Respect
R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Find out what it means to me…
At the end of the day, isn’t it what we’re all askin’ for? And in the shower, you got it. Actually, it’s a pretty great idea to channel Aretha in every part of your life. You really can’t go wrong. But if you just can’t get to that level of fabulousness everywhere, you can at least have it in the shower. Just a little bit.

Quad City DJs – Space Jam Theme

Come on and slam, and welcome to the jam…
Okay, so this is a favourite of ours, but it might not be suitable for novices. You may get too pumped up. Sing this one before breakfast, and the next thing you know you’re parkour-ing to work and challenging the boss to a friendly game of one-on-one. But when you’re truly ready to slam (and perhaps even to jam), this is the song for you.

Bath Time Bonus: Ernie – Rubber Ducky
Rubber ducky, you’re the one / you make bath time so much fun…
Yeah, some of us prefer baths. Totally fine. This tune’s a testament to time in the tub. And that special friend who’s with you through good times and bad, through all of the lavender-scented bubbles and votive candles.  While scientists haven’t yet developed a rubber ducky that works in the shower, when they do, this song will join the rest of the list.

These are our faves, but at the end of the day (or the beginning), the best songs are the ones you love to sing like no one’s watching. So pick a tune and own it!