Song Charades: 80+ Songs to Act Out — Free List & Generator
The Catchiest Charades Category
Song charades comes with one deliciously frustrating rule: no humming, no singing, no sound at all. You have to act out a song everyone knows using only your body — which is exactly why it's so funny. Watching someone try to mime "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Baby Shark" without making a peep is pure entertainment.
This guide gives you 80 song charades words sorted by era and difficulty, plus how-to-act-it-out tips for nailing titles silently, themed rounds, and a plan for any crowd. Cue the (silent) music!
How to Act Out a Song (Without Humming)
The trick to song charades is acting the title words, not the tune. Start with the "song" signal (sway like you're singing into a mic), then mime each word. For "Rolling in the Deep," roll your arms, then dive deep. Easy once you stop trying to hum!
Easy Song Charades (Everyone Knows These)
Sing-along classics the whole room recognizes:
Happy Birthday · Jingle Bells · Twinkle Twinkle Little Star · YMCA · Baby Shark · Old MacDonald · Row Your Boat · If You're Happy and You Know It · The Wheels on the Bus · Twist and Shout · We Will Rock You · Sweet Caroline · Macarena · Single Ladies · Old Town Road
Medium Song Charades (Crowd Favorites)
Hits that take a bit more creative miming:
Bohemian Rhapsody · Thriller · Dancing Queen · Billie Jean · Don't Stop Believin' · I Will Survive · Uptown Funk · Shake It Off · Rolling in the Deep · Happy · Wannabe · Despacito · Call Me Maybe · Wrecking Ball · Firework
Hard Song Charades (For Music Buffs)
Trickier titles for competitive and music-loving crowds:
Stairway to Heaven · Smells Like Teen Spirit · Hotel California · Bohemian Rhapsody · Purple Rain · November Rain · Comfortably Numb · Sweet Child o' Mine · Another Brick in the Wall · Paint It Black · Hey Jude · A Whiter Shade of Pale · Imagine · Like a Rolling Stone · Born to Run
Song Charades by Decade (Themed Round)
80s: Billie Jean · Like a Virgin · Sweet Dreams · Take On Me · Livin' on a Prayer
90s: Wannabe · Smells Like Teen Spirit · I Want It That Way · No Scrubs · Wonderwall
2000s+: Hey Ya · Single Ladies · Rolling in the Deep · Uptown Funk · Shake It Off
Songs for Charades by Genre (With Artists)
Want more songs for charades? Here are 133 more titles sorted by genre, with the artist in parentheses so the actor knows exactly which song they drew. Together with the lists above, that is more than 180 different songs for charades — enough for many game nights without repeats.
Jump to: Pop · Rock · Hip-Hop & R&B · Country · Classical · Funk & Disco · Dance & Party · Kids · Christmas
Pop Songs for Charades
Chart-toppers most groups can name in seconds:
Blinding Lights (The Weeknd) · Shape of You (Ed Sheeran) · Bad Guy (Billie Eilish) · Levitating (Dua Lipa) · Flowers (Miley Cyrus) · Anti-Hero (Taylor Swift) · Love Story (Taylor Swift) · Roar (Katy Perry) · Umbrella (Rihanna) · Count on Me (Bruno Mars) · Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars) · Can't Stop the Feeling! (Justin Timberlake) · Party in the U.S.A. (Miley Cyrus) · Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!) · Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) · As It Was (Harry Styles) · Watermelon Sugar (Harry Styles) · Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) · Drivers License (Olivia Rodrigo) · Hello (Adele)
Rock Songs for Charades
Big guitar anthems with very actable titles:
Don't Stop Me Now (Queen) · Another One Bites the Dust (Queen) · We Are the Champions (Queen) · Under Pressure (Queen & David Bowie) · Eye of the Tiger (Survivor) · Walk This Way (Aerosmith) · Jump (Van Halen) · Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen) · Mr. Brightside (The Killers) · Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes) · Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple) · I Love Rock 'n' Roll (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts) · Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles) · Yellow Submarine (The Beatles) · Let It Be (The Beatles) · Free Fallin' (Tom Petty) · Africa (Toto) · Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley) · Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) · Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley & His Comets)
Hip-Hop & R&B Songs for Charades
Party-friendly picks with famous moves and hooks:
Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice) · U Can't Touch This (MC Hammer) · Gettin' Jiggy wit It (Will Smith) · Men in Black (Will Smith) · Lose Yourself (Eminem) · Crazy in Love (Beyoncé) · Hotline Bling (Drake) · Juice (Lizzo) · Good as Hell (Lizzo) · Ms. Jackson (OutKast) · Rapper's Delight (The Sugarhill Gang) · Jump Around (House of Pain) · Bust a Move (Young MC) · Whoomp! (There It Is) (Tag Team) · Can't Hold Us (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)
Country Songs for Charades
Boots on — these titles practically act themselves:
Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks) · Jolene (Dolly Parton) · 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton) · Islands in the Stream (Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton) · Achy Breaky Heart (Billy Ray Cyrus) · Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver) · Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash) · Man! I Feel Like a Woman! (Shania Twain) · Cruise (Florida Georgia Line) · Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band) · Boot Scootin' Boogie (Brooks & Dunn) · Life Is a Highway (Rascal Flatts) · Wagon Wheel (Darius Rucker) · Fancy Like (Walker Hayes) · On the Road Again (Willie Nelson)
Classical Pieces for Charades
A fun challenge round — act the title, then mime the instrument:
Für Elise (Beethoven) · The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) · Flight of the Bumblebee (Rimsky-Korsakov) · Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky) · The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) · Canon in D (Pachelbel) · Ride of the Valkyries (Wagner) · In the Hall of the Mountain King (Grieg) · The Blue Danube (Johann Strauss II) · Clair de Lune (Debussy) · William Tell Overture (Rossini)
Funk & Disco Songs for Charades
Groovy titles with built-in dance moves:
Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees) · Le Freak (Chic) · Celebration (Kool & the Gang) · September (Earth, Wind & Fire) · Boogie Wonderland (Earth, Wind & Fire) · Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry) · I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown) · Superstition (Stevie Wonder) · Car Wash (Rose Royce) · Disco Inferno (The Trammps)
Dance, Electronic & Party Songs for Charades
From club anthems to the songs that empty every chair at a wedding:
Titanium (David Guetta featuring Sia) · Levels (Avicii) · Wake Me Up (Avicii) · Sandstorm (Darude) · Around the World (Daft Punk) · Get Lucky (Daft Punk) · Animals (Martin Garrix) · Blue (Da Ba Dee) (Eiffel 65) · Lean On (Major Lazer & DJ Snake) · Cha Cha Slide (DJ Casper) · Cupid Shuffle (Cupid)
Songs for Charades for Kids
Movie songs and nursery favorites little ones can act out (and guess):
Let It Go (Frozen) · How Far I'll Go (Moana) · You're Welcome (Moana) · Hakuna Matata (The Lion King) · Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid) · Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast) · We Don't Talk About Bruno (Encanto) · Do-Re-Mi (The Sound of Music) · Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes · The Hokey Pokey · Itsy Bitsy Spider · London Bridge Is Falling Down · Five Little Monkeys · Bingo · Rubber Duckie (Sesame Street)
Christmas Songs for Charades
Holiday hits for December game nights and office parties:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer · Frosty the Snowman · All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey) · Feliz Navidad (José Feliciano) · Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Brenda Lee) · Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms) · Last Christmas (Wham!) · Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! · Deck the Halls · Silent Night · We Wish You a Merry Christmas · Here Comes Santa Claus · Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town · Up on the Housetop · Winter Wonderland · The Twelve Days of Christmas
Artist tip: The artist name is there to help the actor, not the guessers. Most groups only need the song title to score. For a harder round, award a bonus point if the team can also name the artist after guessing the title.
Acting Out Long, Tricky or Non-English Song Titles
Some titles do not break down into easy words. "Despacito," "Für Elise" and "Hakuna Matata" are good examples. Here is how to handle them without making a sound:
- Use the "sounds like" signal. Tug your earlobe, then act out a word that sounds similar. "Hakuna" could become "hack" + "tuna."
- Break it into syllables. Tap the number of syllables on your forearm, then act each one. "Des-pa-ci-to" is four taps, and the last one can be "toe."
- Act the meaning instead. If you know what the title means, act that. "Despacito" means "slowly," so a dramatic slow-motion walk can get you there.
- Use the movie or setting. For songs from films, act out the movie first (a lion for "Hakuna Matata," a snow queen for "Let It Go"), then the title.
- Count words first. Hold up fingers for the number of words, then point to which word you are acting, just like regular charades.
For a full refresher on signals like "sounds like," syllables and word count, see the charades hand signals guide.
Printable Song Charades Cards
Prefer paper slips in a bowl? Turning this list into printable song charades cards takes a few minutes:
- Pick your genres. Choose two or three sections above that suit your crowd — for example Kids + Christmas for a family party, or Rock + Pop + Funk for adults.
- Copy the titles into a document in a simple grid, one song per box, with the artist in small print underneath.
- Print on card stock so the cards are easier to handle and harder to see through.
- Cut and fold each card, then drop them in a hat or bowl. Keep a separate bowl for each difficulty if you want fair rounds.
- Add a few blank cards so guests can write in a favorite song of their own.
If you want ready-made layouts for other categories, our printable charades cards page has templates you can fill with song titles too. Or skip the scissors and use the free charades generator on any phone.
More music and party lists: pop song charades · Christmas charades ideas · charades words for kids · movie charades
How to Act Out Tricky Song Titles
Title-by-title is the way. Coach your players with these:
| Song | How to Act It Out |
|---|---|
| Thriller | Do the zombie dance — claws out, stiff lurch |
| Single Ladies | The famous hand flick + ring-finger point |
| Rolling in the Deep | Roll your arms, then "dive" down deep |
| Wrecking Ball | Swing like a pendulum, then "smash" |
| Firework | Crouch, then explode your arms open like a sparkle |
| YMCA | Spell the letters with your arms |
| Sweet Caroline | Reach out, then "bah bah bah" arm pumps |
| Baby Shark | The chomping hand motions, getting bigger |
| Stairway to Heaven | Climb invisible stairs, then point up |
| We Will Rock You | Stomp-stomp-clap rhythm with your body |
Pro tip: For songs with a famous dance (Thriller, Macarena, Single Ladies), just do the dance — it's the fastest guess in the game.
Fun Song Charades Variations
- Decade Battle: 80s team vs 90s team — each acts only their era's hits.
- Dance Move Round: Songs with famous dances only (Thriller, Macarena, Gangnam Style).
- Genre Round: Rock, pop, country, or kids' songs — pick a lane.
- One-Word Titles: Firework, Thriller, Happy, Imagine — surprisingly tricky.
- Lip-Sync Allowed: For an easier round, mouthing the words (no sound) is permitted.
How to Match Song Charades to Your Crowd
Family night: Lean on the easy sing-alongs — Baby Shark, YMCA, Happy Birthday. Kids love these.
Adult party: Mix medium hits and the dance-move round. Watch the Single Ladies hand-flicks pile up.
Music buffs: Bring on the hard classic-rock titles for a real challenge.
Teens: Current and 2000s pop hits land best — Old Town Road, Shake It Off.
Tips for the Best Song Charades
- No humming! Act the title words, not the tune.
- Use famous dances — Thriller and Macarena practically guess themselves.
- Start with the "song" signal so your team knows the category.
- Match songs to your crowd's era for fair, fast guessing.
- Use a generator so nobody picks a song only they know.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good song charades words?
Widely known hits like Happy Birthday, Thriller, YMCA, Single Ladies, and Bohemian Rhapsody — songs everyone instantly recognizes.
How do you act out a song in charades without humming?
Act the title words, not the tune. Start with the "song" signal, then mime each word — or do the song's famous dance if it has one.
Can you hum or sing in song charades?
No — that's against the rules. Song charades is silent; you act out the title with gestures only. (No sound is what makes it so funny.)
What are easy songs for charades?
Sing-along classics like Baby Shark, YMCA, Happy Birthday, and Twinkle Twinkle — titles with simple, actable words.
How do you act out "Thriller" in charades?
Just do the zombie dance — claws out, stiff lurching steps. The iconic Thriller choreography is the fastest guess in song charades.
What's a fun song charades variation?
The "Decade Battle" — an 80s team versus a 90s team, each acting only their era's hits. It sparks great nostalgic rivalry.
What are good songs for charades for kids?
Movie songs and nursery favorites work best: Let It Go, Hakuna Matata, Under the Sea, Baby Shark, Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Hokey Pokey, and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Kids already know the motions, so these are quick to act and easy to guess.
Do you have to guess the artist in song charades?
Usually no — the song title is enough to score. The artist names on this page are there to help the actor know which song they drew. For a harder round, give a bonus point if the team can also name the artist.
What are the best Christmas songs for charades?
Try Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bell Rock, All I Want for Christmas Is You, Deck the Halls, and The Twelve Days of Christmas. Titles with characters (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa) are the fastest to act.
How many songs do you need for a game of song charades?
Plan on about 10 to 15 songs per team for an hour of play, since most turns last one to two minutes. With more than 180 titles on this page, you can play several rounds without repeating a song.
How do you act out a song title in another language?
Use the "sounds like" signal and act English words that sound similar, tap out the syllables on your arm, or act out what the title means. For songs from movies, act out the movie first to give your team a head start.
More Charades Guides
Ready to Drop the Beat (Silently)?
You've got 80 hits, title-acting tips, and five fun variations — now cue the silent music and let the song charades begin. Make it effortless:
👉 Open the free Charades Generator — instant song titles, a timer, and team scoring. No app, no signup. 🎵
What song does your group act out best? Settle the chart battle tonight!
