A really fun project Tom worked on with Three UK and Samaritans to identify the UK’s favourite karaoke songs based on data from a survey of 2000 people across the country.

• New research from Three UK and Oxford University Mathematician reveals the formula behind the UK’s most feel-good karaoke anthems
• Songs mathematically proven to increase dopamine levels are Livin’ On a Prayer, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and Don’t Look Back in Anger
• To bring this to life and demonstrate the mood-boosting benefits of singing, Three is launching ‘Kathartic Karaoke’ experiences at festivals this summer, in partnership with Samaritans

Tuesday 22nd July: From a Mariah-in-the-making or an ABBA aficionado, there’s nothing better than a good karaoke session with mates to make people feel good. This summer, Oxford University mathematician, Dr Tom Crawford, reveals the most mood boosting karaoke classics of all time. The top ten endorphin boosting belters will be available for music fans to sing their hearts out to in new ‘Kathartic Karaoke’ booths from Three UK and Samaritans, launching at festivals this summer.

To arrive at his top ten list, Dr Tom devised a formula which grades each song with a score out of 100 (K). In the equation, which was developed using data from 2,000 karaoke lovers, V refers to the number of verses, C repetition of chorus, BPM to the song’s beats per minute and Y to the year the song was released.

Dr Tom used his formula to rank the UK’s favourite karaoke songs and identify the top ten guaranteed to boost Brits’ moods and help Brits find joy through the power of singing.

1. Livin’ On a Prayer – Bon Jovi (91%)
2. I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston (90%)
3. Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis (89%)
4. Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain (88%)
5. 500 Miles – The Proclaimers (88%)
6. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA (85%)
7. Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield (84%)
8. Someone Like You – Adele (84%)
9. Wannabe – Spice Girls (84%)
10.  Let Me Love You – Mario (83%)

Dr Tom Crawford, Mathematician at Oxford University, explains: “People love a fast-paced song with an average 126 BPM and 3 repeated chorus’ for every 2 verses, just like most pop songs – hence why common favourites are scoring highly in the research. With ABBA dominating the 70’s, through to Adele in the 2010’s, the average release year of a karaoke classic is 1995. This captures the boyband craze, as well as Brit pop with Oasis, and girl power like the Spice Girls, showing there’s some serious maths behind a karaoke belter!”

The ‘Kathartic Karaoke’ initiative forms part of Three and Samaritans’ ongoing commitment to mental health support and wellbeing. Launching this week at Klarna presents Latitude Festival in Suffolk (24th-27th July), the karaoke booth will then move to The Mound at Edinburgh Fringe (15th-16th August). The experience has been uniquely designed to help festival goers boost their mood with music and singing. And in partnership with Samaritans, singers can head to Samaritans tent at Latitude if they want to talk or scan a QR code to seek additional support.

To help Dr Tom devise his formula, Three commissioned research to determine a long list of the UK’s favourite karaoke songs and understand the impact singing has on a person’s mental health. The research found that nine out of ten (90%) people felt that singing gave them an emotional uplift, made them feel empowered (81%) and was kathartic (70%). There is also evidence* to suggest music can improve happiness and help sustain a healthy immune system, by reducing stress and boosting the production of endorphins and immunity antibodies – whilst singing can specifically improve breathing, posture and muscle tension.

According to Three’s study, music genres play a vital role in helping people to articulate their feelings and release pent-up emotions. One-in-three (33%) claimed pop music was their go-to karaoke genre, while a fifth (17%) prefer rock songs to let it rip.

As a country of self-proclaimed superstar singers, the research also found that most Brits (88%) have that ‘go-to’ karaoke tune for every time they grab the mic. When it’s time to step into the spotlight, it’s ABBA (32%), Adele (30%) and Taylor Swift (27%) who top the charts as the artists which Brits turn to most in the karaoke booth for the emotional bangers. From heartbreak ballads to full-blown dancefloor fillers, these icons are Brit’s vocal comfort blankets.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at VodafoneThree, said: “As the Official Connectivity Partner of some of the UK’s biggest festivals this summer, we understand the power and importance of making connections that matter, whether it’s through technology or shared experiences like music. We are delighted to be partnering with Samaritans for the first time at music festivals, to create joyful spaces for people to connect to one another and experience our ‘Kathartic Karaoke’ for themselves.”

Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans, said: “Music has a unique power to have a positive impact on our mental health. Singing, in particular, can help people process emotions, ease stress and boost mood. Through this pitch-perfect partnership with Three, we’re turning up the volume on wellbeing, using music as a carefree way to connect, express, and take care of your emotional health.”

Samaritans volunteers will be at Latitude throughout the festival, ready to listen without judgement, whether it’s in the early hours after a long night or while queuing for a morning coffee. Their presence is a powerful reminder that support is available 24/7, every day of the year. The festival also coincides with Samaritans Awareness Day on 24th July, known as 24/7, which shines a light on the charity’s round-the-clock service and the life-saving impact of human connection.

Three is connecting some of the UK’s biggest festivals this year – including Rockstar presents Parklife, Rockstar presents Wireless, Rockstar presents TRNSMT, Klarna presents Latitude, Rockstar presents Reading & Leeds and Audi presents Wilderness. In addition to the ‘Kathartic Karaoke’ experience at Klarna presents Latitude, Three also offers a range of perks and experiences for festival goers across the events:

• Enhanced 4G/5G network coverage across each festival to ensure customers stay connected and share their experiences
• A chance to unwind in the exclusive Vibes Area** (exclusive for Three customers via the Three+ rewards app)
• Access to the Three Viewing Platform*** for an elevated view of the main stages (exclusive for Three customers via Three+)
• 3Charging – free charging and WiFi access across festivals, plus a free ice cream
• Plus, the chance to experience the UK’s Fastest 5G Network**** with 7 days of unlimited data, calls and texts through Three’s eSIM trial*****

Three UK is one of the brands of the newly merged VodafoneThree, which is the UK’s largest mobile provider. VodafoneThree is investing £11bn in building the UK’s best network, delivering reliable, quality connectivity to all communities – from big cities to small towns, and everywhere in between – reaching 99.95% population coverage by 2034. Over the coming months, Vodafone and Three customers will also start to benefit from unrivalled access to roam across each other’s networks, at no extra cost.