1. I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston
On The Voice, not all songs are created equal. Some demand impossible breath control, emotional weight, and flawless range that can shake even professionals. I Have Nothing stands as the defining challenge of vocal mastery. Whitney Houston’s classic requires balance between power and vulnerability, with every line exposing the soul behind the sound. Contestants who attempt it risk everything because one mistake can shatter the illusion of perfection. The power notes climb high enough to test endurance, and the quiet moments reveal honesty. When a contestant pulls it off, the atmosphere shifts. It’s not just a performance anymore, it’s courage turned into music, leaving audiences breathless and judges quietly stunned.
2. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Few songs carry heavier expectations. Originally written by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston transformed it into a mountain of emotion and control. Contestants who pick this song on The Voice know they’re walking into the shadow of perfection. The soft start demands restraint, while the final chorus requires open strength that feels effortless. The challenge isn’t just technical, it’s emotional. You must make people believe every word without overpowering it. When a singer manages that delicate balance, it’s unforgettable. The audience holds its breath because for a few moments, they’re hearing love and heartbreak collide in one pure voice. That’s what makes it one of the hardest songs ever attempted on stage.
3. Vision of Love – Mariah Carey
This song is a masterclass in vocal gymnastics. Mariah Carey’s debut hit reshaped what it meant to sing with range, emotion, and technical skill. On The Voice, it’s known as one of those tracks that quickly separates confident singers from fearless ones. The melismas, whistle tones, and endless runs require complete control and timing. Every note has to glide perfectly into the next, leaving no room for hesitation. Contestants who take it on often realize it’s not just about hitting high notes, it’s about storytelling through them. When done right, it becomes more than imitation. It becomes revelation, and the audience knows instantly that they’ve witnessed something both rare and risky.
4. Butterfly – Mariah Carey
Butterfly may sound delicate, but it’s one of Mariah Carey’s most deceptively difficult songs. Its airy tone, quiet strength, and demanding range push contestants into new territory. The challenge lies in maintaining softness without losing presence. Each verse floats on fragile breath control, and each high note demands perfection. On The Voice, singers often underestimate how much emotion this song carries beneath its calm surface. To perform it well, you need both technique and vulnerability. When a contestant finds that balance, it’s pure beauty. The room goes still, the lights feel warmer, and for a brief moment, the performance feels less like competition and more like release.
5. All By Myself – Celine Dion
This song doesn’t just test range, it tests heart. Celine Dion’s version transformed it from a simple ballad into a powerhouse of emotion. The hardest part isn’t the high note at the climax, it’s maintaining control from the first line to the last. Every moment builds like a storm that refuses to break until the end. Contestants who tackle it must balance tenderness with strength, never letting one overpower the other. The Voice stage often becomes silent as the final note lingers, echoing the courage it takes to face a song this demanding. When done right, it’s unforgettable, a reminder that great performances live where fear meets freedom.
6. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
This isn’t just a love song, it’s a lesson in restraint and precision. My Heart Will Go On demands deep emotional connection while maintaining perfect technical control. The verses require a soft touch, barely above a whisper, but the chorus demands full power without losing tone. Contestants on The Voice often get lost between the two. Oversing it and you lose grace, undersing it and it falls flat. The key lies in letting the song breathe naturally. When it’s performed with care, every note feels like memory, every phrase feels alive. It’s one of those songs that proves how control can be louder than volume.
7. Chandelier – Sia
Chandelier feels like chaos controlled by art. Its lyrics ache with emotion while its melody pushes vocal cords to the edge. Contestants on The Voice often underestimate how brutal it can be on breath control. The verses stretch sentences longer than lungs can handle, then explode into choruses that require both stamina and volume. It’s a test of endurance disguised as a pop song. To pull it off, singers need to balance fragility with strength. The beauty of Chandelier lies in its contradiction, and when a contestant nails it, the entire room feels it. It’s less about sound and more about survival, and that’s why it remains unforgettable.
8. Halo – Beyoncé
Halo may sound serene, but it’s one of the toughest songs in Beyoncé’s catalog. Contestants who take it on The Voice quickly realize it’s a marathon of power and poise. The verses demand soft clarity while the chorus calls for pure force. It’s about learning to rise without breaking. Every transition has to feel effortless, and the emotional tone must remain consistent. Too much power and it feels forced, too little and it loses impact. The key lies in calm strength, in knowing when to soar and when to settle. When a contestant gets it right, it’s breathtaking, a perfect blend of soul and skill.
9. Listen – Beyoncé
Listen from Dreamgirls isn’t just a song, it’s a declaration of identity. Contestants who choose it on The Voice are signing up for one of the hardest vocal challenges in the book. Its power grows gradually, demanding emotional build-up that feels authentic. Each line carries tension, and every belt must land with intention. There’s no room for showboating, only sincerity. Many singers start strong but lose control as the emotion takes over. The true test is balance, knowing how to let passion lead without letting it consume. When someone gets that right, the performance feels like both a cry and a breakthrough, and the crowd knows they’ve witnessed something real.
10. And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going – Jennifer Holliday / Jennifer Hudson
There are songs that test skill, and then there’s this one. And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going demands emotional surrender from the first note to the last. On The Voice, it’s the song that separates the daring from the desperate. It’s loud, relentless, and raw. Contestants must maintain intensity for nearly four minutes without losing clarity. The voice must carry pain, anger, and hope all at once. There’s no rest, no easy moment, just a fight between heart and breath. When it’s done with truth instead of imitation, it becomes unforgettable. It’s not just performed, it’s lived in real time before an audience holding its breath.
11. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Few songs strike fear into singers like Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s six minutes of pure transformation, moving from soft ballad to operatic chaos to rock anthem. Contestants on The Voice who attempt it are stepping into legend. The difficulty isn’t just in range but in rhythm, emotion, and storytelling. Every section requires a different voice, a different attitude. Breath control becomes survival, and missing one note can ruin the entire journey. But when a singer holds it together, the moment feels transcendent. It’s the kind of performance that turns a contestant into an artist, someone unafraid to chase the impossible and make it feel alive.
12. Somebody to Love – Queen
This song feels joyful, but it’s secretly one of the hardest pieces in rock history. Somebody to Love combines gospel-like harmonies with Freddie Mercury’s impossible range. Contestants on The Voice must fill those layers alone, delivering both grit and grace. The challenge is switching from gentle falsetto to full-bodied belts without strain. Every note demands confidence and control. When performed right, it’s pure electricity. It’s one of those songs that exposes not only vocal skill but soul. On that stage, it becomes more than a Queen tribute, it becomes proof that emotion, power, and timing can coexist in perfect harmony.
13. The Star-Spangled Banner – Traditional
This patriotic classic looks simple on paper but reveals itself as one of the toughest songs ever written. With its unpredictable leaps and wide range, The Star-Spangled Banner leaves no room for mistakes. Contestants on The Voice who perform it stand completely exposed, relying only on their voice and timing. Each note demands accuracy and composure. There’s nowhere to hide, and every pitch misstep is instantly obvious. When someone sings it flawlessly, it’s unforgettable. It transforms from a performance into a moment of unity. It’s proof that precision and emotion can live side by side when courage meets control.
14. Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Rolling in the Deep isn’t just powerful, it’s emotionally charged. Adele’s voice gives it grit and elegance, and contestants on The Voice often struggle to capture both. The verses build like quiet thunder before bursting into a storm of rhythm and soul. It requires stamina, timing, and emotional pacing. Too slow and it loses tension, too fast and it loses depth. The key lies in conviction, making every lyric sound lived-in. When a contestant finally balances fire with control, it’s mesmerizing. The audience feels the emotion, not just the performance. It’s one of those songs that rewards honesty above everything else.
15. Someone Like You – Adele
This song is simplicity and heartbreak combined. Someone Like You relies less on range and more on raw emotion. Contestants on The Voice often discover too late that emotional honesty is harder than vocal power. Every line must feel genuine, and every silence must speak. The piano backdrop leaves no space to hide flaws. Breath, timing, and tone all become exposed. Oversinging destroys its beauty, undersinging dulls its meaning. The true magic lies in restraint. When a contestant delivers it with pure sincerity, the performance becomes a conversation with pain and hope. It’s quiet, it’s personal, and that’s what makes it unforgettable.
16. The Power of Love – Jennifer Rush / Celine Dion
The Power of Love feels grand, but it’s also fragile. Contestants who perform it on The Voice face a demanding test of power, tone, and emotional control. The verses require warmth and calmness, but the chorus demands precision and strength. Celine Dion’s version turned it into an anthem of endurance. Each note must soar without sounding strained. The biggest challenge is keeping emotion steady while sustaining those long, dramatic phrases. When a singer gets it right, it feels cinematic. The lights, the stillness, the crowd all melt into the moment. It’s a reminder that real strength in music often begins with vulnerability.
17. Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin
Piece of My Heart is rough, soulful, and brutally honest. Janis Joplin’s version is legendary for its raw emotion and unpolished grit. Contestants on The Voice who choose it must embrace imperfection, letting the song’s wildness lead. It’s not about vocal purity, it’s about spirit. The energy needs to feel spontaneous, alive, and slightly dangerous. Too clean, and it loses power. Too messy, and it becomes noise. The balance is thin but vital. When someone gets it right, it feels like freedom. It’s rock and blues at their most human, reminding everyone that passion sometimes matters more than perfection.
18. Dream On – Aerosmith
Dream On is a song built on tension and release. It starts softly, like a whisper from the past, before erupting into some of the most demanding high notes in rock. On The Voice, contestants who attempt it know it’s all or nothing. The range stretches far beyond comfort, testing every ounce of stamina and control. The key is patience, building the energy naturally so the finale feels earned. When someone reaches that last cry cleanly, the audience erupts. It’s one of those songs where survival equals success. Dream On reminds everyone that vulnerability can roar just as loudly as strength.
19. I Dreamed a Dream – Les Misérables
This song is theater and heart in perfect balance. I Dreamed a Dream requires both discipline and emotion. Contestants on The Voice who perform it must become storytellers first. Every phrase carries pain and memory, and every note demands clarity. The melody looks simple but hides deep emotional shifts that can easily overwhelm. The hardest part is pacing, letting each line unfold naturally. When done right, the result is haunting. The song’s quiet sadness lingers in the air long after it ends. It’s a reminder that control and honesty can create magic stronger than volume or speed.
20. And You Don’t Remember – Mariah Carey
This lesser-known Mariah Carey gem is one of the most complex songs ever attempted on The Voice. Its intricate melodies, shifting rhythms, and vocal runs leave no space for error. The singer must balance clarity, timing, and emotion all at once. Breath control becomes everything as the song climbs and falls like a heartbeat. Few contestants even dare to try it, knowing how technically demanding it is. But when someone pulls it off, it feels like grace. It’s smooth, soulful, and alive, ending not with power but precision. It proves that sometimes the hardest songs aren’t about volume, they’re about control.
On The Voice, these twenty songs aren’t just performances, they’re battles between courage and craft. Each one challenges singers to balance strength with soul. For every artist dreaming of that spotlight, remember that greatness doesn’t come from perfection but from daring to sing the impossible and making it feel like truth.
This story 20 Hardest Songs Ever Sung on The Voice was first published on Daily FETCH
