What Makes a Great Dueling Piano Song?
Not every song works in a dueling piano setting. The best ones share a few things in common:
- Sing-along potential — The crowd needs to know the words, or at least the chorus.
- Energy — Whether it's slow and dramatic or fast and rowdy, it has to move people.
- Flexibility — Our performers can take a request and make it their own. The best songs give them room to play.
- A moment — The greatest requests create a shared experience. Everyone in the room stops and locks in together.
The list below hits every one of those marks — even if some of them do it in ways your grandmother might not approve of.
The Top 20 Most Requested Songs at Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar
1. "Pink Pony Club" – Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan has taken over, and Off The Wagon's crowd knows it. "Pink Pony Club" brings an energy that's hard to match — theatrical, unapologetic, and built for a room full of people who want to be seen having a great time. It's become one of the most requested songs we hear, and the reaction it gets is always worth it.
2. "Mr. Brightside" – The Killers
Few songs have the staying power of "Mr. Brightside." It came out in 2003 and it hits just as hard today. The moment that opening riff starts, you can feel the room shift. Everyone knows every word, and there's something almost competitive about how loud people sing it.
3. "Friends in Low Places" – Garth Brooks
Country fans make up a big part of the Off The Wagon crowd, and "Friends in Low Places" is their anthem. The call-and-response feel of this song makes it a perfect dueling piano moment. By the time the chorus hits, the whole bar is singing in unison.
4. "Sweet Caroline" – Neil Diamond
"BAH BAH BAH." You already finished that sentence in your head. That's exactly why this song is always in heavy rotation. "Sweet Caroline" is one of the most reliably crowd-unifying songs in existence, and our performers love playing it for exactly that reason.
5. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" – John Denver
There's something about "Take Me Home, Country Roads" that feels like a hug. It's nostalgic, it's easy to sing, and it works on every kind of crowd. In Asheville — a city surrounded by mountains — it hits a little different.
6. "WAP" – Cardi B
Yes, it's on the list. "WAP" gets requested constantly, and when it goes up, the energy in the room goes through the roof. It's bold, it's fun, and it's exactly the kind of song that reminds you a night at Off The Wagon is not like any other night out.
7. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" – Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston's voice belongs in every room, and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" is one of those songs that makes people physically unable to stay in their seats. The joy in this song is contagious — it's impossible to hear it and not smile.
8. "Dicked Down in Dallas" – Trey Lewis
If you haven't heard this one yet, you will. "Dicked Down in Dallas" is a sharp, funny, country-leaning song that tends to shock the crowd for a second before they're all laughing and singing along. It's a perfect example of the kind of request that only works in a place like Off The Wagon.
9. "Neon Moon" – Brooks & Dunn
Slower and more emotional than most of the list, "Neon Moon" is a request that shows the range of our crowd. It's a classic country heartbreak song with a melody that sticks with you. When our performers play it right, it can be a genuinely beautiful moment in the middle of an otherwise chaotic night.
10. "Wagon Wheel" – Old Crow Medicine Show
We'd be lying if we said this one doesn't come with a little extra weight at Off The Wagon. It's the kind of song that makes Asheville feel like exactly the right place to be — mountain town, late night, cold drink in hand. It's a crowd favorite for a reason.
11. "Don't Stop Believin'" – Journey
A staple of dueling piano bars everywhere, "Don't Stop Believin'" never gets old. Its chorus pulls even the most reserved people out of their shells. It's been requested millions of times in venues across the country, and it still earns every single one.
12. "Teenage Dirtbag" – Wheatus
"Teenage Dirtbag" is one of those songs that makes a certain generation lose their minds when they hear the opening notes. It's scrappy, it's funny, and it turns every person in the room back into a sixteen-year-old for about three and a half minutes.
13. "Piano Man" – Billy Joel
No list like this would be complete without "Piano Man." It's practically the dueling piano bar national anthem. The harmonica intro, the storytelling, the crowd swaying with their drinks — it's a moment that happens every time, without fail.
14. "Dancing Queen" – ABBA
ABBA has had a massive resurgence in recent years, and "Dancing Queen" is leading the charge. It's one of those songs that skips right past inhibition. By the second verse, people who said they don't dance are dancing.
15. "Crazy Bitch" – Buckcherry
Raw, loud, and unapologetic — "Crazy Bitch" is a rock staple that Off The Wagon crowds love to unleash. It tends to bring out the rowdiest energy of the night, which is saying something given the company it keeps on this list.
16. "Bohemian Rhapsody" – Queen
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a challenge for any performer, and that's part of why it's such a great request at a dueling piano bar. When it's done well, it's a spectacle. The crowd goes through every phase of the song — the quiet opening, the operatic middle, the hard rock section — and they stay locked in the whole way through.
17. "Get Low" – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz ft. Ying Yang Twins
Not every song on this list is subtle. "Get Low" is a late-night, high-energy moment that turns the room into something closer to a club than a piano bar — and the crowd loves it. It shows up most often when the night is well underway and inhibitions are firmly out the window.
18. "I Want It That Way" – Backstreet Boys
The nostalgia alone would make this one a hit, but "I Want It That Way" also just holds up. It's a genuinely great pop song, and the harmonies our performers pull out of it tend to surprise people. It's a crowd-pleaser from start to finish.
19. "Livin' On a Prayer" – Bon Jovi
Hands go up. Voices go up. The entire bar holds the high note together. "Livin' On a Prayer" is a communal experience every single time, and it always earns its spot in the rotation.
20. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" – The Charlie Daniels Band
Save the best for last — or at least the most impressive. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is a request that puts serious demands on our performers, and watching them rise to the occasion is part of what makes it so satisfying to see live. Fast, furious, and full of Southern pride, it's a perfect song for a venue with deep Asheville roots.
Why These Songs Work
What ties this list together isn't genre or era — it's the feeling each song creates. A great dueling piano request does one of a few things: it pulls the crowd into a moment together, it surprises people in a way that makes them laugh, or it gives the performers a chance to do something genuinely impressive.
This list does all three, sometimes in the same song.
The range here tells you something about Off The Wagon's crowd. On any given night, you've got country fans and pop fans and rock fans and people who are just in Asheville for the weekend and ended up here on a whim. The playlist reflects that mix, and so does the energy in the room.
How the Request System Works
Off The Wagon runs an all-request show. There's no set list, no predetermined order, and no genre restrictions. If the performers know it — and they know a lot — you can ask for it.
Requests often come with tips, and a bigger tip generally moves your song up the priority list. It's part of the fun. You'll see friendly competitions break out between tables, each one trying to get their song played next. The performers lean into it, and it becomes its own mini-show within the show.
Curious about special events and private bookings? We handle everything from bachelorette parties to corporate nights, and the request system works just as well for a private crowd as it does for a packed public show.
FAQ
What songs can I request at Off The Wagon?
Almost anything. Our performers carry a repertoire of thousands of songs spanning the last several decades. Rock, country, pop, hip-hop, R&B — if it's been popular in the last fifty years, there's a good chance they know it. Check out our FAQ page for more details on how the show works.
Do I have to tip to make a request?
You don't have to, but a tip helps move your song up the list. The performers prioritize tipped requests, which is part of what makes the request system so interactive and competitive throughout the night.
Is Off The Wagon for all ages?
Off The Wagon is 21 and over only, with no exceptions on public nights. If you're booking a private event, different rules may apply — reach out through our directions and contact page for more information.
How long is the show?
The show runs throughout the night. There's no opening act and no intermission — the music keeps going, and so do the requests. Visit our FAQ page for current hours and show schedule details.
What should I know before my first visit?
Wear comfortable shoes, bring cash for tips, and come ready to sing. It also helps to think of a few song requests ahead of time so you're not scrambling when the moment comes.
Come Hear It Live in Asheville
Reading a list of songs is one thing. Hearing a room full of people lose themselves in "Bohemian Rhapsody" at midnight in a historic building in downtown Asheville is something else entirely.
Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar sits at 22 North Market Street — on the last brick-paved road in Asheville — in a building that once served as the city's Chamber of Commerce. The history runs deep here, and so does the fun.
Whether you're planning a trip to Asheville or you're a local looking for a reason to get out, we'd love to have you. Get directions and plan your visit here, and check our FAQ for everything you need to know before you arrive.
The next great night starts with a request. What's yours going to be?
