Karaoke?! OH NO!

[bwoodman]

The whole idea is that people who don't sing well can sing.
I enjoy cringing at the terrible people just as much as clapping for the good ones.

Kinda like the first few weeks of a new season of American Idol - all the folks who think they can sing / their friends and family tell them how great they are.....they can't really sing - pitchy etc. I used to enjoy the first few weeks - the train wreck. And I used to enjoy Simon Cowell - the only one who would tell these people the truth and say things like - "you really shouldn't be pursuing this singing thing." But Karaoke - nope - can't hang out and enjoy that - have never participated - probably becuase I'm not comfortable singing lead (I sing back up vocals only in all the bands I've been in).

 

[SLO Surfer]

No sir, I don’t like it one bit.

 

[Jimmy4string]

@SLO Surfer
Like this:

 

[Xjenrbcjsmsbfjw]

I like it when everyone is doing what they can to make non-awful noises and enjoy the songs. I think it's a really fun way for people who aren't musicians to get to engage with music 10% more deeply. But, when people start going out of their way to be annoying, I'd prefer they go back to their bachelorette party.

For the record, it's not the quality of the singing I care about, it's the quality of the attempt.

 

[kesslari]

I believe that one of Dante's circles of Hell is a Karaoke bar...

 

[fhm555]

The whole idea is that people who don't sing well can sing.
I enjoy cringing at the terrible people just as much as clapping for the good ones.

And here’s my experience. If you are looking for singers it’s a good place to do it, especially if you are looking to do country or Americana. In an open jam, singers are just like everyone else and only as good as the worst person on stage, so where else can you go most any night of the week and audition fifteen or twenty singers working out to recorded backing tracks. They are showing what they can do with a tight band. All that’s left if you snag someone is the personality thing. If y’all gee and haw there’s possibilities.

 

[No Malarky]

I like Karaoke...as long as all the songs are instrumentals!

 

[ak56]

What’s the difference between a karaoke stage and a band stage?

I've gone around the block with that same question countless times---my friend will just evade the question. The only conclusion I've come to, is that a Karaoke stage somehow feels like fantasy or make-believe---whereas a band stage with live musicians and live instruments is too much of the real deal for some to handle. I think there are some people who like to fantasize about being something, but have no interest in bringing it into reality. I get that, and I'm totally fine with it.

I think the difference is expectations.
On a karaoke stage, there is no expectation that you will be good.
On a band stage, people expect you to be good. Put's a lot more pressure on the singer.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

I am a major fan of drunk Karaoke!

I love to watch drunk people singing karaoke.

Watching sober people singing karaoke is horrendous though.

 

[Altitude]

The thing I don't like about karaoke is that people find entertainment in how bad it can be. Like, somebody gets up there and screeches out a tune and everyone thinks that's funny and awesome.

I don't personally consider being bad at something to be a funny or comfortable thing.

 

[pappabass]

I don’t mind karaoke per se, but what I do mind is people “performing” as in playing a “gig” whereby a person sings and plays acoustic guitar to complete backing tracks that include drums, bass, keyboards, background vocals, electric guitar solos, etc. for and entire night. Wouldn’t this be considered a variation on karaoke?

Yes on this. Might as well leave the guitar at home.

 

[Hevy T]

If I want to listen to out of tune screaming I could stay home with my wife!

 

[Revolver]

Karaoke is Japan's payback for their defeat in WW2 . . .

 

[BobKos]

As long as there are full bands doing ↓ this ↓ type of thing in public Karaoke gets a pass no matter who is singing it...

 

[Winslow]

Me and my ADD must have missed something. Are the Japanese the originators of karaoke and that’s why you’re prefacing this comment, or are you having us on?
If it was anyone but you Winslow I would blindly believe it... forgive me my hesitation...

I'm, uh... not quite sure how to take that, but oh well. It's all good.

Anyway, yes, karaoke is indeed a Japanese invention: Karaoke - Wikipedia

Short version of a long story: A guy I knew in Tokyo took me and another visiting American to a karaoke bar, because our kind and gracious host just loved American country music, and could not wait to share his love of America with us by performing some of it.

Oh me, oh my... He was a good and sincere guy, and bless him, he tried, but there was nowhere near enough alcohol in that bar that night.

 

[AceOfBassFace]

I love Karaoke usually, but I have this one horrible memory, still burned into my mind, from Ontario Place in Toronto, years ago back when it was still open:

I was enjoying the evening with my girlfriend, when we stumbled across a small Karaoke stage with a crowd of about 50 people. We stayed and watched a few brave souls get up to sing their hearts out. Some bad, some good, but everyone was having a good time. Eventually, a middle-aged attractive blonde lady gets up there, and, in the most confident manner, addresses a group of 4-5 young girls she was with (nieces or daughters I presume): "Sometimes girls, you just have to be brave, take a chance, and do something crazy!".

Ironically enough, the song was 'Take A Chance On Me' by Abba. She was all smiles as she proceeded to start singing the a cappella harmony intro in the wrong key. Immediately knowing something was wrong, she started to lose her cool, her voice breaking. She plugged away though, struggled through the first verse, then missed some lyrics and eventually completely lost her place. At this point her face was fully red, and seemed to be having some kind of freakout/panic attack. She stopped, and crying, ran off the stage. Her crew of girls looked like they wanted to disappear, hiding their faces in their hands. The audience fell silent, embarrassed for the poor woman. The sole voice was this one guy laughing in the back (surprise, it was me). I actually felt kinda bad about that later, but I just couldn't help myself at the time. Girlfriend dumped me a few weeks later.

Guess her nieces (and the whole audience) learned that sometimes it's best not to be brave, take a risk, and do something crazy after all.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

I hate usual karaoke, but I have started a new concept with one of my big bands: live big band karaoke. We have a list of 90-100 songs. Everything from the classic Ella/Sinatra to Jackson 5/Stevie Wonder and beyond. All arrangements are identical to the original recordings (so the singers can rehearse with the original). Singers can sign up before the arrangement and select a song or two, or they can just show up and sign up for a song. The singers are usually quite good. Some are very good, and some are mediocre. The house is packed every time, and there are lots of singers signing up. Great fun for all, including the band.

 

[Jimmy4string]

@Fredrik E. Nilsen You have me intrigued. Do the singers memorize the lyrics or do they stare and read off a tele prompter (another thing i hate about Karaoke)?

 

[MCDufour]

The sole voice was this one guy laughing in the back (surprise, it was me). I actually felt kinda bad about that later, but I just couldn't help myself at the time. Girlfriend dumped me a few weeks later.

Aaaww, don't feel bad! I don't think I could have helped myself either.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

@Fredrik E. Nilsen You have me intrigued. Do the singers memorize the lyrics or do they stare and read off a tele prompter (another thing i hate about Karaoke)?

Most of them memorize it, but we have a music stand available if they want to use sheets or a tablet.