The only solution would be for him to be moved to an area with no karaoke bars. But if that did happen, I'm sure he'd find a way to build one.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
lead singer is addicted to karaoke...
- Thread starter powderfinger
- Start date
The only solution would be for him to be moved to an area with no karaoke bars. But if that did happen, I'm sure he'd find a way to build one.
Oh hell, without access to karaoke, cousin would end up like a mainline heroin junkie in the throws of withdrawl. Without a karaoke bar, he'd probably just buy a karaoke machine, and invite people over to his house.
I still dont get it. He only wants to talk "shop" with karaoke singers, at karaoke. When were just hanging out at the house, Im like... dude, lets jam. He's like. nah... I dont feel like it. But when he gets to karaoke... he's all up in people's face... YEAH MAN Im gonna start a band!!! He really pissed me off the other night by introucing me to the DJ as "his bass player". I just stood behind cousin shaking my head, rolling my eyes.
So last night I suggested to cousin that we go to open mic night. There is a bar here in town, that on Wed. nights have a great acoustic open mic night. It's a fair mix of established local musicians, college kids, ham and eggers, wanna-bes.... always a fun night though. Supportive crowd and host. Very easy going.
So cousin agrees. I am shocked. He packed his guitar, and I went to pick him up. On the way, he told me he called the karaoke bar, and they told him he could do a couple songs with his guitar. I told cousin that no one at karaoke wants to hear an original song.. they're their to get drunk and sing Adele, Jimmy Buffet, and Bob Seager songs. He told me I was wrong. I told him I was 100% that open mic would be a better place and a more receptive crowd. His response, "well, I can't do my Roy Orbison songs at open mic", and then he told me he didnt wanna watch a bunch of wanna bes playing original songs... the irony.
So I gave in, as always, and we went to karaoke. The DJ announced him by his first middle and last name (as requested) and he began playing an original (a good song, actually). The crowd starting laughing and mocking him. He was getting frustarted. After the song, no one clapped. And some guy yelled, "get off the stage". Cousin ignored him, and tipped the DJ, and proceeded to begin another song. At this point, the crowd started booing the heck out of him and throwing wadded up napkins and paper at him. One guy finally stood up yelled, "GET OFF THE STAGE A*******, THIS IS KARAOKE NOT A COFFEE SHOP".
The manager then came up and cut the mic, and told cousin he had to get offstage. At this, cousin yelled at the crowd, "IM NEVER COMING BACK HERE AGAIN", to which the crowd began whistling and applauding.
I was mortified yet again.
So cousin agrees. I am shocked. He packed his guitar, and I went to pick him up. On the way, he told me he called the karaoke bar, and they told him he could do a couple songs with his guitar. I told cousin that no one at karaoke wants to hear an original song.. they're their to get drunk and sing Adele, Jimmy Buffet, and Bob Seager songs. He told me I was wrong. I told him I was 100% that open mic would be a better place and a more receptive crowd. His response, "well, I can't do my Roy Orbison songs at open mic", and then he told me he didnt wanna watch a bunch of wanna bes playing original songs... the irony.
So I gave in, as always, and we went to karaoke. The DJ announced him by his first middle and last name (as requested) and he began playing an original (a good song, actually). The crowd starting laughing and mocking him. He was getting frustarted. After the song, no one clapped. And some guy yelled, "get off the stage". Cousin ignored him, and tipped the DJ, and proceeded to begin another song. At this point, the crowd started booing the heck out of him and throwing wadded up napkins and paper at him. One guy finally stood up yelled, "GET OFF THE STAGE A*******, THIS IS KARAOKE NOT A COFFEE SHOP".
The manager then came up and cut the mic, and told cousin he had to get offstage. At this, cousin yelled at the crowd, "IM NEVER COMING BACK HERE AGAIN", to which the crowd began whistling and applauding.
I was mortified yet again.
Ouch. And again, ouch.
Your cousin needs to buy his own cafe/bar/coffee shop/whatever, where he can play whatever he wants, however he wants, whenever he wants. That's pretty much what a guy in my town did.
Your cousin needs to buy his own cafe/bar/coffee shop/whatever, where he can play whatever he wants, however he wants, whenever he wants. That's pretty much what a guy in my town did.
Is he delusional in other areas of life, or only with regard to karaoke? If the delusions are more widespread you should get him some help. Even if they are not it sounds like he needs help getting a grip on reality.
maybe i should read the first post again. but....
So he googles the lyrics to the song before hand to practice.
kinda like finding sheet music for bass.
Then he is concerned about what key it is.
kinda like a bass player playing at a open jam night.
yah need to know the Key?
Then he goes and practices in the bathroom.
kinda like practicing your parts at home before practice, being prepared.
Then before going on stage he fixes his hair.
concerned about his image before appearing before a group.
something alot of "other" band members seemed to have lost.
and can help a band
sounds like his strange quirks make him a pretty good performer.
everyone else is at home watching tv and he is out singing and practicing his instrument....the voice.
dont know he is addicted to being the center of attention, like many performers. sounds like he is bored at practice or does not like the songs. change the songs and allow people to watch practice so he can show off for them.
So he googles the lyrics to the song before hand to practice.
kinda like finding sheet music for bass.
Then he is concerned about what key it is.
kinda like a bass player playing at a open jam night.
yah need to know the Key?
Then he goes and practices in the bathroom.
kinda like practicing your parts at home before practice, being prepared.
Then before going on stage he fixes his hair.
concerned about his image before appearing before a group.
something alot of "other" band members seemed to have lost.
and can help a band
sounds like his strange quirks make him a pretty good performer.
everyone else is at home watching tv and he is out singing and practicing his instrument....the voice.
dont know he is addicted to being the center of attention, like many performers. sounds like he is bored at practice or does not like the songs. change the songs and allow people to watch practice so he can show off for them.
Ummm, Im not sitting at home, Im actually out with him making sure he doesnt end up dead or in jail, while picking fights with Mexican restraunt employees, audiences, Roy Orbison impersonators, college students, et al.
Furthermore, I spend my home time writing music. He spends his drinking liquor, watching HGTV (dont ask), and drunk Facebooking.
Nah, he's just a dellusional a-hole he believes his own hype, based on a successful band he was in nearly 20 years ago. He's the karaoke version of Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite.
You really need record a video of one of these karaoke sessions. This thread would make the hall of fame for sure! 
You really need record a video of one of these karaoke sessions. This thread would make the hall of fame for sure!
Id never do that to him. BUT... maybe I could do a re-enactment on put it on YouTube. Kinda like Unsolved Mysteries.
You really need record a video of one of these karaoke sessions. This thread would make the hall of fame for sure!
I agree with this...not so much for the comedic purposes - which would be a good plus, but because I legitimately want to see how good he actually is.
lol oh ok, I see and yah dont trip, I am not trying to make you feel like you need to be defensive.
maybe If we seen a video it would make things more clear.
one thing I forget to mention likewise if he is not anything special.
He might be one of those people who just likes to say they are in a band to others, just because they like the sound of it.
but are not willing to actually "be in a band"
I think you are right. He loves the *idea* of being a musician and being in a band.... not actually putting in the work to accomplish it. Instant gratfication I think as well is a big part of his problem as well. He was a hard working musician in the 90s, but.... then again, karaoke hadnt gone mainstream yet!
I know a couple of people who are like karaoke cousin, and I could write pages about them. Thing is, I don't dislike them enough to do it. A gripe is one thing, but a dissection with illustrated slides? I'm not willing to go that far.
You know, this karaoke stuff is serious business. Be careful out there. This was in the news today:
So Sunday night, things got really ugly at karaoke. Cousin walked in and put his name on the list to get up and sing. However, the guy who was DJ wasn't the regular guy who DJs. The DJ pretty much called people up in the order they put their name in, and who tipped well. Well, cousin wasn't called immediately to sing, and he went up to the DJ and asked why not. The DJ told him it wasnt his turn yet. Cousin then looks at him and tells him that he is a professional singer, and deserves to be called up immediately before the amateurs and hobbyists. The DJ asked him to sit down, but cousin went on and on about being a pro singer, and how the other DJ lets pro singers sing first. The DJ kept telling him to sit down, and eventually had to get the bouncer to throw him out. As soon as we got in the car, cousin asked if we could go to another karaoke bar. I told him we can go home and jam. He told me no thanks.
I have an idea. Let's have a GTG in your neck of the woods on a Saturday, then afterwards go to the karaoke bar with you and your cousin to cheer him on. K?
Been following this thread sporadically..........
Why do you even bother? I applaud your patience with "karaoke cousin"! Me? I woulda been done a long time ago! He needs intervention.....badly!
Why do you even bother? I applaud your patience with "karaoke cousin"! Me? I woulda been done a long time ago! He needs intervention.....badly!
Wanna know why I endure his foolisness?
Because.... I had a pretty big group of friends in hs and college, and he was part of it. In the past 20-25 years, most of the guys have moved away (we live in a rurual-ish town in NC), have families, or unfortunately died.
And Im not one of these 40 year olds who havent grown up yet still hanging onto the "glory years", but he is the last thing I have left of one of the best periods in my life, and that means a HELL of a lot to me, and so has his friendship. Hell, he is family first and foremost.
Plus, I have nothing else to do. My gf works constantly (medical field). All my other friends have families or moved away. I get bored sitting around the house ya know.... so I endure karaoke hell.
I think cousin has officially gone insane. On his Facebook page this morning, he has listed "professional karaoke singer" as his employer. I need to call and ask how one can be a "professional" in the karaoke world. I can understand a professional karaoke DJ, but not singer. Esp. seeing as though he is now tipping KJs over 100.00 per week, and he makes not a dime.
