The odds are severely against you ever becoming a rock star, much less a diva. If you don’t play an instrument or have a backup band, the chances get even slimmer. But if you still have that burning human need to get your ya-yas out, the answer is simple: karaoke. Croon your favorite song as prerecorded music fills the room and the song lyrics scroll across a TV screen.
Ever since karaoke made the jump across the Pacific from Japan to become part of American night life culture in the 1980s, perhaps millions of Americans have swallowed their pride and butchered major international hit songs, ranging from “Back in the USSR” to “Baby’s Got Back.”
The process of getting your song sung is pretty similar, regardless of which of the two dozen or so area places that offer karaoke you go to. Binders filled with pages and pages of songs — from TV theme songs to “La Vida Loca” to probably anything Elvis ever did — usually sit around the bar. Pick out a song, and sign up on the sheet by the karaoke jockey (the person spinning the CDs with the music and lyric data into the karaoke machines that run the whole show). You’ll be frowned upon if you sign up for more than one song at a time. Use the size of the crowd as a gauge if you should sign up for a second or third time. Once the crowd thins out (or if it starts out thin) it’s OK to perform additional songs.
Once on stage, simply start singing once you’ve received your video cue. The words will be highlighted as they crawl across the screen, a la the red ball bouncing across the bottom of the television screen in old-fashioned sing-alongs. Some karaoke tracks also feature high-cheese quotient music videos running in the background.
OBJECTIVE: Ultimately, to be an entertaining karaoke singer all you really need to do is be able to belt out the song lyrics scrolling across the screen and be loose. Anything else is frosting. The beauty of karaoke is that talent isn’t necessary. Pretend you’re in your shower just singing to the shampoo.
The worst thing anyone can do is think a karaoke performance is a talent contest. No record company talent scout will be sitting and watching at the bar. Sing the song like you love it. Gestures and song dedications to folks in the crowd never hurt.
ANXIETIES: It’s still remarkably easy to have stage fright, even at something so laid-back as karaoke. But the moment you give thought to the context and setting you’re in — it’s midnight at a bar and people are giggling their way through “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “Footloose” — any fear should subside.
People may laugh during your set, but that’s OK since you will likely laugh at them, too. And don’t worry about hitting the high note: in karaoke history, it’s never been done.
PEOPLE: All types seem to enjoy karaoke, since it crosses color, gender and class. It’s more far more dependent on the venue than any other factor in determining just what kind of people take the mic. People in the neighborhood will usually sing at the neighborhood bar. If you go to a Korean restaurant, then you’ll probably find Koreans or Korean-Americans. Or at least people who like Korean food.
ESSENTIALS: Karaoke nights and bars, with few exceptions, are free, so any money you spend is on beverages or food. Just bring your ID — usually it’s 21-and-over. While Metromix certainly doesn’t endorse drinking alcohol, this author has found that a drink might help loosen you up enough to get the courage to take the mic. You can usually find all kinds of songs — rock, pop, ballads, country, rap, musicals — so you should always be able to find a few songs you not only know, but are dying to perform.
WHERE ELSE TO LEARN: Karaoke isn’t exactly a discipline of the high arts. The best way to learn about it is to do it, or at least watch others do it.
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Metromix lists bars, clubs and restaraunts that either feature karaoke or have specific karaoke nights.
http://www.karaokescene.com/
Karaoke Scene magazine offers a series of links detailing the history of karaoke, the self proclaimed “World’s Largest Karaoke Club Directory,” information on home karaoke systems and a discussion forum.
http://www.teleport.com/labrat/karaoke.shtml
Midi Karaoke! sing to your heart’s content over your computer. Dozens of songs are available in midi format; sing along with scrolling lyrics.
