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Sing Along With Karaoke

Some say that music soothes the savage beast. While that may be true, karaoke can bring out the animal in even the shiest performer.

By Horace Jurdon

Some say that music soothes the savage beast.  While that may be true, karaoke can bring out the animal in even the shiest performer.

We all want to be stars, even if it’s just to get our own fifteen minutes of fame.  With music and song, people are able to escape our daily stresses and relieve the trials and tribulations of everyday life.  Aside from being a great way to relieve tension, singing is a fun way to bring families and friends together, and karaoke is perfect for creating an impromptu jam session.

When translated, karaoke means “empty orchestra”.  The term is derived from two Japanese words: Kara, which means “empty” and Oke, short for “okesutora”.  Karaoke entertainment systems supply pre-recorded musical scores of popular songs without singing.  Karaoke performers follow lyrics on a video screen as the music plays on, providing the words they need to sing along.

Karaoke has been popular in portions of North America for more than a decade, but it has been a full-on sweeping sensation throughout Asia for more than thirty years.  The first virtual concert machine was introduced in Japan in the 1970s.  Since then, karaoke parties have been favorite pastimes for all countless performers on the small stage.  The phenomenon of karaoke was so huge that the media adopted the term to use for all occasions when pre-recorded music replaced live performances.

This history of Japan is rich with artistic elements, including music.  Traditional Japanese music is present in ancient culture, mythology and history.  Japanese Samurais are even known to use dancing, singing and music as an element in their training and education.

The history of karaoke in Japan begins in the early 1970s with a singer named Daisuke Inoue.  He was so popular at a bar called “Utagoe Kissa” that the crowd began to ask for recordings of his music so that they could sing along.  Seeing the potential, Inoue created a tape recorder that would play a song for a 100 yen coin.  At that time, 100 yen would buy two lunches, so this was considered to be a rather pricey pastime.  Regardless, the combination of old-fashioned jukebox and would-be karaoke machine proved to be a huge hit in Japan.  Inoue decided to lease the machines to nightclubs and stores, so that they would not have to purchase new songs on their own.

The invention proved such an important social success that Daisuke Inoue was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.  The basis of his award was for “providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other.”

“Karaoke Time” has been a popular form of entertainment in East Asia since the early 1980’s.  Like a global virus, the karaoke phenomenon spread to other parts of the world.  Karaoke’s popularity was reaching record highs, and it soon became a very productive industry.  Before long, the karaoke craze reached North American shores and took the entire continent by storm.

This new entertainment import flourished in the western world.  Enterprising Americans quickly saw the potential of investing in this new type of entertainment.  It provided cool, relaxing fun and was able to bring people together in a patient and tolerant manner.  Nightclubs and karaoke bars known as “KTV boxes” began to open across North America, bringing new venues, software and equipment to eager performers.

Since first arriving in the United States and other western countries, karaoke has gained regard and respect.  Even though American bars are unlikely to feature karaoke seven nights a week as they do in East Asia, many have upgraded their equipment from the small, standalone machines that started the craze more than twenty years ago.  While the singers perform, those in the audience can read along with the lyrics on television screens displayed throughout the bars. Many clubs even provide big screen TVs.

The karaoke sensation has also entered our homes.  From inexpensive children’s versions to high-end machines, home karaoke systems can be connected to a pre-existing entertainment center and families can join in the fun.  Karaoke music can be downloaded from the Internet, and fans can sing along with their computers if they do not have a personal karaoke machine available.

If you’ve always wanted to be a star, karaoke is a great way to get your fifteen minutes of fame. Grab the mic and get in tune with the party animal in you!

Writer Horace Jurdon writes for some of today's most popular web sites, on hobby crafts and ultimate hobby topics.Click here to get your own unique version of this article from the Unique Articles Submissions Service

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