Karaoke. Why, just why??

Howardh · 20 Sep 2019

Had the misfortune to have a night out in Blackpool. Went in several around Talbot Road, where the tram lines meet Wilko's, and all were at best a quarter full (no surprise midweek) bur every one had someone wailing to a tune I've heard 1000 times before and don't want to hear it again, even by the professionals.

What makes someone who can't sing stand up and wail a "tune" at everyone apart from alcohol??

A genuine talent contest, maybe with musicians performing THEIR OWN work would be a great evening. But I thought people spending all night staring into their i-phone was the death of Karaoke. Clearly not!

Rant finished, over and out.

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RichmondCommu · 20 Sep 2019

If people want to have fun let them have fun. I used to go and see Oasis at every opportunity. I can't sing a note but it didn't stop me singing my heart out.

yorksrob · 20 Sep 2019

I love Karaoke. Can't persuade any of my colleagues to partake.

I assume they're the ones who can't sing !

J-2739 · 20 Sep 2019

I'm guessing because it's cute and Japanese, as well as a tool to socialise on a night out.

Cowley · 20 Sep 2019

I must admit that I do sharp about-turn if I walk into a pub with karaoke on.
No problem with people that want to do it for enjoyment but it’s not my thing.
I do like a good pub band though, especially a bit of Irish music when we’re over there.

yorksrob · 20 Sep 2019

Ooh, I love a pub band as well (sit back with a beer and let the professionals take care of it).

Grew up listening to rock in a good rockers pub in Ashford. Got sold to a building society in 1997

Trackman · 20 Sep 2019

It's just fun. My local Chinese restaurant had a karaoke bar and as a group we enjoyed it.
Not good for those listening though!

GusB · 21 Sep 2019

Howardh said:
What makes someone who can't sing stand up and wail a "tune" at everyone apart from alcohol??

I think you've just answered your own question there. The booze lowers inhibitions and allows people who wouldn't normally sing in public to get their five minutes of fame.

I've been to quite a few karaoke nights over the years. I've even sung at a few. Some nights can be absolutely dire, and you often hear the same people singing the same songs every time. Over the years I've developed a hatred for Neil Diamond, Van Morrison and a few other artists simply because their songs have been karaoke favourites, and there is a limit to how many times you hear a song being murdered. On the other hand, there have been a few times where someone has taken the floor and I've been blown away by how good they are.

It isn't a talent contest - it's just people having a few drinks and a laugh and a wee bit of a sing-song at the same time.

Esker-pades · 21 Sep 2019

One of the best social times for me was spent with the Wind Band in a gay bar doing karaoke. I am a convert.

Mag_seven · 21 Sep 2019

GusB said:
it's just people having a few drinks and a laugh and a wee bit of a sing-song at the same time.

Exactly - no different to the audience singing along with the artist on the stage. I've done it and it was great fun.

Having a good time and letting your hair down seems to a bit of an alien concept amongst many on here.

Cowley · 21 Sep 2019

GusB said:
I think you've just answered your own question there. The booze lowers inhibitions and allows people who wouldn't normally sing in public to get their five minutes of fame.

I've been to quite a few karaoke nights over the years. I've even sung at a few. Some nights can be absolutely dire, and you often hear the same people singing the same songs every time. Over the years I've developed a hatred for Neil Diamond, Van Morrison and a few other artists simply because their songs have been karaoke favourites, and there is a limit to how many times you hear a song being murdered. On the other hand, there have been a few times where someone has taken the floor and I've been blown away by how good they are.

It isn't a talent contest - it's just people having a few drinks and a laugh and a wee bit of a sing-song at the same time.

This begs the question... What’s your favourite song to sing?

Calthrop · 21 Sep 2019

I share the OP's feelings about karaoke; but will admit to being the ultimate "square" as they said in the 1950s, and basically not liking music, full stop. As nobody is forcing me to attend or take part, I feel that attempted tolerance is appropriate.

Further in confessional mode: I'm, maybe unkindly, not very well-disposed to the nation / culture which gave karaoke to the world (though they have their admirable traits, too). But as regards the k-thing, I find it difficult to suppress the sentiment: "nobody but that lot, could have thought of something so inexpressibly awful".

(Trivia item: I understand that "kara-oke" means in Japanese, "empty orchestra" -- "oke" being a Japanese corruption of the English word "orchestra".)

Busaholic · 21 Sep 2019

GusB said:
I think you've just answered your own question there. The booze lowers inhibitions and allows people who wouldn't normally sing in public to get their five minutes of fame.

I've been to quite a few karaoke nights over the years. I've even sung at a few. Some nights can be absolutely dire, and you often hear the same people singing the same songs every time. Over the years I've developed a hatred for Neil Diamond, Van Morrison and a few other artists simply because their songs have been karaoke favourites, and there is a limit to how many times you hear a song being murdered. On the other hand, there have been a few times where someone has taken the floor and I've been blown away by how good they are.

It isn't a talent contest - it's just people having a few drinks and a laugh and a wee bit of a sing-song at the same time.

With Neil Diamond, there's always a chance that the person singing along has a better voice :lol:

nlogax · 21 Sep 2019

Calthrop said:
not liking music, full stop

Any music? At all?

Calthrop · 22 Sep 2019

nlogax said:
Any music? At all?

The odd little bit, slightly -- old-fashioned stuff: no pop, no rock. I truly am one of those rare people who would basically not be dismayed if music were totally to perish, and disappear from the world for ever after.

J-2739 · 22 Sep 2019

Calthrop said:
The odd little bit, slightly -- old-fashioned stuff: no pop, no rock. I truly am one of those rare people who would basically not be dismayed if music were totally to perish, and disappear from the world for ever after.

Wha...? Not even a bit of house music, that could rouse up the atmosphere of a dead room, floats your boat??

Erm, okay. I guess we're all different.

Calthrop · 22 Sep 2019

I wouldn't know house music, from the proverbial bull's foot. Concur -- life would be dull if we all liked / disliked the same stuff, and to the same degree...

J-2739 · 22 Sep 2019

Calthrop said:
I wouldn't know house music, from the proverbial bull's foot. Concur -- life would be dull if we all liked / disliked the same stuff, and to the same degree...

Very true.

You get the people hooked onto heavy metal, and I cannot understand their mindsets, but there you go...!

Howardh · 22 Sep 2019

Calthrop said:
The odd little bit, slightly -- old-fashioned stuff: no pop, no rock. I truly am one of those rare people who would basically not be dismayed if music were totally to perish, and disappear from the world for ever after.

I agree with you there. I do like vocal/progressive trance and the odd bit of schlager (that's chalk and cheese for you) but the rest can be binned. When I take mum to her "memory cafe" she sits through an hour of all the oldies you hear over and over again - she loves it; but for me it's purgatory!
Had a row at the dentist too the other day, in reception they have Radio 1 on with that awful "urban"(??) rubbish - they say they are so busy they can't hear it....????....so turn it off then!! Happily the actual dentist agrees with me when I told him having a tooth filled is more pleasant than listening to that dirge. He promised me he'd "have a word".

Lucan · 22 Sep 2019

I never listen to music. I once took an interest in heavy rock (buying some cassettes at the time, recording off the radio etc), but realised it was taking up a lot of time that I could not afford. I tend to take things seriously or not at all, and I have known one or two others who admit (somewhat sadly in one case) that music has taken over their lives.

HOOVER29 · 22 Sep 2019

Sang at my mates wedding when I was best man. Told him he’d have to drag me on the stage while drunk for me to sing.
Anyway after "several" pints me him & his brother got up & did Queens Bohemian rhaspody.
Bloody hilarious it was to cheers.
After that I was full of dutch courage & sang Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison.
Got a standing ovation for it too.
And several pints bought me (which were needed as my knees were knocking after singing in front of nearly 150 people.
Not done a karaoke sesh since.

GW43125 · 22 Sep 2019

I always like having a sing, just not in front of people (if anyone watches my dashcam footage, they'll have their ears wrecked). Alcohol makes me think doing it in front of people is a good idea, but the key thing is I have fun in the process.

At the one I sometimes go to, it's usually the same person running it. I saw her at the bar later that week and she told me how crap I was!
I regret nothing.

Tracked · 23 Sep 2019

Have done it in the past, but I prefer doing open mic/sing around's, with karaoke you're stuck with whatever tempo & key the backing track's been done in.

DynamicSpirit · 25 Sep 2019

Tracked said:
Have done it in the past, but I prefer doing open mic/sing around's, with karaoke you're stuck with whatever tempo & key the backing track's been done in.

Most karaoke set-ups these days have the ability to change key. I suspect the bigger barrier is that many people doing karaoke will have had no singing training, will have no idea what a key is, and may also have no idea whether a particular song is in too low or high a key for their voice.

yorksrob · 25 Sep 2019

Howardh said:
I agree with you there. I do like vocal/progressive trance and the odd bit of schlager (that's chalk and cheese for you) but the rest can be binned. When I take mum to her "memory cafe" she sits through an hour of all the oldies you hear over and over again - she loves it; but for me it's purgatory!
Had a row at the dentist too the other day, in reception they have Radio 1 on with that awful "urban"(??) rubbish - they say they are so busy they can't hear it....????....so turn it off then!! Happily the actual dentist agrees with me when I told him having a tooth filled is more pleasant than listening to that dirge. He promised me he'd "have a word".

I sympathise. No one should be involountarily subjected to Radio 1 these days. Even Radio 2's pushing it sometimes (and I don't mean that in a Salt'n Peppa type of way).

Calthrop · 25 Sep 2019

Re "force-feeding of music":

https://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipedown_(campaign)

ETA: Link not working for me. Anyway, Google "Pipedown campaign" if interested.

Lucan · 25 Sep 2019

Here you go :-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipedown_(campaign)

trebor79 · 25 Sep 2019

yorksrob said:
I sympathise. No one should be involountarily subjected to Radio 1 these days. Even Radio 2's pushing it sometimes (and I don't mean that in a Salt'n Peppa type of way).

Can't stand radio 1, all the "music" sounds the same and it's just noise. Absolute Radio is my station of choice for music, and Radio 4 in the mornings. I can't listen to any "breakfast" shows on any of the commercial stations as they are all of the "zoo" format which basically consists of 3 or 4 people talking rubbish, interjecting with fake guffaws and hilarity and the odd song. Why people listen to that drivel first thing in the morning every day is beyond me. But each to their own.

yorksrob · 25 Sep 2019

trebor79 said:
Can't stand radio 1, all the "music" sounds the same and it's just noise. Absolute Radio is my station of choice for music, and Radio 4 in the mornings. I can't listen to any "breakfast" shows on any of the commercial stations as they are all of the "zoo" format which basically consists of 3 or 4 people talking rubbish, interjecting with fake guffaws and hilarity and the odd song. Why people listen to that drivel first thing in the morning every day is beyond me. But each to their own.

I used to listen to radio 4 in the mornings, but I just listen to 2 now.

Mag_seven · 25 Sep 2019

DynamicSpirit said:
I suspect the bigger barrier is that many people doing karaoke will have had no singing training, will have no idea what a key is, and may also have no idea whether a particular song is in too low or high a key for their voice.

I don't think its to be taken that seriously - someone doing karaoke isn't auditioning for "The Voice" or whatever.

Karaoke. Why, just why??

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