The history of karaoke began when this concept's first variations were introduced  in Japan in the 1970s.  Some tell of a small nightclub in Kobe, Japan where the live band playing in the bar was sometimes not able to be on hand for the evening and so as a matter of necessity recorded their music to be played during those times.  Books of song lyrics were prepared for the recored music and a singer could then be hired to sing. On occasion the owner of the establishment would invite the audience to sing to the tapes with the books of lyrics.  The audience enjoyed this so much that it soon became the norm to ask the audience to participate and to carry on with the night's entertainment .  The tapes  were appropriately dubbed karaoke.  'Kara' meaning empty or missing and 'oke' an abbreviation for the word orchestra. And so, the history of karaoke began.

Changes...   
     As the history of karaoke progressed so did its popularity. The tapes were revised and upgraded and  videos were made which then included the words at the bottom of the screen.  Changing colors or a bouncing ball would indicate when to sing the words. Japan's focus was not only on the entertainment value of this new trend but it was also cherished and used as a form of group interaction.  One constant factor throughout the history of karaoke, however, has been the fact that it has always had its strong critics and its strong followers.

A Household Word...

     Between the 1970s and 1980s the history of karaoke shows that it had become a household word and many participated in this new trend of entertainment and fun.  Because of the limited space in Japan and the desire for privacy while practicing,  'Karaoke Boxes' were established.  The first one to appear in the history of karaoke was in 1984, in a rice field in Okayama, Japan.  The facility was a converted freight car in which people could go into partitioned, soundproof rooms and practice their choice of songs.  Since then, many such facilities have been placed on unoccupied land and have become very popular places to go to do karaoke with your friends.  The 'Boxes' accommodate  anywhere from 6 to 14 people.  People pay for the privilege of using these rooms and many allow for the singer to be recorded if they wish.  Thus being able to walk away with their little claim to fame to be shared with others and their little part in the history of karaoke itself.

The Choice is Yours

    
     As the history of karaoke has evolved we have seen that karaoke has now become available to anyone who wishes to seek out the opportunity and the venue.  Whether you wish to go out for the evening somewhere public or sing by yourself or with friends in the privacy of your own home you have now been afforded many choices. The computer has made it even easier.  There are places online that will allow you to share your talents using free online karaoke sites. Many people feel too inhibited to sing in front of an audience while others relish in the spotlight.    We can now choose just how much anonymity we wish to share along with our talents.  We can use our real names or a fun stage name. We can also decide whether we wish to post a photo of ourselves or not.   Sometimes we allow our inhibitions to melt away, as we step, for a moment or two into the spotlight, and sometimes we feel a little more shy and sing in the privacy of our own shadow.  From the meek accidental beginnings of the karaoke craze to the full blown phenomena it has become...the history of karaoke has marched on at a steady and strong pace.