Attitudes about Karaoke...Skeptics Give it a Bad Rap   


By the mid 1980s, attitudes about karaoke were varied
and not always positive.  It's popularity was spreading  world wide, with very mixed reactions.

Skeptic Attitude #1

    Skeptic's attitudes about karaoke were that this new trend was just that, a trend, soon to be forgotten. On the contrary it has a huge and committed following, appears in more and more settings and has had no indications of making a slowdown. Almost 30 years later we can discard this attitude about karaoke as it has become stronger than ever.


Skeptic Attitude #2

    Originating in Japan, it was easy for some to have attitudes about karaoke that is was strictly an Oriental trend, something to be made fun of because of language differences. Despite these attitudes it was quickly adopted and enjoyed by millions around the world from every culture and continues even today to spread in its popularity.These cultural elite attitudes about karaoke were quick to be dismissed as intolerant, limited and narrow minded.

 

 

 

Skeptic Attitude #3

     Still others' attitudes about karaoke was that the singers were a 'bunch of tone deaf, drunks trying unsuccessfully to entertain their audiences'. In the beginning karaoke events and evenings were indeed, held in bars which allowed people to gain more than a little liquid courage before attempting their singing expertise (or lack of), if they felt the need. When the karaoke scene was still a novelty, this may have often been the case, however, in more recent years, followers have  become much more serious about their sharing. Most clubs have their     regular followers and have become very good at what they do. Throw into the mix a few singers that may be sharing their talents for the first time  (but are generally pretty confident about their abilities) and you tend to  (more often than not) get an evening of free, good, if not excellent, live   music. I have often seen skeptics begin to change their original attitudes  about karaoke after watching and listening a few times and realizing what a good feel to the evening it has created and left them with.

Skeptic Attitude #4

     Last but not least, some critic's attitudes about karaoke have enjoyed pushing the thought that it is nothing more than "fake" entertainment. Other than the words being placed on the screen, there is nothing fake about the singing aspect of karaoke.
The nervousness is real (if you have ever tried it you will know this), the voice is ours, its live (no retakes on this one), we sing in front of audiences that critique our every word, and the feelings of success or frustration are about as real as it gets.
Many band singers may not have a repertoire of songs as great as that of a karaoke singer, but then again we are not professionals. No one pays us to learn these songs or to deal with the stress of performing them from memory.
( Wouldn't it be nice to get paid to sing??) We have other jobs that we work hard at, we do this for a past time, relaxation and for fun. We are people from all walks of life, all cultures and ages, who may not have access or the luxury of time to learn the words to a hundred songs, but we know them from the radio and want to give them a try.

    The stage is set...the backup singers are ready, you view the audience wondering if you can get them to stop chatting and take notice, a bead of perspiration forms on your brow, the music starts...we take a deep breath and hit that first note with all the gusto, emotion and enthusiasm we can muster.'

    You don't get any more REAL than THAT!  Give it a try and see how this attitude about karaoke holds up.

New and Improved Attitudes

     Over time, many of these attitudes about karaoke have changed and the popularity of this participatory type of entertainment has lead to new and improved attitudes about karaoke. Karaoke is not only in bars anymore, but also in restaurants, malls, parks, special events, fund raisers, schools, online sites, TV, movies, songs and as personal entertainment in homes. It is no longer just enjoyed primarily by one culture but by all cultures and ages. The attitudes about karaoke have become more accepting and positive as people begin to realize that there are benefits that go along with the singing, performance and the entertainment of this craze.

As far as attitudes about karaoke goes...

                                We've come a long way, baby!