Sing A Song

Sunday September 20, 2009

Love or hate it with a passion, karaoke is here to stay.

IN this day and age, it would be pretty impossible for someone not to have heard of karaoke. It is a cheap and fun form of entertainment that both the young and old can thoroughly enjoy.

In fact, according to popularity ratings, karaoke is growing much faster than almost any other form of entertainment, which means business in karaoke machines and accessories is growing at a rapid rate as well.






Private and cosy: Karaoke lounges provide a safe and comfortable environment for people to sing their hearts out.


There is even free karaoke software on the Internet that you can download into your computer.

Karaoke is a combination of two Japanese words - “Kara”, from “Karappo” meaning empty; and “Oke”, the abbreviation of “Okesutura” or orchestra.

Instead of including both vocals and music, karaoke tracks only have the music. The vocals are provided by a non-professional singer who sings while following the lyrics which are displayed on a screen or in a book.

It is said that karaoke as a form of entertainment started at a snack bar in Kobe City, Japan. When a musician could not come to perform at the bar due to illness, the bar owner prepared recordings of music and asked his customers to sing the lyrics to them.

The real origin of karaoke is a bit hazy, but this is as good a story as any other. And since then, karaoke has been commercialised and has become popular not only in Japan but all over the world.

The Japanese are generous with their applause when they listen to other people sing, and they can perform with ease in front of an audience. This seems to be one of the reasons that karaoke has been largely accepted in Japanese society.






Variety: A customer checking out the prices at E Box in the Endah Parade Shopping Centre.

According to Karaoke Scene Magazine Online (http://www.karaokescene.com/history/), karaoke was born in a night amusement quarter at the end of the 1980s.

At one time, karaoke facilities were exclusively commercial. During the 1990s, the price of the karaoke equipment dropped, thus making it affordable for anyone to become a Karaoke Disc Jockey.

Now, even kids can enjoy a good karaoke session under their parents’ supervision and it is also a relaxing form of entertainment. It wasn’t that long ago that the only place you could enjoy some good karaoke was at a nightclub or karaoke bar. Now, you can have your own personal karaoke equipment at home!

By RENITA CHE WAN
Photos by SAM THAM, UU BAN-LEONG and YAP CHEE HONG
The Star