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Sing Along with Karaoke

By: Horace Jurdon

If music soothes the savage beast, then the karaoke phenomenon can be credited with pleasing party animals all over the world.

With karaoke, anyone can be in the spotlight. Singing is a great stress reliever and the perfect way to leave your worries at the doorstep. Besides, singing makes you feel good and it's just plain fun. A karaoke machine is a great way to have a blast with your friends and family and it's the perfect starting point to building your own in-house jam session.

The Japanese word Karaoke is derive from two words: Kara, which means "empty", and Oke, short for okesutora, or orchestra. Karaoke entertainment systems provide pre-recorded musical accompaniment of popular songs. In most cases, karaoke performers follow the lyrics on a video screen as the music plays on.

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.

Japanese traditions are rich with musical elements. This form of entertainment is reflected in Japanese culture, history and mythology. Even Samurais use music, singing and dancing as part of 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.

Karaoke has also found its way into may North American homes. There are inexpensive children's versions and high-end machines available for home use. These systems can be connected to any stereo or entertainment system, allowing entire families and partygoers to join in the fun. Karaoke music is widely available on CDs at virtually any record store, and can be downloaded online, allowing fans to sing along through their computers when personal karaoke machines are not available.

If you've got song in your heart and just need to sing out loud, find a karaoke machine and bring out the star in you.

Article Source: http://www.simplepetcare.com/pet-articles

Columnist Horace Jurdon enjoys writing for a variety of Internet sites, on hobby center and hobby shop online subjects.
Click here for other unique karaoke articles.

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