"Karaoke world is a life lived by proxy."

I've NEVER seen the word karaoke employed as such a pejorative and serious cultural metaphor. This isn't so much as an indictment of karaoke as we discuss it here as it is an nostalgia for false modernist "authentic" art forms and practices, elite education, and a misguided deconstruction of postmodern coolness. Still, if you can get through the 13 minute pauses this chap makes after each of his adjectives, this lecture shouts out karaoke culture as in lazy copycat ahistoric performative fun-having as a loaded term more and variously than we ever have on this blog to some means you might appreciate. I love TED talks as much as the next Brooklyn chump, but not my tune: Authentic Creativity vs. Karaoke Culture

-G

Wanted: Outlaw Country Songs, Dead or Alive. Reward: Unlimited Karaoke Fun

This blog does heavy championing & ample tutorial for modern mainstream radio pop, its valiant 90s & 80s predecessors & even the standard deviation of R&B & grunge within that. But I was reminded in a recent epic roke with co-educators at Karaoke Shout (currently the standout mecca of mood lit midnight melodies) of an alternate genre for optimum group camaraderie & singing pleasure. For folks with just the right down home spirit (this crowd was beyond aces) & perhaps one or two rokers who might be able to master the drawl & deep bass, I strongly encourage you to wagon south, west & yes'm, even six to seven decades back, to the treasures of classic country western. See three wondrous suggestions including one masterful performance clip below to illustrate the possibilities & rewards. There's a postmodern nod everyone does to self & screen when David Allan Coe points out to himself & guitar that these songs ain't necessarily 'bout "mama's, trains, trucks, prison, or gettin drunk," the last of which is entirely permissible & often compatible with unlimited fun karaoke nights. Thanks to this great crew for these genre-terrain triumphs as well as general spirit & success in selections from Bell Biv Devoe to Katy Perry with accompanying 4th of J lighting ambiance.

Charles & Grace take Long Black Veil to town & back:


D.A.C. talks about Waylon Jennings & other loves & misnomers:


A well-known regal genre classic for practice with audio & train backdrop, get some friends snapping & swaying for best results:

-G

"Until you know the melody in your heart..."

Great blog entry from one of Chinatown's most soulful & longstanding KJ's, Stephen Yung. We share his philosophy on the power of the melody & the loyalty of the karaoke crowd.