Houston Karaoke, KTV >>
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.
After karaoke music and parties fully swept Asia, they began to form a solid
presence in North America. Since the first virtual concert machine was
introduced in Japan in the 1970's, karaoke parties have become favorite
pastimes for small time stars of all types. In fact, karaoke became so
popular that the media adopted the term to use for all occasions when live
music was replaced by "canned" or pre-recorded music.
This history of Japan is rich with artistic elements, including music.
Traditional Japanese music is present in ancient culture, mythology and
history. Japanese Samurais are even known to use dancing, singing and music
as an element in their training and education.
The history of karaoke can be traced back to the early 1970's, and a singer
named Daisuke Inoue. A crowd favorite at a bar called Utagoe Kissa, Inoue
was often asked to provide recordings of his music so that fans could sing
along. Realizing the potential, Inoue created a tape recorder that played a
song for a 100-yen coin. At that time, 100-yen was about the price of two
typical lunches, so it was considered expensive to use this new music
machine. Even so, the combination of old-time jukebox and future karaoke
machine proved to be a huge hit in Japan. Inoue decided that instead of
selling the machines, he would lease them so that the stores and bars would
not have to purchase new songs on their own.
The invention of the karaoke machine was intensely important to the culture
of modern Japan; so much so, that Daisuke Inoue was awarded the 2004 Nobel
Peace Prize for "providing an entirely new way for people to learn to
tolerate each other."
The act of singing karaoke is known as "Karaoke Time", and has been a
popular form of entertainment in East Asia since the early 1980's. The
karaoke phenomenon quickly spread to other parts of the world, and its
popularity soon reached record heights. Before long, the karaoke craze
reached North American shores, took the entire continent by storm and opened
brand new opportunities for enterprising individuals.
The new entertainment import industry flourished in the Western world.
Enterprising Americans were quick to see the investment potential in a brand
new type of entertainment that provided cool, relaxing fun, as well as
bringing people together in a tolerant, patient manner. Karaoke bars and
nightclubs known as "KTV boxes" opened across North America, providing eager
would-be performers with fresh new venues, software and equipment.
Since its inception in the United States and other western countries, people
have begun to take karaoke more seriously. American bars are unlikely to
have karaoke seven nights a week as they do in East Asia. Many however, have
upgraded their equipment from the small, standalone machines that started
the craze over two decades ago. Crowds can follow song lyrics on television
screens displayed throughout the bars, and some even offer big screen TVs.
The karaoke sensation has also entered our homes. From inexpensive
children's versions to high-end machines, home karaoke systems can be
connected to a pre-existing entertainment center and families can join in
the fun. Karaoke music can be downloaded from the Internet, and fans can
sing along with their computers if they do not have a personal karaoke
machine 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.
About the Author:
Horace Jurdon loves writing for some of today's most popular web sites, on
creative recreation and
recreation and leisure issues