December 1, 2005 09:18 - Cable Karaoke
You no longer have to go down to your favorite watering hole to follow the bouncing ball and belt out
your favorite songs. Comcast Cable is bringing the thrill of Karaoke into customer's living rooms.
Albuquerque's major cable television provider says it has added two new music channels to its "on demand"
service -- Karaoke and Hip-Hop.
"Karaoke and Hip-Hop are growing increasingly popular and with Comcast ON DEMAND, customers can enjoy these
music choices in their homes whenever they want," says Chris Dunkeson, vice president and general manager for Comcast
in Albuquerque.
Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) (NASDAQ:CMCSK) says its Karaoke on demand, rolling out nationwide to markets that have
Comcast video on-demand services, is "easy to access and perfect for singing solos, duets or getting the whole gang
going at holiday parties." The rollout came to 92 percent of Comcast's total markets.
Customers with digital service can now entertain a housefull of guests with their own renditions of such
classics as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Born to be Wild" or "Great Balls of Fire."
All a customer has to do is go to their cable on-demand menu, pick the song they want from titles ranging from
oldies to hip-hop, click, and then project from the diaphragm.
So, if that Lynyrd Skynyrd tune emanating from the neighbor's place doesn't sound quite right, now you know
why.
December 1, 2005 21:33 - LEADSINGER(TM) Announces Newest Karaoke Microphones
LEADSINGER(TM), an innovative
producer of creative and entertaining consumer goods products, announced today
the retail availability debut of its LS3700 and LS2100 karaoke microphones. To
commemorate the occasion, LEADSINGER will host a holiday season product launch
event with singer Deborah Gibson at the Grand Opening of Costco's newest
retail outlet in Chandler, AZ, on Thursday, December 1st.
Gibson will be on hand to help introduce the new Costco location, sign
autographs, and to showcase the newest products in LEADSINGER's line of
handheld karaoke microphones. LEADSINGER's karaoke microphones put the entire
karaoke experience into the palm of your hand, eliminating the need for
traditional karaoke machines and CD's. The microphones connect directly to the
user's television console with AV cables, and boast a number of entertaining
features such as reverb, pitch and tempo control, as well as interactive
karaoke games that score vocalist performances based on the user's pitch and
timing for head-to-head match-ups.
The LS-3700 is LEADSINGER's top-of-the-line unit, and contains 300 songs
covering all musical genres. The lightweight device offers an on-mic keypad
with an LCD display screen for selecting tunes, exclusive controls to change
the tempo and pitch of the song, and an on-screen rating system that "scores"
the singer's performance at the end of each song. The LS-2100 is a value-
priced version of the LS-3700, and contains 200 songs and a number of
different user features offered by the LS-3700.
LEADSINGER(R), "The Next Generation of Karaoke(TM)", is the inventor of
the patented all-in-the-microphone karaoke system. LEADSINGER products
eliminate bulky machines and CDs, putting a complete, high-tech karaoke system
in the palm of your hand. LEADSINGER was started 11 years ago with the goal of
creating the most complete karaoke product in the market, and has quickly
become the most popular system in the world. For more information, visit
http://www.leadsinger.com.
LEADSINGER is a registered trademark, and The Next Generation of Karaoke
and MUSIKARTRIDGE are trademarks, of LEADSINGER. All other trademarks and/or
registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
December 3, 2005 10:40 - Karaoke relieves stress!
Found this little gem at by Brandon Edmonds writing for Pitt News - a USA student publication
"Lets face it people, with finals charging at us full speed, school is becoming a very hectic place. The weather is
getting to be unbearable, as well as unpredictable, and in addition, many professors still feel the need to assign work
during such trying times.
So my fellow students, I write you today to let you in on a little secret that I just came across, which, at least for me,
has become very helpful in easing that tension.
No nasty, its not that, and its not a controlled substance either - its karaoke
Recently, I, accompanied by some very close friends of mine, attended a karaoke bar. As usual, I was broke. However, I sat
around attentively immersed in the conversation, as my friends downed drink after drink.
I mentioned their journey to being inebriated only to express the inviting nature of karaoke. It is an activity that is so
much fun in itself, there isnt even a need to drink. With $2 martinis and this wonderful little drink rightfully titled a
Black Orgasm placed strategically along the table, it happened. One of the young ladies in our group drunkenly stumbled upon
the courage to perform.
I watched in admiration as she confidently swaggered to the DJ and asked him to play an instrumental by Jill Scott. Once
the music came through the speakers, it was on. She immediately lit up the place with her rendition of Cross My Mind. I loved
it and instantly became envious.
What song could I sing?
Immediately I began contemplating my star potential. Could I really pull off the falsetto of Prince or the speedy lyricism
of Bone Thugz-n-Harmony, or should I just stick to something more comical like a song by Bow Wow or R. Kelly? I ultimately
decided with Boyz II Mens On Bended Knee.
With the help of two of my friends, we wooed the audience with quality vocals and timely pelvic thrusts. We not only
received standing ovations, but many of the women present came on stage to be closer to us during our performance. It was
amazing. All of the worries of the day, the stress, the classes, the smudge on my new shoes and the homework I hadnt done,
were forgotten. And to think, I have a man named Irv Kratka to thank for all my joy.
In the late 70s, karaoke, as we now know it, was introduced in Japan by Kratka. The word karaoke comes from the joining of
two Japanese words: Kara (empty) and Okie (short for orchestra). One old Japanese folk tale claims that, A snack bar owner,
when a performer failed to appear, put on tapes of music and asked people if they wanted to sing.
After receiving much praise and congratulations for his decision, the owner, Kratka, decided to continue this practice and
hence birthed the first karaoke bar. From such insignificant beginnings, karaoke has spread, not just throughout Japan, but
also throughout the world.
Many people claim that the reason for the incredible success of karaoke in Japan was because it provided a typically
reserved people the opportunity to release their inhibitions. This not only makes perfect sense, but can be properly
translated to college life as well.
College life is full of challenges and obstacles. Students are constantly working and struggling to maintain sanity in
this hectic atmosphere. With finals coming up, rather than turn to the bottle or just bottle up all your frustrations, why
not grab a microphone and sing an old 90s song until the establishment closes?
So my fellow Pitt students, next time things are not going your way or you just really need a quick little midweek pick me
up, head over to a local karaoke spot and get your sing-thing on. For those of you not in the know, Joe Mamas has karaoke
night every Sunday, while Qdoba features this activity on Tuesday nights.
These fine establishments offer great food and spirits for those of you of age and with meager to no courage. Everyone
needs to experience being a star, if only for a moment. The love from the crowd and the excitement of performing, if only
temporarily, has the power to make all problems and worries seem so miniscule. Karaoke helps us to focus on the important
things in life fun, courage, friendship and good music."
I'm not saying a told ya so - karaoke is great!
December 6, 2005 22:00 - Gay karaoke sweeps the Philippines
by Josh Sparber
Karaoke is to the Philippines as baseball is to America. Japan may have named it, but Filipino folklore holds that a
native named Roberto del Rosario invented the sing-along machine back in 1975. Thirty years later, you can't swing a portable
microphone without hitting a karaoke bar.
And thanks to the Philippines' gay-friendly attitude, there's never a shortage of diva tracks to sing, from Bette and
Britney to Cher, Madonna and Barbra.
The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,108 islands, was ruled by Spain, then America, then Japan, before gaining
independence in 1946. Its mixed heritage makes for an easy transition for Western travelers. Bar soap ads in English run
alongside cell phone billboards in Tagalog, the national language.
Most travelers start off in Manila and Cebu -- the nation's biggest cities, where you can find pulsating gay nightlife.
But even if you're venturing on to the white-sand beaches of Boracay or the rainforests of Palawan, be sure to brush up on
your '80s ballads: You never know when you'll be hit with a request, whether at a hostel, hotel, pub or stranger's house.
Start flexing those vocal cords -- and get ready for a musical journey through the kooky, tranny-dominated land of gay
karaoke in Manila.
QUEZON CITY, an uptown Manila neighborhood
Tucked away in a cluster of gay karaoke bars, Butterfly Blue Bar (28 Timog Ave at the corner of Scout Tobias;
+63-2/493-3487) stands out for its rainbow window and the gay couple who owns and runs it, Ryan and Raoul. Butterfly is
intimate enough that you'll befriend everyone in a matter of minutes, and the songs are free -- so you can literally sing all
night, since they don't close till 8 a.m.
At Amaritz (corner of Timog Ave and Scout Tobias, above Butterfly Blue Bar; +63-2/410-9014), think "schmaltzy
Filipino-themed bar mitzvah venue." Overeager employees may hog the mic for too long -- or invite you on stage for a "She
Bangs" duet. The mixed crowd includes hot male waiters and female "dancers," who may or may not be for rent.
The selection of songs at Rabbits (corner of Timog Ave and Scout Tobias, next door to Butterfly Blue Bar, no phone
number), a slick, blue-and-white-striped spot, must have been crafted for the throngs of drag queens and transwomen who seem
to be everywhere in the Philippines. You'll find entire karaoke DVDs devoted to a single artist, such as Whitney Houston or
Mariah Carey.
MALATE, downtown Manila and hub of gay nightlife
A downtown gay karaoke staple for 17 years, the Library (1779 M. Adriatico St; +63-2/522-2484) boasts "performances" by
local idols who await discovery. You can sing after the show, but don't get too drunk: There's no teleprompter feeding you
lyrics, so you're on your own.
Another performance space, Comic Lab (1718 Jorge Bocobo St; +63-2/526-2730) combines standup and karaoke, which can be
unfortunate if you're an American tourist pulled onstage and ridiculed (mostly in Tagalog) by two trannies and a girl.
Luckily, you also have the option of performing two songs yourself, such as Shaggy's "Angel" or Madonna's "Crazy for
You."
As the name suggests, at Male-landia (1804 Orosa St at the corner of Nakpil St; +63-2/522-2010) you'll be overrun by young
men willing to put in your song requests or entertain certain other "requests" you may have. The songs may cost a quarter
each, but having the whole bar sing along to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is priceless.
December 6, 2005 22:01 - Karaoke Revolution Party by Konami
Some great reviews about the greatest karaoke console game of all are here
www.netjak.com
http://reviews.gaminghorizon.com
December 6, 2005 22:04 - Mobile karaoke lets you sing along
Caught this news from India - only a matter of time until it reaches the US and UK - watch this space....
The next time you decide to give karaoke a try, dont be afraid to exercise your vocal chords. With Mobile2wins phone
karaoke, the singer in you can now sing along, in true karaoke style, as long as you have your cellphone. With mobile service
operators already providing the service to subscribers, industry watchers are hopeful that mobile karaoke will find wider
acceptance over the next few months.
Explains Rajeev Hiranandani, country head, Mobile2win, In download content, ringtones are most downloaded while Java
applications (such as games) are ranked third or fourth. We merged both to allow users to capture the complete experience of
a karaoke club. The downloaded song will have an attractive wallpaper complete with music and highlighted rolling lyrics.
The content provider is hoping to cash in on the popularity of Bollywood and international songs. The reaction from users,
though, is a mixed one. According to Savio Dsa, a professional karaoke host, this is a good way for karaoke lovers to
practice a particular song before they sing in a karaoke bar. The application is a great recreation idea at home or on the
move.
Businessman Vikram Shetty cautions that download costs could be a deterrent. The application has its limitations with
regard to sound quality and images and has a keyboard feel to it, opines Dsa. Nonetheless its a great idea for karaoke
enthusiasts who dont have access to professional equipment. However, not all users share the same enthusiasm. Why would I
want to sing a song for myself in private? asks Betsy Vincent, who works with a local NGO. Id rather go to a karaoke bar,
never mind if I make a fool of myself. Its part of the fun. Such reactions, however, hasnt stopped content provider
Mobile2win and mobile operators from looking at tie-ups for downloads in regional languages.
But mobile service operators have their task cut out for them. After all, just how many people will want to sing along to
a cell phone?
December 11, 2005 12:23 - PARTY ANIMAL Karaoke microphone
Thinking of a last minute christmas present? Try this its great!
The MagicSing Karaoke system provides background pictures, music and lyrics on a TV screen and allows you to operate
functions such as voice key selection, tempo, digital echo and volume/tone control. Comes with 900 songs and an option of
getting new song chips. The ideal companion to every shindig
December 12, 2005 22:21 - Franz Ferdinand and Karaoke DVD
Karaoke lovers who need a little more Franz in their lives are in luck! On the eve of their 2006 Oz tour, Franz Ferdinand
will release their FIRST EVER two-disc DVD on January 15. Featuring live performances, behind the scenes footage, karaoke
films and some hidden extras, these babies will deliver endless darts of pleasure! Franz Ferdinand's latest album 'You Could
Have It So Much Better' debuted at No 5 in Australia, and cruised to the top of the charts when it dropped in the UK. Proving
that their album is indeed one of the best this year, Franz have also just been nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Rock
Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal and Best Alternative Music Album. Oh yeah.
Now, the Scottish superstars are gearing up to release their very cool new double-disc DVD.
The first disc features tracks drawn from high-energy live performances including last year?s much-lauded shows at T in
The Park, Glasgow Barrowlands and the Brixton Academy in London, plus exclusive behind the scenes footage of the guys. For
those who think they can cut it, karaoke films for 'Matinee' and 'Take Me Out' are also included on disc one along with some
surprise hidden extras. Sing along if you know the words...
The second disc contains two full throttle live performances from shows at Brixton Academy and San Francisco in 2004 and
extensive interviews filmed on the band?s tour bus, as well as three bonus live songs taken from the Franz Ferdinand 2004
Australian / New Zealand tour and special interactive features.
BONUS FEATURES
Tour De Franz - Exclusive behind the scenes footage.
Karaoke track 1 - Matinee
Karaoke track 2 - Take Me Out
Watch out for more karaoke on top artistes DVD releases in the future!
December 17, 2005 13:31 - New Free Online Karaoke Player at The Karaoke Advisor!
Karaoke lovers can now enjoy free online karaoke courtesy of The Karaoke Advisor in conjunction with StreamKaraoke. All you
do is click on your song and away you go.
Go here to try it now!
The-Karaoke-Advisor.com
December 17, 2005 13:34 - Karaoke On Demand by Comcast
Comcast, the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, recently announced
that Karaoke ON DEMAND has just gotten a little more festive with the addition of over 30 holiday jingles to its play list.
Even the biggest Grinch can get in the holiday spirit this year by performing seasonal favorites such as "Jingle Bell Rock,"
"Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman" from the comfort, convenience and privacy of home.
Karaoke ON DEMAND, available at no additional cost to all Comcast digital cable customers, is simple and easy to use and does
not require a microphone or any other audio equipment. Customers simply select "Music" from the ON DEMAND menu and then
choose the "Karaoke" category to access a growing library of hundreds of songs grouped in different genres, including hip
hop, oldies, country and modern rock in addition to the newly added holiday tunes. The feature is perfect for singing solos,
duets or getting the whole gang going at holiday parties.
Karaoke ON DEMAND, available since late October, is already a hit on the ON DEMAND charts. Since it was launched, more than
three million views have been logged across the nation, including over 720,000 in New England.
December 17, 2005 13:35 - An interesting development......
How Much is OK for Karaoke's Copyright
2005-12-16 13:53:53 CRIENGLISH.com
More and more Karaoke bars are involved in lawsuits with record companies over copyright payment.
The southern city of Guangzhou is to set up installations in Karaoke bars to take charges from every song sung there.
It hasn't been decided yet how much the bars should be charged per song, but it is estimated to be around one yuan.
While acknowledging the move to be a positive shift in attitude in addressing the piracy problem, the Guangzhou Daily says
what customers care most about is how much they will be charged and where the charging standard comes from.
The paper says there are no regulations to follow with regard to copyright payment standard. And it is important to fill
up the loophole first.
December 18, 2005 17:21 - Just say, 'I'm with the band' - Karaoke fans rock with live
musicians
By Jennifer Itzenson
Columbia News Service
If you've ever wanted to experience what it's like to be a rock star, live band karaoke could prove addictive.
Take Vince Guagenti, a 38-year-old film professor who was the first to take the stage on a recent live karaoke night at
the Whiskey Bar in Hoboken, N.J. With only a glance at the lyric sheet clipped to his microphone stand, Guagenti let out a
howl that did justice to Robert Plant and launched into a rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song." Behind him, the
accurately named Super Karaoke Fun Time Band created a wall of sound with guitars, bass and drums.
This wasn't standard karaoke, where you belt out songs to the accompaniment of a tinny machine while your friends have a good
laugh in the back of the bar. With a live band backing up singers onstage, karaoke somehow transcends its cheesy roots and
becomes almost magical, giving anyone the chance to be a rock god, at least for the length of a song. And on New Year's Eve,
karaoke bands across the country will be performing extended shows at larger-than-usual venues, providing the perfect
occasion for revelers to let their inhibitions fly out the window.
What's the special appeal of a band over a music machine? "You can rock out," Guagenti said after his song ended with a burst
of strobe lights and applause that reverberated off the Whiskey Bar's tin ceiling. He performs two or three nights a week,
venturing into New York to sing with the Original Punk Metal Karaoke Band.
Regular karaoke doesn't interest devotees like Guagenti. "That's boring," he said. "You don't have the power of the band
behind you."
Live band karaoke was popularized about a decade ago by a punk karaoke group in Los Angeles, followed a few years later by
another in New York. Now it's a fixture at places like Atlanta's 10 High Club, Boston's Milky Way Lounge and Chicago's
Pontiac Cafe and Bar. For rock musicians, it is an easy, steady gig.
With playlists heavy on classic rock anthems, big-hair metal and '80s pop, many karaoke bands have gained followings of
hard-core regulars who turn up every week, sometimes wearing jet black Motley Crue wigs or Freddie Mercury mustaches and
leather vests.
"We are their band, and they are living out their rock-'n'-roll fantasy," said Tres Shannon, 38, the host of Karaoke From
Hell in Portland, Ore. "Once you get up and sing one time, you're hooked."
But the attraction is also strong for those who just come to watch. Atlanta's Metalsome Monday band draws about 400 people to
its weekly show at the 10 High Club. Some 30 to 40 singers take the stage and at least 100 watch until the bitter end at 2:30
a.m., said Nicole Jurovics, who started the club's live karaoke nights.
For those who have witnessed just how cringe-inducing canned karaoke can be, it's a shock to find that many live band karaoke
singers have real talent. "Some people who look very unassuming get up onstage and just kill you, they're so good," Jurovics
said.
But not all performers are good. "There's a varying degree of talent," said Biff Blumfumgagnge, who leads the Gomeroke band
in Madison, Wis. "We take whatever we're thrown, and it ends up being fun."
One woman with a broken leg in a cast who could barely stand on her own "got totally lost in the rock," he recalled, and
kicked over a microphone stand.
Most bands have developed tricks to save those singers who seem overcome by the rock haze. When a baffled, ringlet-headed man
performing with the Super Karaoke Fun Time Band came in at the wrong time with a chorus of "Sweet Home Alabama," the band
helped him catch up. When Allison Eastridge, 26, performed a triumphant version of karaoke perennial "Me and Bobby McGee,"
then got lost in the lyrics of "Ramblin' Rose," the band jumped in as back-up singers.
"They're fine musicians, and they're here to have fun," said Tim Colbert, 33, who sings a rousing "These Boots Are Made for
Walking," complete with a kicking finish, almost every week at the Whiskey Bar. "They make it easy and comfortable for
everyone who gets up there."
After performing or watching live-band karaoke with its thrilling highs and excruciating lows, the synthesized version with a
bouncing ball on a video screen seems incredibly flat and unworthy of those who want to rock.
"We get a lot of people who like regular karaoke, and they hear about us," said Otis Ball, 35, leader of the Super Karaoke
Fun Time band. "Once they've tried it, there's no going back."
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