Sing-along Fun with a Canned Band! That's karaoke!
CA

Music soothes the savage beast. Even if for a little while, we can release all our stresses from the daily grind by relaxing through songs. At the same time we can also have some bit of fun. Karaoke music and karaoke parties have been a great hit sweeping Asia and making its presence felt now in North America.

This virtual concert machine that originated in Japan in the early 70's had become a favorite pastime for many music aficionados. Karaoke was used to be a slang in media circles that refers to the substitution of a live performance orchestra by a prerecorded music.

The Japanese word, KARAOKE, comes from Kara, which means "empty" and oke, short for okesutora, or orchestra, this music entertainment system provides prerecorded accompaniment to popular songs that a performer sings. In most cases, the performer follows the lyrics on a video screen.

Since early 80's, "Karaoke Time" has been a popular form of entertainment in East Asia. Like a virtual virus, it spread in other parts of the world; it soon became a very productive industry and a craze. You can emulate any singer you idolize. It matters not if you are an amateur or a pro, the fun factor is all that matters here.

Musical entertainment is an old tradition in Japan. Much is reflected in Japanese Mythology. It's cool to know that part of the Samurais education includes singing and dancing.

A little karaoke fact, this industry started in Japan in the early 1970's with singer Daisuke Inoue (Inoue Daisuke). Inoue was frequently requested by guests in Utagoe Kissa, a bar where they performed, to provide a recording of their performances so that they could sing along on a company sponsored vacation.

Realizing the potential for the market, Inoue made a tape recorder that played a song for a 100-yen coin. This was the first karaoke machine. A mixture of the karaoke now and the jukebox then.

Instead of selling the karaoke machine he leased them out, so that stores didn't have to buy new songs on their own.

It was also regarded as somewhat expensive since 100 yen in 1970s was the price of two typical lunches. However, it caught on as a popular entertainment.

In 2004, Daisuke Inoue was dubiously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for inventing karaoke, "thereby providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."

The industry continuously flourished. More enterprising Americans invested in this simple entertainment business that not only provide a cool relaxing time and learning as well but also teaches you to be more patient and tolerant.

More facilities such as karaoke bars or "KTV boxes" provide the venue, equipment and software for amateur singers and Karaoke enthusiasts.

The Karaoke has then spread to the United States and other western countries and people are taking it more seriously. Unlike in East Asia countries, it is not common in bars in United States to have karaoke performances seven nights a week but they have now much more high-end sound equipment than the small, standalone machines. Lyrics are often displayed on multiple TV sets around the bar, sometimes including big screens.

Many karaoke machines are now being offered for personal use. They can be hooked up to a pre-existing entertainment center and get ready for a rip roaring karaoke time.