I love singing karaoke!  In fact, had I not tried singing in public I probably would have chickened out at the opportunity to share the stage and sing with Jake Owen.  At the time, I was working for a station in Boise, ID and Jake invited me onstage to help close out his show that night. I'll admit, I was more than a little nervous (thank goodness there was a lot of liquid courage being consumed), but this is a memory that I will always cherish!

On any given Friday or Saturday night, you might catch a glimpse of myself or possibly any of the radio crew belting out tunes at a local karaoke show.

It's been about a month or more since I've grabbed a mic to belt out "Marie Laveau" in the style of Bobby Bare, or one of my many favorite songs in the style of David Allan Coe.

If you didn't know - I've been singing songs, some good, some really bad, for a few years now.  I love it when people ask how I started singing karaoke, cause it always brings a smile to my face.  Not only for the story, but for my first ever time on stage singing with a famous Nashville country music artist.

About 15 years ago, a couple of friends invited me out for a night on the town with a few beers and I was happy to tag along - not knowing that we were headed to a karaoke bar!

Karaoke is literally translated means - Kara = "Empty" + oke = "Orchestra"

When we arrived at the packed parking lot, we walked in the back of the long "L" shaped bar with a karaoke singer blaring through the speaker system.  I stopped after entering the door of the bar because the lady singing was so bad, I couldn't understand the lyrics and my ears actually hurt.  It sounded as though someone was strangling a cat!

Without moving, I asked my friends "What the hell is this place"?  They informed me, we were at a karaoke bar and that they were all planning on singing.  I replied, that there was in no way "I" was going to do any singing that evening.

As I rounded the corner of the bar, that off pitch sound of singing was coming from kinda cute older woman, who was belting her heart out.  After seeing this, I realized that "if she could do it, I could do it".

When my name was called, I approached the stage with my friends whoopin' and hollarin'... I grabbed the mic and gave it a - CHECK.  It was show time.

My First Time Singing Karaoke

My hands were visibly shaking as I was terrified.  Had never sang in front of anyone, at least not with a mic in my hands.  I looked at the screen and as the music started playing, I started singing.  I closed my eyes to try and block out the room, but then the room went silent.  What the hell!!  I opened my eyes thinking to myself - am I that bad?

It was entirely the opposite.  I quickly learned that in the world of karaoke, silence is a compliment.  It usually means that everyone in the bar has stopped to turn and see who is singing and to listen.  From that moment on - I became a karaoke fan!

If you're headed out to do some singing this weekend, you might catch me at one of many karaoke spots around town.

Do you like to sing karaoke?  If so, tell us what is your favorite songs to sing?

 

 

 

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