Karaoke (????????????), which literally translates to empty orchestra, is something of a national past time here in the Land of the Rising Sun. From carousing teenagers and courting couples to boozing salarymen and fun-loving retirees, karaoke is one of the great social equalizers in Japanese society.
With that said, karaoke doesn’t enjoy much popularity in the West, which is probably why a good portion of first-timers in Japan dread the idea of belting out karaoke tunes. Of course, if you spend any more than a few wild nights out over here, you’ll quickly realize that a trip to the karaoke parlor, much like drunk-induced munchies, is something of a given.
For those of you out there with naturally rich voices, perfect pitch and years of vocal training, a karaoke marathon is a chance to impress your Japanese hosts and garner some self-confidence. For the rest of us however, a karaoke marathon is ripe with unforeseen perils and dangers.
But, fear not as today’s posting is all about the 5 mistakes made by rookie karaoke singers!
1) Don’t sing karaoke if you’re sober.
There is a reason why Japanese people usually head to the karaoke parlor when they’re absolutely hammered. While researchers have yet to uncover the exact science behind the correlation, excessive drinking and karaoke proficiency are intimately related. If you are in the unfortunate position of being sober in a karaoke parlor, fear not as most places do serve liquid encouragement!
2) Be careful of the tempo and the pitch.
Even if you’re not technology-savvy, it is vital to know that you can control the tempo and pitch on most karaoke machines. Needless to say, this is essential for making sure that the notes stays within your vocal range, and that the words don’t blow past you on the TV screen.
3) Look out for card-carrying members.
Karaoke isn’t always a cheap outing, which is why Japanese aficionados carry point cards to subsidize their hobby. While it is sometimes hard to tell at first glance who is gifted and who is merely a wannabe karaoke star, never brag about your karaoke talents in front of card-carrying members! Trust me – these guys and gals were owning karaoke machines while you were still nursing!
4) Know your audience.
Japanese people have extremely varied musical tastes, though the music you typically listen to at home won’t always cut it here in Japan. Indeed, karaoke skill comes not only from singing along in perfect key and rhythm, but also choosing a song that melts everyone’s hearts. If you’re trying to impress an older, more business-minded audience, Beatles classics (think Yoko Ono) are sure-fire hits. For younger audiences however, bust out your best rap skills.
5) Beware the juu-hachi ban (十八番).
If there is one Japanese word you must learn, it’s juu-hachi ban or simply the number eighteen. In karaoke parlors, this slang word refers to your karaoke standard, or the song you belt out to prove your vocal supremacy. If you hear someone say that their juu-hachi ban is coming up, I can promise you that you don’t want to follow their act!
Good luck, and happy singing (^_^)
** Images courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project **