Welcome to HickoryRecord.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

HickoryRecord.com - Hickory Daily Record

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

How to survive karaoke

By Ragan Robinson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: December 2, 2008

Hickory - Bert Lindsay suggests karaoke singers follow Dirty Harry's advice.

"A man's got to know his limitations," says Lindsey, a managing partner in Magical Music, which brings karaoke to bars and private parties across the area. His advice for making it through a night of karaoke and still being able to look your buddies in the eye the next morning:
1. Don't try to sing anything you've never tried before. Just because you know the chorus doesn't mean you can make it through the whole song.

2. Don't expect the karaoke version to be the same as the one you hear on the radio. Journey isn't playing for the karaoke manufacturers so the music is going to have slight variations. Be prepared to deal with it.

3. Speaking of Journey, most people should stay away from that band's tunes – and anything with notes that high. Chances are you just can't hit them. More songs to avoid: "Stairway to Heaven," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Picture" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." The timing on that last one will kill you.

4. Looking for a song that's hard to mess up? Try "You Never Even Called Me By My Name," "I Love Rock N' Roll," "I Will Survive" or, if you need a duet, "I Got You Babe."

5. You're probably not a rapper. No matter how well you have the timing down in the car on the way to the karaoke bar, it's going to be hard to pull off 50 Cent. Remember, there's not a lot of actual music in rap so you don't have the same kind of cues you normally have in a song.

6. Look for the shortest songs. The less time you have on stage, the less time there is to bomb. Lindsay suggests classic rock or country tunes, which usually run about three minutes. If you're a country fan, try "Husbands and Wives," a Roger Miller tune remade by Brooks & Dunn.

7. Unless you're a consummate showman, stay away from songs with too many guitar solos or other breaks. Those are going to leave you staring at the audience with nothing to sing. Talk about a deer in headlights? Watch a karaoke songster try "Statesboro Blues."

8. Work it! Dance a little. Move around. Involve the audience. And don't take yourself too seriously. Making a production out of your song helps make sure everyone is having fun.

Need some advice on how to survive your next sticky situation? E-mail buzz@hickoryrecord.com or call 322-4510, x5403 to make sure we add you to the list.