SongGet.com

Karaoke has its roots in 1970s Japan. The Kobe City port was an international mecca, often referred to as “the gateway of fashion and trend.” In fact, instant noodles, automated ticket gates and saunas all stemmed from this region. Whenever a strolling guitarist canceled a gig, bar owners would bust out accompaniment tapes for their patrons to sing along to, which would up becoming a popular pastime not just in Japan, but around the world. Perhaps it was the suppression of individualism, the pent-up frustrations of working such long hours or the exportation of karaoke around the world that ensured the karaoke party never stopped.

In the 1980s, Pioneer started churning out karaoke songs on laserdisc. Japanese companies like Victor and DKK followed suit to produce English karaoke hits. When CDG karaoke came out, playing accompaniment tracks and bouncing lyrics across TV screens, the karaoke craze had officially hit America. Hudson marketed one of the earliest mainstream karaoke machines, the “TurboGrafx-16,” which sold for $400 and enjoyed a very short shelf life before dying off. In the early nineties, DK Karaoke produced a collection of ninety-nine karaoke hits, containing everything from Bel Biv Devoe to Lenny Kravitz, which became the standard in every venue. Entertainers hired for parties, weddings and other events added karaoke to their rosters, thus solidifying the pastime as a fun party activity.

At the turn of the millennium, karaoke took on a more serious note in American culture. With the advent of shows like “American Idol,” aspiring talent saw the opportunity to sing karaoke as pop star or rock star practice. In the past, the best singers would occasionally receive a standing ovation, a free drink at the bar or a small pot of prize money. Today, however, singers can get recruited by agents hidden in the audience and awarded with lucrative multi-million-dollar contracts. Everyone enjoys a good sing-a-long these days and Numark was quick to revolutionize karaoke equipment with the KMX01, KMX02 and CDN25+G, which make performances even more professional-sounding.

While there are thousands of karaoke songs to choose from, some reign supreme. Guys should try belting out Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In the USA,” which is a good beginner song that can’t possibly sound any more discordant than the original. To rock out with their inner rockstar, guys should also consider ACDC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” Bon Jovi’s “Livin On A Prayer,” Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild,” Motley Crue’s “Girls Girls Girls,” Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” or Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Popular karaoke tracks for girls include: Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Gloria Gayner’s “I Will Survive,” No Doubt’s “Just A Girl,” Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock N Roll,” Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” Shania Twain’s “I Feel Like A Woman,” Britney Spears’ “Womanizer,” Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” or Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walking.”

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