| Aaah, karaoke! It brings to mind people singing in bars | | | | restaurants. At these restaurants they have |
| who really should not be singing, usually encouraged | | | | mahjong-karaoke rooms where the older folks can |
| along to the stage with the help of alcohol. The music | | | | play mahjong and the younger crowd can have fun |
| can vary, but usually, the song is well-known and either | | | | with the karaoke, although it probably ends up being a |
| the original singer has been removed from the music | | | | lot louder than your typical mahjong game. At least the |
| or their singing has been reduced to a much lower | | | | younger folks will not complain about being bored as |
| volume so the new singer can sing along with the | | | | often! |
| music. The music starts, the lyrics come up on the TV | | | | In North America and Europe, usually you go to a bar |
| screen and the singing begins for better or for worse! | | | | or restaurant and they happen to have karaoke |
| The word karaoke comes from two Japanese words | | | | equipment that you can use. Some places offer it |
| meaning empty and orchestra. Karaoke started in | | | | every night while others specify certain nights during |
| Japan and then spread to the rest of eastern Asia in | | | | the week as open mike night for karaoke. Usually it is |
| the 1980s and from there has spread worldwide. It is | | | | free to karaoke, since the bar or restaurant expects |
| enjoyed in many countries worldwide and has many | | | | that they will make more on food and drinks with the |
| fans. One common myth is that karaoke means | | | | increased patronage. One other interesting point is that |
| "tone-deaf" in Japanese, but that is not true, even | | | | the popular show American Idol is basically a glorified |
| though in many cases, it often can be applied to those | | | | national karaoke contest. |
| trying to sing along with the lyrics on the screen. | | | | If you're looking for your own karaoke equipment, you |
| The way people karaoke is different in Asia and the | | | | can find equipment and special music all over the |
| United States. In Asia, a karaoke box is the most | | | | internet. You can even download karaoke music for |
| common way of being involved in karaoke. A karaoke | | | | use at home. These days you don't even need extra |
| box is a medium or small-sized room that contains | | | | special equipment to make your own karaoke CDs |
| karaoke equipment and is a place where groups can | | | | and have your own karaoke party at home! |
| rent the space for a specific amount of time. In this | | | | Karaoke is fun for many people. For others, they may |
| regard, those who decide to partake in karaoke are | | | | feel like fools, but hopefully they're having fun. Karaoke |
| only making a fool of themselves in front of a group of | | | | may not be for everyone, but it can at least be fun to |
| friends instead of a bar full of complete strangers. In | | | | watch, as other people sing well, horribly or are just |
| China, the generations mingle in traditional Chinese | | | | plain funny and bad at it. |