As a huge fan of live music, it’s sometimes galling that the vast majority of the events listed on our Club Scene calendar are for karaoke. I used to let that get to me until I came to the conclusion that it’s more important to get out of the house, period, even if it’s not necessarily to a concert.
To be fair, I’m too terrified of public singing to get up onstage, but I’m actually a huge fan of karaoke spectating. Even though I’m not participating, I have immense respect for those with the strength of personality to sing, particularly in front of strangers. During karaoke, I swear, if I laugh, it’s around you, not at you.
Last weekend, while hanging out with friends at a party, an impromptu, home-brew karaoke session sprang up. While listening, I came up with the following tips for properly enjoying karaoke:
(Note: These are essential if you’re a fan of music and don’t want to be driven out of your mind (or drive others out of their mind) by nauseatingly bad performances of otherwise awesome songs.)
1. Drink — preferably a lot. Whether you’re singing or just listening, alcohol makes karaoke immensely more enjoyable. Even as my friends were butchering The Beatles’ “Taxman,” I made it through with the help of extra-strong punch.