INSIDE SCENE December 2003
Cover Story Ken Wilson
I Dreamed The Impossible Dream
Step Up to the Mic
To Sing or Not to Sing
Karaoke arount the World Malaysia
Scene Calendar
Reprint of Are you Ready for the Full Monty?
(by request)
One Moment in time (by request)
SDS Photo Night
Ryan Malcolm Becomes Professional Karoke Singer
Just in time for Christmas
Karaoke Revolution
Michaelle is a karaoke joke
Naked Karaoke appearing in court
Japan sings a song of therapeutic karaoke
"Pop" Quiz
Ken Wilson
California's Native Son
Born in Newport Beach, CA. Ken Wilson was raised with
the sand, surf & sun. His childhood was filled with trips
to the beach for surf-rider rentals (those big inflatable mattresses
before the days of Boogie Boards), zinc oxide and plenty of sunburns.
"I was a beach bum at 9 years old" says Ken. Trips to
Big Bear Mountain in the winter for bobsledding bided the time
until summer came once more. Surfing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Water
and Snow Skiing, were the natural progression of things for him.
In High School, he starred in the musical Oklahoma
as the lead character Curly, and won the co-lead Captain Hook
in the inter-district production of Peter Pan. Ken performed in
3 different musical groups, the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and
Vocal Ensemble. The groups toured from San Francisco to San Diego.
"My school days were filled with music and I loved every
minute of it!" exclaimed Ken.
After High School, Ken spent 18 months in Hawaii on
the island of Oahu, where he drove Pedi-Cabs for a living, surfed
the North Shore and Scuba Dived at Hanauma Bay (Ken is a NAUI
Certified Scuba Diver). "The time in Hawaii is probably the
most adventurous thing I have done. It was totally spur of the
moment and the trip was only supposed to last 2 weeks" says
Ken. He met an old friend from High School who had moved there
and was soon offered roommate status at a studio apartment 2 blocks
from Waikiki Beach. "That apartmentit was actually five of
us in a small box with a 20 year old stove, a rickety fridge you
had to kick to quiet down, and a bathroom. We all slept in sleeping
bags on the floor" Ken recalls.
Upon returning to the mainland around 1979, Ken moved
to San Diego where his boyhood friend, Larry Johnson, had enrolled
at San Diego State University. "Larry had San Diego pretty
well scoped out by that time. He really helped me get acclimated
to the San Diego scene" says Ken.
Ken's love of music followed him to San Diego and
the local Piano Bar scene. His favorite hang out was the Café
Del Rey Moro in Balboa Park where you could often spot local 'Starlight
Opera' talent singing show tunes while accompanied by the pianist.
During the daylight hours, Ken continued advancing
his career as an Automotive Technician by achieving ASE Master
Technician status and received multiple awards from General Motors
for his expertise as a GM Dealership Technician. He became Smog
Check certified and eventually taught others as an instructor
for Automotive Diagnostics. After managing repair shops for several
companies, Ken opened his own store, AutoMax Tire & Auto Service.
After operating his own automotive business for a time, and working
80 hour weeks, Ken decided to 'switch gears' and do what he loves
mostKaraoke. So he sold his shop and dove head first into the
Karaoke/DJ business which gives him more time to pursue the other
things he enjoys.
Motor sports are one of Ken's favorite pastimes. He
likes Grand Prix racing, NASCAR and Top Fuel Drag Racing. Mostly
Top Fuel. Ken grew up near Orange County International Raceway
where he witnessed racing legends like Shirley 'Cha-Cha' Muldowney
and Don "the Snake" Prudhomme make history. He even
raced his 1966 Mustang 'Built to the Hilt' on the very same quarter
mile stretch.
According to Ken, "Sailing is food for the soul. When you
get out beyond the harbor, where land is a spec on the horizon,
the wind in your face, salty air and the absolute absence of city
noise, you feel like you are really alive, a part of nature".
Ken enjoys sailing his 26 foot MacGregor Sailboat out beyond San
Diego Bay. "It has a pop-top and sleeps 4 so I've had it
out to the Coronado Islands a few times for overnight trips, it's
a real blast". He tells a few 'fish stories' about Giant
Halibut and 35 pound Yellow Tail caught aboard his sailboat with
so much enthusiasm you just have to believe it.
"San Diego is America's playground. You can literally
go to the beach, go snow skiing, and play in the desert all on
the same day" says Ken. And he does it all. Not necessarily
all in the same day, but Ken likes a little bit of everything.
His favorite snow skiing location is Bear Mountain Resort. "I
know there are better places like Mammoth but I really like the
short drive to Big Bear, and the facilities are great. I especially
like stopping half way down the slope and grabbing a beer at the
snack shack on the side of the mountain" he says with a big
smile.
The deserts of Imperial County are only a few hours
drive, and Ken knows it. He camps at either Grays Well or Gordons
Well. "The sand dunes are amazing. It can be the busiest
weekend of the year and you can still find a lone sand dune and
it feels like you are in the middle of the Sahara desert all by
yourself" says Ken. He rides 3 wheelers and sand rails. "3
wheelers have got a bad rap. Sure you can tip them over and get
hurt, but you can fall off a motorcycle a lot easier and they
haven't banned those" he says with a snort. "People
need to take responsibility for their own actions and quit looking
for someone else to blame for their stupidity" laments Ken.
"I even heard a girl tell her DUI story and she blamed everyone
from the bartender who served her, to her own friends for not
taking her keys away, everyone but herself" he said with
disgust.
The San Diego Padres will be happy to know that Ken
is a big fan. Going to 'The Q' for opening day is a huge event
for him. He hasn't missed an opening day in 20 years. "I
don't go to all the games, but I'm a fan win or lose" says
Ken. "I've seen two World Series games. Game 3 of the 1998
series against the Yankees, and the 1984 game 2 win against the
Detroit Tigers" he said. Looking at Ken holding the 1998
National League Championship trophy with Larry Lucchino, you'd
think he won the title himself. "Fans are a big part of the
game. Even the players will tell you that" he says with a
wink and a smile.
When asked about the new Padre stadium he says "Do
they need a new stadium? I was happy with the Qby the way, I still
call it 'The Murph' but for the new San Diegans I call it the
Q or they won't know what the hell I'm talking about. The only
bad thing about the Q was the lease arrangement they had with
the Chargers who actually own the lease. The Chargers sucked their
revenue dry. The only reason I supported the new stadium is to
give the Padres an even break financially. They were subordinate
to the Chargers, now they get to stand on their own feet"
he explains. "I think downtown was a ridiculous location
for the stadium. Mark my words, the traffic will be unbearable.
It's insanity to put another 30 or 40 THOUSAND people on the path
to downtown at 5 or 6 o'clock. It's going to be a nightmare. A
perfect location would have been in the area near 15 and Clairmont
Mesa Blvd. That whole industrial area was abandoned and offers
easy freeway access" He says with a grunt. "The city
just wanted it to have an ocean view".
After all is said and done, Ken admits there is no
place else he would rather be. "You just can't get any better
than thisit really is America's playground"
I DREAMED THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
(or, It's time to wake up and smell the Kara-offee)
I believe it was Mr. Yogi Berra who coined the phrase,
"It ain't over til the fat lady sings". Apparently,
he never had to experience the reality of that adage--- but I
have heard many fat ladies sing, and trust me, it was never over
until the next K-er's name was called.
From there on it exploded into a 4-5 hour songfest
whose participants could have engendered a completely new lexicon
of musical adages-- for instance, "It ain't over til Chickenlegs
cackles", or, "Til Eddie Ego gloats", or, "Til
Harold Horny honks", etc, etc, etc. ad infinitum.
But all this descriptive nonsense is nothing more
nor less than people having fun at no one's expense, except maybe
their own.
People will always seek out and take part in any activity which
offers a modicum of laughter, relaxation and comraderie--- things
which Karoke offers in abundance.
You are always under the aegis and mantle of comfort
afforded you by the ever-present KJ--- then--- this being the
case , where else could you indulge your talents, lack of talents,
ambition, lack of ambition, fantasies, or lack of imagination????
Sure. Maybe at a nude beach-- but we are discussing reality, and
besides, you couldn't handle THAT kind of laughter. But this reality
is one which allows one person, the KJ, to entertain the masses,
encourage their participation and reward those who dare to tempt
fate by displaying either dubious attempts or dazzling performances.
Nobody, singers and KJs inclusive, is immune from
criticism, but it must be presented so as to inject suitable doses
of appreciation and courtesy in order to soften the message borne
by such criticism.
Examples: 1) for those who sing under the aura of
right, direct them to self-esteem classes, 2) for those who cannot
keep time with the music, buy them a metronome, 3) for those who
forget the lyrics, offer to get them a songbook tattoo, 4) for
those who only sing in the car, get them a designated KJ, and
5) for all those girls who only sing in the shower, CALL ME!!!
In Karaoke, patience is it's own reward, and if you
exercise my foregoing advice, you are guaranteed to be on the
"Most Wanted" list of K afficianados.
In an effort to improve the public realations image
of "K" I have selected one name from the KJ Listing
from Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. This person will
receive the first copy of my as yet unpublished book, "How
to help you screw up the singer rotation at any venue".
The remaining KJs on the list have voiced their displeasure
with my choice as they feel that, unanimously. this person doesn't
need any help---- except counseling.
Step up to the mic.: It's your turn to make the karaoke
scene
By Tenley Woodman
By day, they are construction workers, lawyers, computer
programmers and students. By night, they are rock stars. Karaoke
is a musical melting pot that transcends age, background and personality
quirks. But what drives people to serenade a roomful of folks
they've never met?
``Singing in front of a group of strangers relieves
a lot of stress,'' said Kevin Dunham, 34, an unemployed roofer
and a karaoke regular.
``I don't know if it's because my parents didn't give
me enough attention,'' said Jamie O'Brien, 24, a karaoke-night
presence at several local clubs. ``I come here because the people
egg you on.''
Whatever the motivation, the object is to have fun.
Some karaoke clubs have hosted karaoke nights for
over 15 years with 3000+ song books featuring everything from
the theme song to TV's ``The Facts of Life'' to ``Monday, Monday''
by the Mamas and the Papas.
``There are some people who go to the same club each
week and sing the same song every week,'' said karaoke singer
John Alberts. ``That's what the karaoke people do.''
But patrons aren't the only ones who take the stage.
``A lot of the time, in our club, customers will ask
us to sing,'' said waitress Mary-Ellen Rodrigues.
Her co-worker Julie Morgan, 25, said singing on the
job is a bonus. ``I can explode,'' she said. ``When I first got
here, there were five or six people doing karaoke,'' said Rodrigues.
``Now the place is packed.''
A local resident and karaoke regular Mark Leonard,
39, caught the karaoke bug when it first invaded the scene. ``I
don't know, it just happened,'' Leonard said. ``There used to
be nothing to do in the local bars but drink.''
Now he belts out Frank Sinatra songs on Saturday nights.
``When I sing, I feel like I'm in Vegas,'' he said.
So don't be shy. Step up to the mike.
``Come as you are,'' said Gifford. ``You don't have
to be a professional to sing karaoke.''
Karaoke around the USA
Michael Jackson Shelved In Everett
By Tracy Vedor
A local karaoke store says the controversy is too
much, Michael Jackson has been removed from the store's playlists.
The Karaoke Store of Everett says it's a question of family values.
Who doesn't recognize that voice, that presence? Everything that
made Michael Jackson a pop superstar makes him a super selection
in the karaoke business. "He's a very popular person,"
says Larry LeBlanc, Operations Manager for the store.
But Jackson's arrest for child molestation put the people at The
Karaoke Store in a bind. "We just want the best for everybody,"
adds LeBlanc. Beyond the disco balls and the party lighting, the
store considers itself a family oriented business. A way to bring
kids, parents, grandparents, together.
Jackson's arrest doesn't fit the image. So The Karaoke Store took
all its Jackson CDs, put them in suitcases, and locked them away.
You can still rent or buy a Jackson karaoke CD at the store, but
you have to ask for it.
"We don't want to say Michael Jackson's guilty," stresses
Floor Manager Robin Clark. Managers at the store say they don't
know if Jackson is guilty or not - that's not the point. "We
just thought morally and for the family structure to take this
step," says Clark.
But the move isn't a hit with everyone. "There's been people
upset with us," says LeBlanc, "Threatening to boycott
us." The folks at The Karaoke Store are surprised at the
reaction. But not deterred. While the controversy rages, Jackson
will stay behind the counter.
To Sing or Not to Sing
That is indeed the question in this raucous Shakespeare karaoke
show
By Martin Johnson
Martin Johnson is a freelance writer.
I had just sat down at my table at China Club last
Friday night when a woman in fishnet stockings and gold hot pants
ran up to me and asked, "Are you going to sing?" I turned
around to see if perchance she was talking to someone behind me,
but when I turned back she was gone. Then a woman in white slacks
and a matching halter sat down and asked a little more expectantly,
"You are going to sing tonight, right?"
Since she was looking me straight in the eye, there
was no doubt that she was talking to me. Since I came armed with
no particular defense, I offered a feeble, "Um, maybe."
She smiled and left, and was immediately replaced by a man dressed
as a ghetto preacher with a loud gold blazer and hat. By this
time, I was ready to explain that my particular talents lay in
music appreciation, not creation, but he threw a curveball and
asked, "How was your holiday?" And he settled in and
we talked about Thanksgiving for a few minutes with no reference
to my possible musical contribution.
Welcome to "The Karaoke Show," the latest
revue from writer Randy Weiner, director Diane Paulus and producer
Jordan Roth. They're also the creators of "The Donkey Show,"
a nightclub-based theatrical rendering of Shakespeare's "Midsummer
Night's Dream" as a disco drama, which has been running for
five years. This time it's "Comedy of Errors" set in
a karaoke lounge, which enables Weiner and Paulus to make the
event very audience participatory.
"When I see audiences sitting down, watching
a play," said Weiner by phone Sunday morning, "somehow
it doesn't seem as much fun as when you can get up and sing and
dance." It turns out that each of my three interrogators
is a cast member and they and their dozen colleagues spend the
hour before the show milling around talking with the audience
and obviously cajoling them to get ready to take the stage themselves.
Then, just after 8, the lights go down, and the gold hot pants
woman (Julie Danao) takes the stage and introduces herself as
Mustang Sally. Flanked by two hunky dancers, Marc Santa Maria
and Derek Mitchell, who are the show's choreographers, she belts
out a steamy rendition of, what else ... "Mustang Sally."
As characters are introduced, often by the preacher Reverend Carl
(Charles King Jr.) and the drama unfolds, the plot is carried
by familiar pop songs like Pink's "Get the Party Started,"
Nelly's "Hot in Herre," U2's "With or Without You,"
Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and the Beatles' "Yesterday."
The songs tell the story of the lost twins and the search for
happiness. After an hour or so, audience members parade to the
microphone, theatrically belting out songs chosen from a thick
notebook on each table (these selections, unlike those of the
cast members, don't advance the plot). The spirit of the evening
is loose and amiable enough that after another visit from Andrea,
the woman in white (Erin Stutland), I start imagining myself onstage
in dark glasses on a stool offering my rendition of Steely Dan's
"Deacon Blues." But defenders of the art of pop crooning
everywhere will be happy to know that the song isn't in the show's
repertoire. Around 10, the show launches into Karaoke Idol, which
is just what it sounds like with six audience members vying for
prizes based on audience response. That segment brings the performance
to an end. Weiner's love of popular music fueled the show's creation.
"I was always interested in popular music," he said.
"Even when I'm in the supermarket and I hear the radio, I'm
incredibly moved." After creating "The Donkey Show,"
he and Paulus, who is also his wife (they were high school sweethearts
whose first date was a Run- DMC show in 1983), began looking for
a means to work with a broader spectrum of popular music.
They found it when Weiner made a chance visit to a
karaoke lounge. He was taken by the sense of community among the
disparate mix of patrons, which included both neighborhood residents
and patrons from all walks of life. "By the end of the night,
I felt like I knew everyone in the place and had a real bond with
them. Pop music is kind of like this hymnal of American society."
Paulus is a noted opera director and Weiner has worked as a graphic
designer, but together they focus on bringing pop music to theatrical
contexts. One of Weiner's first New York presentations was a hip-hop
version of "Twelfth Night" that featured future stars
Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill. The next Weiner-Paulus project doesn't
deal with Shakespeare. They're looking at staging a production
about the music business based on Frederic Dannen's bestseller,
"Hit Men: Power Brokers & Fast Money Inside the Music
Business." But expect another unconventional setting.
"I'd like to rent out an office and stage it
there with all the characters milling around," Weiner said.
Karaoke Around
the World Malaysia
Celcom introduces
'Mobile Karaoke'
CELCOM, the country's largest mobile phone operator,
has introduced a new entertainment service dubbed the 'Mobile
Karaoke' for its subscribers with GPRS-enabled handsets.
Its 019 subscribers can now download full-length songs with synchronized
lyrics displayed on the screens of their phones - namely the Motorola
E380, Nokia 3300, 3650, and 6600, and the Sony Ericsson T610,
T300 and T310.
In a statement last Thursday, Celcom said its subscribers could
now access close to 30 Malay, English and Mandarin hits, with
an additional 20 songs to be added by the end of the month.
"The service, the first of its kind in Malaysia, combines
two of the country's favorite pastimes - using mobile phones and
karaoke," it said.
Mobile Karaoke is built to perform on major platforms including
Java, Mophun, and Symbian users would require a GPRS or Java-enabled
handset to exercise this service.
"It is critical for mobile applications to constantly evolve
so that technological breakthroughs like this can continue to
power the growth of mobile usage," said Celcom's vice president
(mobile data), Mohd Jafri Kudus.
"We expect to introduce more ground-breaking services before
the end of this year," he said.
Celcom said music on a mobile phone was normally played within
30 seconds, but with Mobile Karaoke, the songs could be played
at full duration with full lyrics highlighted in the same tempo
on the mobile phone.
It said like the ring tones, the songs could be downloaded through
accessing Celcom's GPRS WAP site at a cost of RM4 for each download.
Mobile Karaoke is provided exclusively by Celcom's content provider,
Hipmobile (M) Sdn Bhd. Meanwhile, Celcom has teamed up with KRU
Bhd to provide the 'Celcom Celebrity Portal', an interactive entertainment
mobile service that enables subscribers to request for updated
greetings, ring tones, and album information.
Ryan Malcolm Becomes Professional Karaoke Singer
While the show was on air, Canadian Idol judge Zack
Werner got a certain amount of glee from referring to winner Ryan
Malcolm as "great karaoke singer." Now Mr. Malcolm will
get a chance to prove Werner right, as he's got himself a gig
promoting Xbox's new Music Mixer.
The Music Mixer is an Xbox game disc that comes with a fancy pro-looking
microphone. The product comes with a karaoke program, a media
player function, a photo album viewer and some other fancy bells
and whistles.
The Canadian Idol will perform a selection of "past favorites
and current hits" (prepare to hear some Billy Joel!) as well
as his single "Something More." Lucky fans will also
get a chance to test out the Music Mixer by performing duets with
Malcolm.
Of course, Malcolm won't just be promoting the Music
Mixer - he'll also be promoting himself. The singer's debut album,
Home, was released on December 10.
Just in Time for Christmas
Drop the gun, hold that note!
Karaoke game zaps only the tone-deaf
NKaraoke Revolution: Singing game
Perhaps you remember the first time you saw one of
those dorky Dance Dance Revolutions arcade games. With its techno
music, bright pink colors and prancing-oriented game play, DDR
is possibly the most emasculating toy since the first Easy-Bake
Oven rolled off the line.
Almost impossibly, the makers of that game have reached a higher
level of estrogen overload with the spin-off Karaoke Revolution,
which asks players to sing Cher's "Believe'' while barely
legal female and metrosexual male video game characters pirouette
onscreen.
Now brace yourself for the harsh reality: Both games are a lot
of fun no matter what your gender, with the power to turn the
manliest gamers into show- tune-spouting divas. Karaoke Revolution
is almost shamefully inspired by a certain hit show on Fox, starting
singers off in a living room and quickly moving up to a subway,
a county fair and eventually a television show called "Superstar
TV.''
Revolution comes with a microphone that plugs into a PlayStation
2 input that you probably didn't even know existed, and monitors
your ability to hold a note. If you follow along with the song
reasonably well, the "crowd meter'' increases, and people
start gathering around and clapping. If you botch the song too
badly, the music eventually stops and your character curls into
a fetal position onstage -- presumably preparing to move on to
a drug-addled career in porn.
The game may not sound addictive, but it is. Human beings want
affirmation, and the first time a Karaoke Revolution crowd rejects
your best efforts, you will stop at nothing until you're headlining
at the Enormobowl stadium.
There are plenty of accessories in Karaoke Revolution for the
Barbie Dream House set. (If you score enough points, you can unlock
a new outfit for Rafael!) But the game will probably be appreciated
the most by adults, whose dreams have long been dashed and who
can better appreciate the fantasy of having artistic talent.
Although there are only 36 songs in Revolution, the music covers
most of the key genres, with tracks to satisfy your stuck-in-the-'80s
dad ("The Power of Love''), your "Everwood''-obsessed
little sister ("Kiss Me'') and your weird uncle who insists
that Michael Jackson is innocent ("Billie Jean'' and "Smooth
Criminal'').
Karaoke Revolution
One man's opinion
By D.B. Selist
I'm not a big fan of karaoke games, but when I saw
a preview of Karaoke Revolution, I was intrigued. Not too long
after that, I received a coupon for $10 off the game in a newspaper
circular and the deal was sealed; this was a game that I had to
have. To begin with, Karaoke Revolution was produced by Harmonix,
the same fine folks who came out with Amplitude and Frequency.
This was practically a guarantee that the game would be a quality
product, unlike some other games with vocal components like Hey
You, Pikachu! and that fish game for the Dreamcast (otherwise
known as Seaman). One thing to note- this game does require a
USB microphone. If you don't have one (like me), you'll be glad
to know that they've bundled a Logitech headset microphone with
the game for a small additional fee. If you already have one,
then you can buy the game by itselfbut you'll have to wait until
February for the stand-alone game to be released. The premise
of the game is fairly simple: you select a song and then attempt
to sing it as well as possible. After selecting your character
and song, the game begins. There is a box towards the bottom of
the screen which displays the lyrics on a scrolling marquee (just
like any other karaoke machine). But remember, you're being judged
and the box also contains a meter with a series of bars that show
you the pitch and rhythm you need to follow in order to score
points. The game allows you to sing one octave above or below
the original song, but otherwise, you will be expected to sing
as close to the original as possible. You can also adjust the
judging level to give yourself more or less of a challenge. For
each phrase, which the tutorial describes as "a musical sentence,
usually consisting of one line of a song", there is a meter
that fills up as you sing the song. The better your accuracy,
the higher the meter will be filled; how much you fill up the
meter leads to better rankings ("good" or "great")
and bigger scores. Your ranking is very important because it affects
the crowd's reaction. If the crowd likes what they hear, you have
the chance to double your score; disappoint the crowd with "poor"
or "lousy" rankings and you will be literally booed
off the stage. If your score is high enough, you can earn either
a "gold" or a "platinum" record.
There are several modes of play in Karaoke Revolution that are
appropriate for a wide variety of social occasions. If you're
by yourself, there is a single player mode that is surprisingly
fun, considering that you don't have anyone else to play with.
You have two options: Arcade and Showtime, which is the "story"
mode for this quirky little game. In Showtime mode, you take on
the role a young singer who must sing his or her way to the top.
You'll start out at venues like the subway station and the county
fair and work your way up to more respectable venues like Royal
Hall and the Enormo Bowl. Each venue represents a round of play;
you will have to successfully complete at least one of the four
songs presented in that round to move on to the next round. Naturally,
the later rounds contain the most challenging songs in the game's
repertoire.
The goal in arcade mode is simply to finish your set. Depending
on your skill level and the amount of time you have to kill, you
can set up an arcade session to suit your personal needs. There
are three levels of play; as you increase the difficulty, you
not only increase the number of songs you have to sing, but you
also increase the difficulty level of the songs themselves. In
the easiest mode, you only have to sing three easy songs, but
in the most difficult mode, you will have to sing one easy song,
two medium songs and two advanced songs. You don't necessarily
have to get gold or platinum records to be successful in arcade
mode; you simply have to avoid being booed off the stage.
It is nigh impossible to own this game and not share it with friends.
They seem to come out of the woodwork to play the game and the
multiplayer mode of this game will keep them coming back to your
house for more. To begin with, there is a multiplayer arcade mode
in which you are not only attempting to make it to the end of
the set without getting booed off the stage, but now you have
the added challenge of trying to get a higher score than your
competitors. Or, you could do the Karaoke Competition. In this
mode, there is no scoring; the players sing as well as they can
and then everyone votes for who they think did the best job.
The song list is pretty decent and it includes hits from the 1970s,
1980s, 1990s and today. I am mildly surprised that nothing from
Billy Joel, the Beatles, or Britney Spears and that entire teen
pop revolution from the late 1990s made the cut. I don't know
whether this is an oversight of the game designers or a licensing
issue, but I am a little disappointed in that regard. Of course,
I am too distracted by the songs the game does offer to be too
concerned about what they left out. Also, instead of releasing
sequels, the designers promise to release expansion discs for
the game. They have even gone so far as to include a song request
form on the game's website, so presumably, the designers will
keep these requests in mind when selecting playlists for the upcoming
expansion discs.
So, you know which songs are not there, but I've neglected to
mention what is there. The list includes standard party songs
like Celebration, I'm Coming Out, Ladies Night and Believe, as
well as perennial favorites such as Like A Virgin, Girls Just
Want To Have Fun, and Wind Beneath My Wings. Of course, there
are also fast paced quasi rap songs like One Week and It's The
End of the World As We Know It, and who could resist recent pop
hits like Addicted (the theme song for MTV's Fraternity Life),
Complicated, Every Morning and Kiss Me? Fans of Amplitude and
Frequency will also appreciate the inclusion of Freezepop's Science
Genius Girl. This brings up an interesting point: none of the
songs except for Science Genius Girl are sung by the artists who
recorded them, presumably. Most of the time, you won't even notice,
as the singers do a relatively good job of mimicking the original
songs, but some just sound off, like the singer who did his rendition
of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean in a decidedly lower pitch than
Michael originally sang it. This is really a non-issue, though,
because you'll be so busy singing the songs yourself that you
won't really be paying attention to the voice track. You can also
raise or lower the volume of both the voice and music tracks to
suit your needs. In total, there are 36 songs, some of which must
be unlocked. There is a wide variety to choose from and there
probably could have been some better choices for a couple of the
songs, but I'm happy with what was included.
One might not expect stellar graphics from a karaoke video game,
but this is one way in which Karaoke Revolution really shines.
To begin with, the game has several characters to choose from,
some of which have to be unlocked. Each character has several
unlockable outfits; while you can't customize facial features
or anything like that, you can still choose a unique character.
There is truly nothing finer than singing Wind Beneath My Wings
while wearing one character's bat costume. Even more impressive
than the character models are the backgrounds. The backgrounds
are full of activity. Most notably, in the county fair venue,
there are a roller coaster and one of those boat rides operating
while you sing your song. There are also a number of visual effects
like a glowing neon aura surrounding your character that are triggered
by successful singing. Admittedly, these are cheesy, but they
are also surprisingly inspirational.
The control is fairly straight forward as most of it is menu-based
interaction. As I've stated before, you do need a microphone plugged
into the USB port in order to play the game. If you don't know
where the USB port is on the PS2, it is below the memory card
slots and controller ports at the very bottom left of the console
face. The microphone itself is of fairly good quality; while it
a little loose and has an annoying tendency to get tangled in
long hair, it tends to pick up the voices fairly well and is generally
comfortable to wear.
This is, for the most part, a very family-friendly game. There
are some songs with themes that might be inappropriate for certain
families but there is no profanity stronger than "damn".
It should be noted that a child needs to have fairly good reading
skills to play or at the very least know the words and nuances
of any given song if they want to be successful. Karaoke Revolution
is an excellent addition to a family's video game library.
MICHELLE IS A KARAOKE JOKE
By Andy Rudd
POP Idol judge Pete Waterman claims the show will
become ``a joke'' if overweight Michelle McManus wins the competition.
In an astonishing attack on the 210 pound wannabe,
Pete labeled her nothing more than ``a karaoke singer''.
Michelle has been backed strongly from the start by
Mr Nasty Simon Cowell, who said he was ``really glad'' the Glaswegian
was in the competition.
However, 57-year-old Pete believes that Michelle should
not become the next Pop Idol because she is too big and is hoping
that she is voted off tonight's disco-themed show. Pete said:
``She is not a Pop Idol and, if she wins, it is a joke and I do
not mean that in a disrespectful way.
``To me, Michelle has not got the greatest voice.
She has a strong voice but I can take you to karaoke bars across
Britain and you will find stronger voices.
``Our pop idols in the last 40 years are not like
her. It's like thinking that she could become a supermodel I don't
think so.''
But this week, 23-year-old Michelle said she had slimmed
into the first pair of jeans she's worn for 10 years, thanks to
a healthy eating plan which she's been sticking to in the house.Michelle,
who has lost 42 pounds since her first audition, bought the size
18 jeans last week and has noticed that her normal size 20 clothes
are growing loose.
She said: ``It's fantastic being able to wear jeans.
I feel great in them. It's a real landmark and it's made me more
determined than ever to stick to my diet.''
Naked Karaoke' appearing in court
CT-- A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 1
to see if live testimony will be needed in a lawsuit against the
town from the owners of the Berlin Station Café in Connecticut.
Owners of the club filed a suit challenging the town's
sexually oriented business ordinance, which would prohibit the
club from hosting "Naked Karaoke."
According to David Koskoff, attorney and co-owner
of the Berlin Train Station Café, 845 Farmington Ave.,
a sign in front of the establishment that advertised "Naked
Karaoke" was initially a joke.
But, Koskoff said, when the club received positive
responses from the public, including many who wished to participate,
the management was warned by police that it could not do such
a thing; at that point, the joke became not so funny.
On Oct. 30, Koskoff and co-owner Marvin St. Pierre
filed the suit, objecting to the penalty portion of the ordinance.
Koskoff said the portion of the ordinance in question
states a violation of the law could result in a fine of $100 or
less. The ordinance adds that an arrest for a misdemeanor can
follow.
According to Koskoff, a fine of $100 is not considered
a crime. A misdemeanor is a crime. Koskoff said the ordinance
oversteps its boundaries, therefore making it void.
Koskoff said that by Dec. 1, he and Tim Sullivan,
town attorney, will be working to approve an order of proof. Sullivan
was unavailable for comment.
"The reason is to minimize the live testimony
the judge has to sit through," Koskoff said. "If the
parties can agree to what the facts are, the judge may not have
to have any live
testimony."
The judge will decide on Dec. 1 whether there is a
need for live testimony or if written statements will be adequate.
Town Manager Richard Haberman said the town zoning
enforcement officer warned the café that Naked Karaoke
might violate the ordinance and that permits would be needed.
"The town did this simply as a matter of courtesy
and this (lawsuit) was our thanks," Haberman said.
The town is also being sued because of the ordinance
by Showplace, a strip club on the Berlin Turnpike. That suit claims
the sexually oriented business ordinance violates its right to
free speech.
Japan sings a song of
therapeutic karaoke
By Raphaelle Marcadal
Tokyo - Karaoke has been a favorite way to unwind
from the stress of work for almost three decades for ordinary
Japanese, but it also has an unsung role as therapy for psychiatric
patients.
"Love is dynamite," Juko Kobashi, 39, warbles
timidly in a karaoke "box" - a private room with karaoke
equipment seating about 10 people - in northern Tokyo's Ikebukuro
quarter.
Kobashi is the most shy among her group of patients.
She keeps her eyes fixed on the screen, intent on not skipping
a single word as the lyrics scroll across.
Her three companions ignore her, lost in concentration
as they pick out the next song they want to sing, and content
themselves with the obligatory clapping at the end of her performance.
Kyoko Komami, 31, is quick to choose, selecting a
hit by the French female singer, Elsa, and singing along in French
using Japan's "katakana" phonetic syllabary even though
she cannot speak the language.
Komami is a regular at the day care centre looking
after psychiatric outpatients on a non-residential basis. The
private clinic is run by psychiatrist Noboru Hozumi, who opened
the first such facility in Tokyo about 20 years ago.
"Our centre looks after groups of people, sent
to us by doctors and psychiatrists, throughout the day,"
said the centre's director Shirota Haruo.
"None of our patients are able to work. They
are emotionally fragile, and some of them have more serious psychiatric
problems," said Yoko Shikano another member of the centre's
staff.
'Karaoke is a form of recreational therapy which effects
mood' The centre offers its patients a range of activities including
dance therapy, acting and learning English, but it is the karaoke
session every Friday morning that Komami and her companions like
most.
"You can really enjoy yourself in a small group.
On one's own, it's boring, but the group has to be chosen carefully
because if you end up with people who don't like the same songs
it can become a problem and people can end up becoming even more
introverted," said Yatsuko Ono, 38, one of the patients.
Haruo said the object of the karaoke sessions "is
not to change the patients' behaviour - that's impossible - but
rather to allow them to enjoy themselves in a comforting environment".
"They don't go to karaoke to listen to the others
sing but to have a good time singing the songs they like. In fact,
although they think they are taking part in a group activity,
it's mainly a form of individual therapy," the director said.
"At first, we organised karaoke sessions at the
centre, but the patients found it boring because of the limited
choice of songs, so for the last three years, we've been bringing
them out to a real karaoke club, three minutes' walk away,"
said Shikano.
"Karaoke is a form of recreational therapy which
effects mood and enables patients to release their emotions and
satisfy their narcissistic impulses, while helping them articulate
their feelings through the words of the songs," said psychiatrist
Masami Sakaue who specialises in music therapy.
Karaoke, which means "empty orchestra" started
with music-only tapes and a tape player with microphone sing-along
machine produced a record store owner in the 1960s.
The concept was quickly taken up by bar owners and
spread nationwide in the 1970s. It has gone from strength to strength
and has been exported around world.
In the last decade or so, it has enjoyed a renewed
boom with the introduction of the "karaoke bokkusu"
(box) where small groups of friends eat, drink and sing in sound-proofed
private rooms that have gained in popularity over bars with only
one machine and an audience of the entire clientele.
"The confined space of the box and their subdued
lighting lend themselves to a certain intimacy. People feel safe
there, and can let go little by little," Sakaue said.
Dolphinsm hula dancers, karaoke figure in Nevada tax
debate
By BRENDAN RILEY
CARSON CITY, Nev. State officials tentatively narrowed the scope
of Nevada's new live entertainment tax on Friday - after being
cautioned against extending the levy to casino dolphin exhibits,
karaoke singers, hula dancers or nightclub patrons who dance.
The officials ended a drawn-out discussion by drafting
a proposal that will be up for final approval Tuesday by the state
Tax Commission, Dec. 4 by the state Gaming Control Board and Dec.
18 by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
The work on the plan followed a warning from state
Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, that the lawmakers' Legislative
Commission, which also must sign off on the rules, would reject
something that's overly broad.
"I don't think in any way, shape or form ... they are going
to accept dancing or karaoke as a taxable event," said Townsend.
As for the dolphin exhibit at The Mirage megaresort in Las Vegas,
Townsend said it's not the sort of taxable performance lawmakers
envisioned in coming up with the new 10 percent tax.
"These are not facilities in which one buys a ticket knowing
that at 2 o'clock Shamu is coming out of the water to do a couple
of flips," he added.
Concerns about extending the tax to hula dancers were
voiced by Daniel Dew, whose daughters Summer and Taylor perform
with the Magical Hula Girls in Las Vegas. He said some clubs and
casinos had been reluctant to book the girls because they didn't
want to raise prices to cover the new tax.
Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said there's
an apparent exemption if such entertainers stroll around rather
than stay in one spot - a "strolling musician" clause.
"If it means employment to stroll, we will do
it," said Dew.
"POP" Quiz
Sounds simple. Not so fast. We give you the Lyrics.
You give us the artist. Bet you can't get all of them!
LYRICS
1 I don't like cricket, I love it
2 that's all right, it's only money
3 she's the hunter, you're the fox
4 your money or your life
5 will we live or will we die?
6 played it till my fingers bled
7 living it up as we're going down
8 hey driver, where we going?
9 take me somewhere I can breath
10 in the desert you can't remember your name
11 you paid me twenty pounds
12 she's got it, yeah baby she's got it
13 pray for the other ones
14 all the Japanese with their yen
15 the man with the Midas touch
16 how can we be lovers when we can't be friends?
17 she's giving me excitations
18 keeps her face in a jar by the door
19 I love you from the bottom of my pencil case
20 I've been kicked around since I was born
In group names "The" is not required (e.g.
Doors)
Names should be first name, last name (e.g. John Lennon)
"&" is used instead of "and"
(e.g. Sonny & Cher)
Answers in next issue!