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