Karaoke Forums

Long time karaoke singer, first time poster (man, these boards need a seach feature, sorry if duplicate post).

I read the article in the Karaoke Scene regarding songs with foul language. Here's my take:

If it's in the book, you can gauge your audience and the resturant/bar staff/etc. don't have an issue with it, it's free game. The KJ spent the money to include it in their selection, have at it.

Been going to show here in SoCal for a decade, seen a lot of interesting venues. One place (sadly closed) used to have "Ode to my car" from Adam Sandler and I had people falling out of their barstools. Next time they'd see me, they'd ask me if I was going to sing "that piece of sh*t car song". Problem is the owner didn't like it, but as soon as he left, the KJ would cue it up.

Went to a place in Huntington Beach ages ago, that KJ had the Sex Pistols version of Sinatra's classic "My Way". Bartender told me after I finished that if I sang something like that, he'd kick me out. Ok, ok...it had the c-hunt word in it, but it's the friggin' song. You chew me out, fine....talk to the other gentleman singing some rap song advocating killing law enforcement officers and dropping the n-bomb or f-bomb every other word. Seriously. Oh, I ever went back there either.

In closing, I sing if it's available. If there's children present, please lay off the "Kitty Cat Song" or "Me So Horny" until the little ones have left. Far as adults go, c'mon, seriously, grow some thicker epidermis (I certainly have); you'd probably heard worse before, or at least just as bad.

I work in a club that doesn't allow any language while on stage. So I print the books to omit those songsa entirely.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I also work in a bar that generally doesn't allow foul or demeaning language, so I also omit them from my books also. Our bar doesn't go overboard with it; mild language, like "(@$%&#!)" by Meredith Brooks is ok, and no one is offended by that. Once someone sang "Ode to My Car" in our bar, and no one was really laughing. How a song affects the crowd is different from crowd to crowd. I NEVER think it is appropriate to use demeaning words to describe females in any crowd. "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails is a song I would consider repulsive and demeaning for any crowd with respectable women in it, so that's almost all crowds. I've also found that music sets the tone, and when you sing and allow others to sing "trash" songs, the crowd acts accordingly. Another example is when the singers start singing heavy metal a lot, people start acting crazy. On a night I've had no problems, people want to start slinging my microphones by the cord and screaming into them and shouting obsenities all over the place. I like a crowd that's having fun, but not one that feels uncomfortable or out of control to me. My take on it is this...Too many great songs are in my books that are decent and fun to sing for someone to have to sing a song that could possibly offend any person in the bar. I want everyone who leaves my show to have had a great time. No one should be offended.

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It's called Karaoke Therapy...

I have to agree with Lonman, and missbipbop, NO offensive language. If ONE person leaves because they are offended, that's AT LEAST one new customer that you've lost. Not to mention that they tell their friends not to come to your show, because of the disrespectful way your crowd acted. I agree about taking offensive songs out of the songbook, but if a singer is hellbent on swearing into the mic, they can improvise on ANY song. Of course, that's when the mic gets shut down.


Rosario
Serenity Now Karaoke

Karaoke shows swimming in profanity lowers the quality of the crowd. It doesn't do much for the KJ either.

"Goodbye Earl"
"Boy Named Sue"
"Lola"
"Coward of the County"
"Country Boy Can Survive"

I'd say these songs that are done all the time at my karaoke would be pretty offensive to some people reading the lyrics. Cuss words may have more shock value, but a song certainly doesn't have to curse to be offensive.

I'm glad I work in a bar where free speech is still alive and well. Of course I moderate personal attacks and hateful speech on my mic, but all songs are fair game as long as the performer treats them in a lighthearted way.

I found this great link to the songs that Clear Channel sent to their radio stations following 9/11. They told their stations to stop playing the following songs because they were offensive in light of the 9/11 attacks. Bet alot of these songs are sang at karaoke shows. Just goes to show that one man's offensive lyrics is another man's high art. I'm glad I don't have to censor anyone at my karaoke shows. God bless America!!

AC/DC "Shot Down In Flames," "Shoot To Thrill," "Dirty Deeds," "Highway To Hell," "Safe In New York City," "TNT," "Hell's Bells"
Ad Libs "The Boy From New York City"
Alice In Chains "Rooster," "Sea Of Sorrow," "Down In A Hole," "Them Bone"
Alien Ant Farm "Smooth Criminal"
Animals "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place"
Louis Armstrong "What A Wonderful World"
Bangles "Walk Like An Egyptian"
Barenaked Ladies "Falling For The First Time"
Fontella Bass "Rescue Me"
Beastie Boys "Sure Shot," "Sabotage"
Beatles "A Day In The Life," "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," "Ticket To Ride," "Obla Di, Obla Da"
Pat Benatar "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," "Love Is A Battlefield"
Black Sabbath "War Pigs," "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," "Suicide Solution"
Blood, Sweat & Tears "And When I Die"
Blue Oyster Cult "Burnin' For You"; Boston, "Smokin"
Brooklyn Bridge "Worst That Could Happen"
Arthur Brown "Fire"
Jackson Browne "Doctor My Eyes"
Bush "Speed Kills"
Chi-Lites "Have You Seen Her"
Dave Clark Five "Bits And Pieces"
Petula Clark "A Sign Of The Times"
The Clash "Rock The Casbah"
Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight"
Sam Cooke "Wonder World"
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Travelin' Band"
Cult "Fire Woman"
Bobby Darin "Mack The Knife"
Skeeter Davis "End Of The World"
Neil Diamond "America"
Dio "Holy Diver"
Doors "The End"
Drifters "On Broadway"
Drowning Pool"Bodies"
Bob Dylan "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"
Everclear "Santa Monica"
Shelly Faares "Johnny Angel"
Filter "Hey Man, Nice Shot"
Foo Fighters "Learn To Fly"
Fuel "Bad Day"
Peter Gabriel "When You're Falling"
Gap Band "You Dropped A Bomb On Me"
Godsmack "Bad Religion"
Norman Greenbaum "Spirit In The Sky"
Green Day "Brain Stew"
Guns N' Roses "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"
Happenings "See You In September"
Jimi Hendrix "Hey Joe"
Hermits "Wonder World"
Hollies "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother"
Buddy Holly & the Crickets "That'll Be The Day"
Jan & Dean "Dead Man's Curve"
Billy Joel "Only The Good Die Young"
Elton John "Benny & The Jets," "Daniel," "Rocket Man"
Judas Priest "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll"
Kansas "Dust In The Wind"
Carole King "I Feel The Earth Move"
Korn "Falling Away From Me"
Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away"
Led Zeppelin "Stairway To Heaven"
John Lennon "Imagine"
Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls Of Fire"
Limp Bizkit "Break Stuff"
Local H "Bound For The Floor"
Los Bravos "Black Is Black"
Lynyrd Skynyrd "Tuesday's Gone"
Dave Matthews Band "Crash Into Me"
Paul McCartney & Wings "Live And Let Die"
Barry McGuire "Eve Of Destruction"
Don McLean "American Pie"
Steve Miller "Jet Airliner"
Megadeth "Dread And The Fugitive," "Sweating Bullets"
John Mellencamp "Crumbling Down," "I'm On Fire"
Martha & the Vandellas "Nowhere To Run," "Dancing In The Streets"
Metallica "Seek Destroy," "Harvester Or Sorrow," "Enter Sandman," "Fade To Black"
Alanis Morissette "Ironic"
Mudvayne "Death Blooms"
Rick Nelson "Travelin' Man"
Nena "99 Luft Balloons/99 Red Balloons"
Nine Inch Nails "Head Like A Hole"
Oingo Boingo "Dead Man's Party"
Paper Lace "The Night Chicago Died"
John Parr "St. Elmo's Fire"
Peter & Gordon "I Go To Pieces," "A World Without Love"
Peter, Paul, & Mary "Blowin' In The Wind," "Leavin' On A Jet Plane"
Tom Petty "Free Fallin'"
Pink Floyd "Run Like Hell," "Mother"
P.O.D. "Boom"
Elvis Presley "(You're The) Devil In Disguise"
Pretenders "My City Was Gone"
Queen "Another One Bites The Dust," "Killer Queen"
Rage Against The Machine - all songs
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Aeroplane," "Under The Bridge"
R.E.M. "It's The End Of The World As We Know It"
Rolling Stones "Ruby Tuesday"
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels "Devil With The Blue Dress"
Saliva "Click Click Boom"
Santana "Evil Ways"
Savage Garden "Crash And Burn"
Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Frank Sinatra "New York, New York"
Slipknot "Left Behind," "Wait And Bleed"
Smashing Pumpkins "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"
Soundgarden "Blow Up The Outside World," "Fell On Black Days," "Black Hole Sun"
Bruce Springsteen "I'm On Fire," "Goin' Down," "War"
Edwin Starr "War"
Steam "Na Na Na Na Hey Hey"
Cat Stevens "Peace Train," "Morning Has Broken"
Stone Temple Pilots "Big Bang Baby," "Dead And Bloated"
Sugar Ray "Fly"
Surfaris "Wipeout"
System Of A Down "Chop Suey!"
Talking Heads "Burning Down the House"
James Taylor "Fire And Rain"
Of The Dog "Say Hello To Heaven"
Third Eye Blind "Jumper"
Three Degrees "When Will I See You Again"
3 Doors Down "Duck and Run"
311 "Down"
Tool "Intolerance"
Tramps "Disco Inferno"
U2 "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
Van Halen "Jump," "Dancing In The Streets"
J. Frank Wilson "Last "
Yager & Evans "In The Year 2525"
Youngbloods "Get Together"
The Zombies "She's Not There."

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Wow Chris...that is quite the list. Some of those are very surprising. My policy, and the club that I work for shares the same policy, is that it is fair game if it is in the book BUT...I have a notice in my books that states "this book may list songs that contain profanity. If chosen these songs will be edited by the singer". Custys can feel free to sing or rap songs that are in the book but all cuss words must be edited out as they sing. I know what songs are explicit and before I hand the mic to them I tell them that they must edit themselves or the song will be cut off. A lot of people like to do those songs just because they have cuss words in them so when they are told that they must edit themselves they often times don't want to sing the song and of course I will gladly let them change it. It makes me laugh watching someone try to edit words out on the fly.

Take for example the song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". A person may not be able to keep up the entire song but when they get to the "son of a b*%ch" part they know it all to well and sing it at the top of their lungs.

IMO cuss words are used when someone can't think of something intelligent to use to describe something. Don't get me wrong I am no angel and have a potty mouth sometimes (can't always be intelligent) but I don't cuss around my 8 year old daughter or feel the need to do it when I'm on the mic either.

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"Don't worry. It will feel better when it quits hurtin."

My friends and I used to go to a local karaoke bar quite often but we no longer go there. They hired a new KJ and he seems to have every "dirty' song known to man. The male bartenders seem to get a kick out of singing these very offensive songs no matter who is in the bar. I don't appreciate having to listen to songs like Crazy (@$%&#!) or a song like chaisy Lane's Ballad or whatever it's called. It's embarrassing to be sitting there and have a staff member singing a song about eating someone's a$$. The crowd at that bar has gone from a very mixed bag to mainly young people now and I think it's a direct result of the bartenders choice of songs. It seems as if they won't sing a song unless it has the F-Bomb in it so my friends and I have found a new place to go...and it seems like we were not the only ones to run for higher ground

If it's in my books you can sing it unless I'm doing a private party and there are kids attending. It is rare I do those types of events, so I don't make seperate books. I'll sensor as need be, as I go, but most people are smart enough to not to sing those type of songs in the presence of children.

I've had more issues with people not liking loud screaming type of songs than profanity. I've actually never had some one complain about swear words being sung. Not an issue for me

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

OK Give me a break..Im sorry but if some one cant handle adlut content and they are in a bar Im doing no offense Ill be glad to open the door so they can leave...noone tells people what they can or cannot sing..if you cant handle it then maybe you need to stay out of the adult playground

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuse me for expecting karaoke to be a night of family oriented entertainment and not an exercize in Shock Jock entertainment. I've been out with friends to karaoke on many nights and this particualr bar is the only place where that kind of "music" is a common thing. There is a reason why the crowds have dwindled at the bar I spoke of and I believe it is because no one shows respect for the fact that some people are offended by certain laguage. If the bar owner doesn't care about lost business..say la vee. There are many other karaoke joints that appreciate a group of 8 or more people who like to eat and drink. The $200 that our group spends on a nightly basis works out to 10 GRAND a year in lost business because his bartender would rather shock his customers than appeal to them. Young peopel today just show no respect to their elders. I wonder if they use that language at home or at their grandma's house? I'd be embarrassed if one of my children behaved that way in public and they know it. I could see it if I had walked into a BIKER BAR where that kind of music might be the norm but I didn't expect to be insulted at the local tavern in a group of mixed company.

Well if I want to continue to get paid (well I might add), then I do as the bar I am working in that is paying me asks. Which included not allowing songs with language to be performed. And yes if you cuss on stage, I will warn you first, then cut you off second & if you give me any gripe about it the bar 86's your butt. Don't happen often & rarely when I get a complaint it's usually from a trouble maker to begin with.

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I don't think anyone said they couldn't handle adult content; There's a HUGE difference between lighthearted adult "naughtiness" and obscene, disgusting, degrading language. It all depends on the way the message is delivered. My crowd will get offended at a song like "Closer" which has language like "penetrate you", "violate you", "desecrate you", and "f*** you like an animal" that never ends. (Sorry ladies...I hate it too), but not so much at "Strokin'". If you deny that music affects the mood in a bar, you are denying it to justify your choices. And yes, in my bar, someone does control what you sing. I DO. It is my responsibility as the KJ to provide ENTERTAINMENT for everyone. Maybe some people need to show themselves to the door and go down the street to the bar where everyone pole dances and practically strips on the dance floor. If you are in a bar, and you're the odd person in the crowd, your attitude should not be that others should leave. You should be respectful enough to remove yourself so that you are "doing no offense".

The truth is, even if you happen to like a lot of trash language and vulgarity, you can still usually have a great time among people who don't get as much pleasure from it as you do. However, those that don't get pleasure from it cannot have fun when they have to hear it. Just my thoughts. Why would you want to sing songs that would definately offend most ladies anyway?

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It's called Karaoke Therapy...

"La Vee?"

Anyway, I think everyone understands what we are saying here. There are family-oriented bars/restaurants that do family-oriented karaoke shows. Mine and GeminiMale's bar is not one of them.

This all comes back to KJ Rule #2: Read your audience!! (KJ Rule #1 is make your bar $$$).

No one is wrong here for saying they don't want cursing language at so-and-so karaoke bar they go to. That might be the reason they go in the first place: the wholesome atmosphere.

At my bar, however, I would LOSE clientale if I didn't allow the free spirits to do, say, and sing whatever they want, within reason. My bar is all 21-30 year olds, and my regulars are mostly in the hospitality industry. It is a smoking bar and hip-hop is king on the jukebox whenever I'm not playing.

Go ahead and walk into my bar and tell them they can't curse, and you'll get laughed out of the place. It is just that kind of place. And that kind of place is certainly allowed to co-exist with the family karaoke bar down the street. My clients wouldn't be caught dead down there with all of the kids, and their clients wouldn't bring their kids anywhere near my bar.

Moral of the story - there is no right or wrong answer to this question. KJ rule #2 goes a LONGGGG way in fulfilling KJ Rule #1, no matter what you have to do to get there (again, within reason!).

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Oh, and just to prove my point based on that last post:

Teh album that contained "Closer" by NIN sold 10.5 million copies, according to RIAA. It is the 71st best selling album of all time.

By comparison, here are some other karaoke staples (by album sales) that it outsold:

Love Shack - 10 million
Picture - 10.2 million
Family Tradition - 7.5 million
Before He Cheats - 6 million
Margaritaville - 4 million
Goodbye Earl - 10 million
Like a Virgin - 21 million

I'd say there is CERTAINLY a market for those types of songs. You just aren't in that particular market

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C Mc
KJ, FL

That's funny when this song is asked about, it's usually BY the ladies, and not just the younger ones, I have one gal who's 55 last month & she says she sings that at another place when she feels like getting it out of her system.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

When I go to the movies and the picture I'm going to see is rated "R" I expect adult themes and language. I've been going to karaoke bars for a long time to listen to friends and strangers and this new adult theme is new at the venues in my area and I don't appreciate it so we take our business elsewhere. Most places that have karaoke are more "G" rated and thsoe are the ones that we patronize.

You two gentlemen have every right to allow whatever kind of language you like at your shows. If it works for you, I'm happy for you. It's a shame IMHO when a successful former "G" rated karaoke shows turns into an below average "X" rated karaoke show because the bartenders feel the need to be shocking instead of entertaining. I thought the bartender's job was to increase sales; not chase people out the door.

After years of hosting I have mastered the ability to block it out. Over the years I have worked at places that accept it and others that don't. The later the show, the more accepting the crowd is of it. Weeknight late shows - lots of young people who are very easily entertained and titillated by such stuff, then go for it. Doesn't phase me anymore. Just roll my eyes, put it on, when they're done I thank them for their wonderful rendition of "F##K her Gently" and on we go to the next song. My sarcasm is not lost on them, either. Must be that "omigosh, this is my mother looking at me!"

I believe that gratuitous x-rated, demeaning, and insulting lyrics are created purely for shock value. If no one is shocked by it or the crowd doesn't pay attention as the singer glances around to see whom he/she is shocking, the song will be short lived at our shows. Maybe a few times a year some newbie will roll in trying to establish a reputation as a shocker. After a while the crowd just plain ignores these songs and they die a slow and well deserved death.

I liken it to kindergartners who learn the 'f' word for the first time I guess. Don't make a big deal out of it, it goes away after the first or second time.

cjanquart, not a bad first post, welcome. You sure got some feelings going on this one.

Foul words or suggestive meanings, doesn't matter much to us. Surf the crowd and show some respect towards others and play it from there, the ever not so common, common sense factor. But if you're in a bar and it's not a family day venue, well it says open dibs to me. We're all grown-ups here, at least by age. It's our choice to stay or leave. I feel the KJ's do a decent job of reading what's acceptable to thier crowd. After all, they want to keep the gig and get $$.