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But that Pocket Songs version of it is a lot better than the other version I have, which I believe is Northstar.

Hey Karen... have you found a disc of Winehouse's "Back To Black" with the onscreen words? This is the craziest thing I've seen... the Pocket Songs disc has no lyrics  on just that one cut. Instead the screen says we're sorry, but   we couldn't get clearing rights for the lyrics! One of my regulars actually took the time to memorize the lyrics so she could do it, but it's a pain to tell others that they can't sing it unless they know the words by heart.

I guess I'm going to learn how to make my own...

I really don't think brand or price matters.  When I buy discs, it's kind of a crap-shoot.  I have some brands I have sworn by, and still have found the worst versions ever on them (and I'm talking high-priced/quality brands)...on the flip side, I've found some incredibly cheap discs that had some excellent versions on them.  It all comes down to trial and error.  Sometimes you have to buy 5 versions of the same song to make yourself or your customers happy.  I think it should sound as much like the original as possible, and the graphics should come up clearly. (AND PLEASE, NO CHEAP MIDI-STYLE FLUTE THING GUIDING WHERE THE NOTE IS...SO ANNOYING).  But really, if you're a kj, you could have the greatest sounding discs on the planet....but it all comes down to the version your customers like.  If you do have several versions of the same song, we lowly customers do appreciate if you know which one/s sound closest to the original .

Pocket Songs is pretty famous for that, I have several older discs of theirs that don't have any lyric syncs due to publishing restrictions.  
Getting licensing to reproduce JUST the music is alot easier to obtain so they just figure this will be good enough for those who really want it.  Plus you can actually get some of the karaoke creator software out there & make your own swipes as you stated.

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You should try to find preview audio clips of the songs before you buy, sometimes you can get a general idea of how the song may sound - however not necessarily length or lyric accuracy.

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Wow!  Now that's kamikaze karaoke!!  LOL!!

Yeah, She's a trooper. Nerves of steel. One of the "Three Musketeers"... the three that led the way and showed the rest of  this young crew  that karaoke isn't just for their parents.

She doesn't do "Black To Black" much anymore because it never was one of the movers in the room. Sometimes that last round. And this is so cool.... a good half of the regulars put the needs of the room ahead of their own  personal choices.

Very cool.  I try to help the mood of the room...pick songs that fit the crowd, etc., but I tell you, some of the people that hang out in the karaoke bars around here can be very difficult to "read".  A lot of the crowds around here don't seem to care about what's going on around them...just care about talking and when they're up next.  Other times, they're dancing for almost everything.  I still think it's great when singers try to help the overall mood of the room

If you want, you can enhance songs without lyrics/graphics using Powerpoint.  I'm not recommending anything, I'm just letting you know it has been done!

Just out of curiosity is that the Willie Nelson or Arlo Guthrie version.  Been trying to make a decision as to which version to buy.  I am looking for the Willie version.  thanks

Megahits did a good version of City of New Orleans.

Comment on fade outs.   Live versions of songs usually don't get air play and the only way to hear it would be if you were at the concert.  So most karaoke companies aren't doing the live version of songs.  Fading a song out is usually the studio version.   That would be the one most heard by the majority of the singers/ disc buyers.   The 20 minute studio version of songs with the full lead guitar solos aren't done either.    You can only waste so much time doing a song at karaoke and normally nobody wants to sit through a 20 minute guitar solo when the could be singing another song.    Fade out the long outros and make more people happy because they can sing more.   No more singing, no use playing it too long.   Doesn't matter how good the solo is.   It's just that, a musical solo.

It's irrelavant what you think is the best version, it all lies with waht the Singer prefers, this is why you must buy different brands of karaoke and being tha I sing myself I do know what I am talking about.

My apologise for writing in capitals, this is a habit of minem, as I did not know that this is a form of yelling until I came onto this site.
It's my age cough cough over 21 years. and i do not know all of the text abbrieveations yet and wouldn't it be a good idea to have a full page dedicated on educating the older generations like Me.
for example
L o L = lots of laughter/laughing
btw = bye the way
T.T.F.N Ta Ta for Now
this is all I know, do you know more.???

Must buy different brands?!?!  I gotta disagree with that; many KJs, including myself, often choose discs based on the song listing vs. our needs, but to buy different brands just to have a variety of versions of the same song???  Nuh uh, no way, no how.  :no:

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[shadow=white][scroll]Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.....It's about learning to dance in the rain[/scroll][/shadow]

[quote="Catseyeview @ Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:13 pm"]Must buy different brands?!?!  I gotta disagree with that; many KJs, including myself, often choose discs based on the song listing vs. our needs, but to buy different brands just to have a variety of versions of the same song???  Nuh uh, no way, no how.  :no:[/quote

WELL THE MANUFACTURESR'S THEMSELVES DUPLICATE THE SONGS, JUST LOOK AT THE NEW RELEASES OF MR ENTERTAINER, EZH, SUNFLY, SO THEREFORE WE HAVE GOT A VARIETY OF THE SAME SONGS, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT AND TO HAVE THAT ATTITUDE WILL ALIENATE THE PUNTER AND THEY WILL GO ELSEWHERE, I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OVER 25 YEARS NOW, AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY I HAVE BEEN TOP IN MY FIELD FOR SO LONG IS BECAUSE  I ALWAYS PUT THE PUNTER  FIRST.

In all my years being in the business I've never, and I mean NEVER, had a singer/patron leave to go someplace else because I didn't have a particular brand they were looking to sing.  They stay because I put on one helluva show, I make it a fun atmosphere, I have great sound and a pretty awesome selection.  For you to start dissing my business practices is uncalled for and inappropriate, especially when you consider all I did was offer a differing opinion on whether or not to buy all brands available.

I would say a couple other things but fortunately my mother raised me with more manners and to be ladylike in public (and that includes an online forum).

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[shadow=white][scroll]Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.....It's about learning to dance in the rain[/scroll][/shadow]

First off quit YELLING!!!!  No need!  This is your opinion, I strongly disagree that hosts need to spend money to purposely purchase duplicates just to have a multiple to choose from.  This is a complete waste of money.  I list one version in my books, if I have another, I give you the option if you want to use it or not otherwise I encourage people to purchase their own discs & bring them in.
I've been hosting karaoke since 92 & have found that when there are multiple listings of the same song in the book THE most common question is "What's the difference between all of these titles?"  After a breif explanation to them stating that difference manufacturers may be better than others or may have shortend or full versions, kind of like a cover band doing music, sometimes it may actually sound just like the original song or sometimes not.  And THE biggest response I got back from them was, "Oh just pick what you feel is best!"  
So that is what I did, if I get a complaint on the choice I made, I take a look & listen and may change to a different version.
I'm a singer too!  And it is true it all lies in what the singer prefers, but I would say 80-90% of the singers are going to find a single listing of a song acceptable & those are the main target, so instead of wasting money purposely purchasing duplicates to have more choice within one song, I will spend my money on purchasing new songs that singers ask for giving more overall choice in general!

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Thank you Lonnie, very well said.  I was a bit pi$$ed off and couldn't articulate (without pitchin' a hissy fit ) so decided to close out instead of saying something I shouldn'ta  :hi5:

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[shadow=white][scroll]Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.....It's about learning to dance in the rain[/scroll][/shadow]

Quit YELLING!

But when the manufaturer duplicates within themself, it's the same version 99 out of 100 times.  So what would be the point in listing the song if it's the same version?  I only have so much book space & am not going to put out a 3-4" binder listing every version of every song I have & rarely do I get anyone that even asks if I have another version, it does happen, but it's rare.  Again, the majority of the time, the singer is fine with the selection that is listed in the book.
Where is your show located?

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I believe she's located in the UK.  Punters gave it away (their term for karaoke singers)

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[shadow=white][scroll]Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.....It's about learning to dance in the rain[/scroll][/shadow]

That would also explain the manufacturers she listed as well!  I had no clue what a punter was.  

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No wonder she keeps buying duplicates.  Look at the top quality brands she buys.    I would keep trying to get better versions too.

Anyone that has been in business longer than 10 years is getting near the $40-50,000 range for the musical library.  

Calculate that out at $2 a song and $20,000 of that is duplicate material.  Pretty big WASTE of money, don't you think?   I have many duplicate songs.  Most versions aren't good enough for my cat to howl to.  

The last thing any SMART KJ is doing is trying to add to the duplicate pile.    We are trying desperately to spend our music money wisely and not waste them on duplicate songs.  :yes:

One more tid bit... My reputation is based on my quality of everything from me, to the sound, to the song selection and the quality of the music played.    I am not in business to play the worst musical selections i can buy because that's the only version my singers can afford.    My singers will sing the best version "I" can afford and choose to play.   There is such a thing as "listener" satisfaction, too.