Karaoke Forums

I mean, I just thought it was some weird peculiar thing to my room. All these women singing this thing. Then I noticed it on everyone's lists. Some guy even said he'd be glad if no one ever sang it again.

Gotta admit - I'd never heard of it before doing karaoke. I just asked my 21 year old daughter about it, who is in the computer room with me right now and an avid chick music listener, and she's never heard of it either.

I checked the charts. Not a top 10 hit. Peaked at 14. 16 years ago.

So singers - what is it about this song that attracts women to it? And veterans - did it immediately just take off, or was it a slow builder? There's one place in the chorus where the room yells back HEY after the singer sings it. Is that common? Is this so trivial that no one will respond?

As a female vocalist myself, and one always on the search for what can be considered "powerful" songs as opposed to sappy, benign, ineffectual, softly sung stuff, one-hot wonder 4 Non Blondes provided a strong song with a great hook. [highlight=blue]It's the hook of this song that is great. [/highlight]
Amongst others providing this kind of music: Heart (Queen Ann WIlson), Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynd, Alannah Myles, Annie Lenox, Janis Joplin, Melissa Etheridge, and Bonnie Tyler, but not many more than that.  (I'd say karaoke music is probably 5:1 male to female - what say, ladies? Am I right???.)

If you look at the music that comes out on a regular basis, you'll find that women rockers are few and far between comparatively. Thank goodness for Amy Lee (Evanescence!)  

Music of the '60s and '70s was overflowing with guy groups. Again, Heart appears in that era, as does Janis Joplin, but as a female vocalist. Thankfully things have improved as far as more female vocalists, but I still  end up singing songs from groups like Journey, Jet, etc., to fill that need to really rock.  And yes, people hear the intro the What's Up and all eyes are on the singer...  I always invite people to sing along with the chorus, arms a-waving. Nothing like a little audience participation!

Love the song

Hear it about once a month to every other month.  Not too many singers can handle it well.  For those who do, they always gets a good response

Pretty popular standard at karaoke.  

Reached as high as #14 on the charts in 1993 and lasted a total of 17 weeks.

That and "I will Survive."

#1 for 3 weeks in 1979.  Lasted 17 weeks.

That is a super popular song around my areas.....There are some songs like that, especially the ones that have a very catchy hook & got a part or two that the crowd can really get in to.  That combo works and it may NOT have worked in the original song for whatever reason....MrD

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She's got a helluva voice but they've never been my cup of tea so I actually put it on our "Dreaded Ten".  When I did our annual "Operation Rescue" a few months ago to vote one song off of that list, it got promoted.  Diff'rent strokes!  Personally, I prefer this version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Nc8RCLy1s

My silly coverband did a thing where we sang What's Up and Don't Worry Be Happy at the same time.  Try it.

I liked the song when it first came out.  It got alot of karaoke performance a few years ago, but now at least for me, I only hear it every once in a few months.

Norwegian & Swedish Girls (tourists) particularly like that song lately. Maybe it was in a tv show or something as it is sung almost everynight for the past 4 months?
For MANY years it was sang pretty regularly then sort of died off for a couple years.

Other revived female songs of late:
Bring Me To Life- Evanescence
I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor
Last Dance- Donna Summer
Like A Virgin- Madonna
Nothing Compares To You- Sinead O' Connor
Harper Valley PTA- Linda Ronstadt??

I don't hear it done very often, but I will sing it once in awhile. Speaking from a singing stand point, I really like the way it feels when I sing it.  It's very different from anything else I do.  It's just a fun song.

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When I started this thread it wasn't because I disliked the song or anything. I was just wondering how it got to be a karaoke staple since it wasn't a bit hit. I guess it's because women love to sing it.

I found out poking around that it's called "What's Up?" (even though what's up isn't in the song anywhere) because they didn't want to name it "What's Going On" - the hook -  because of the Marvin Gaye classic.



"Bring Me To Life" has been sung relentlessly in my room from the start.

I had a rare event  last week. "Like A Virgin" sung by a woman.  :shock:

"Harper Valley PTA" was originally Jeanne C. Reilly I believe but the country guys and gals will know for sure.

I have too noticed an odd revival on these songs in particular.  I Will Survive & Last Dance especially.  Must've been on Idol or something .

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I think sometimes songs are revived because people hear them in a movie or a television program. I'm not a movie watcher so I'm totally unaware, but have been advised by young'uns that they "heard it in a movie". Remember what Top Gun did for "You've Lost that Loving Feeling."

I guess 4 Dumb Blondes blew their wad on "What's Up" - it was a great song then, and I agree with someone above, it is a great song to sing ... some sort of release in it or something.

k

"Last Dance" was a choice this week on that "karaoke" show with Wayne Brady(?)