Karaoke Forums

I was kind of wondering how often, if ever, do any of you try to learn new songs you have NEVER heard of before just for the fun of it (and further, have you ever posted any here or on any other site)?

I learn new songs every week. Most are new to me because before I started singing 3 years ago I never knew country music -- I barely knew who George Strait was.

Now I tend to listen for artists in my range and learn songs from them. I hear a song on the "play anything" country station then download it from Amazon (or listen to it on Rhapsody for free). If I like it, I get the karaoke track and practice that. I spend maybe $10.00-15.00 a week on tracks, both karaoke and regular music.

I stick with artists that are in my vocal range or close. For instance, if Randy Travis did it, I know it is going to be a good song for me. If George Strait did a song, it *may* be good for me. If it is Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, one of the high-voiced rock bands -- forget it. It just ain't going to be good for me.

Sometimes I will hear a song, try it out, and not like it. For example, more than a year ago I tried Rodney Atkins "If You're Going Through Hell" and found my developing voice couldn't do the song well. I put it aside, and pulled it out again last week. It is down a half-step for me, but now I can easily do it.

From knowing virtually no songs, now I can do something on the order of two hundred. Mostly country, but I learn the occasional classic rock song when I can find one that is near my vocal range. (There aren't many -- tenors dominate in rock.)

Out of challenge I have gone for 10-20 shows just singing new songs most of which I had never heard before. 90% of the new stuff (male & female) I sang  several times until satisfied then listened to the original to see how close I was.

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[font=Comic Sans MS][/font]I always sing new songs I've never heard before and I practice them, till I'm happy with the result...it can take a few days sometimes. I never recorded a song in one take, and as much as I know myself, I never will, . To me singing is more than just fun...I'm not like the people in Japan that only wanna sing, no matter how bad. If I can't get a song right, I give up, not trying to butcher it, just because I like it...I've heard a lot of good songs got butchered sooooo bad, I wanted to cry...sigh...

But back to your question...yes, 99% of "my" songs are new to me

On those days when we're not doing anything, we'll break out the disk, slap one in and just go from 1st to last, Try each one and weed out those that there ani't no way, and replay and work on the few possiables that show up... A few drinks and a lot of fun, H-ll even gets Liz singing too...

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glow=yellow][scroll][shadow=red] Correction..."LIZ" says..  :whistle: You just can't go wrong with TomTom onboard !![/shadow] [/scroll][shadow=gold][/shadow][shadow=cyan][/shadow][/shadow]

I try to do at least 1 new song every time I go karaoke-ing.  Since I've only been karaoke-ing for about 2 1/2 years, there are a LOT of songs I haven't done yet that I would like to do.  I usually try to stick to stuff in my range--it's only been recently that I've been experimenting with having the kj's change keys.

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I love being a mom!

Well, I've tried cold turkey on a few. (no, I wont sub them, no worries)  LMAO

I usually hear a new song, and start chomping at the bit to sing it... so I get the karaoke, sing it, sub it, then listen back a week or so later and think "WTF? That isn't how that song goes"..... then I'll make myself patiently learn it correctly.

I'm not afraid to try a song that's a "first" for me at karaoke (or here), as long as I'm familiar with the melody. But brand new songs I've never heard until the karaoke track starts?  :no:  I'm not that brave.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Oh, I'm sorry.  I misunderstood the question.  I've never tried a song that I've NEVER heard before!  I thought you meant a song we'd never sung before--I do lots of those, but I make sure I know 'em pretty well first!

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I love being a mom!

I always practice at home before I sing a song out. I consider that to be the debut, not when I start practicing it.

Well, considering the question is "New songs I NEVER heard before", the answer is VERY infrequently considering the vast number of songs I've heard, yet have still not attempted for MANY reasons, likely difficulty, or register they are sung in, but being new at singing there are LOADS of songs waiting to be attempted (butchered) by me.  In most cases some of the songs I like that I try have large bodies of the composition I don't recall, in which case I must listen and relisten to the whole song several times on tape or CD ( often quite a few times ) so I can at least attempt to do the song having it at least somewhat resemble the original songs melodic structure vocally. Funniest part is, these are songs I could easily play in their entirety on a musical instrument following chordal progression and musical flow, yet when it comes to singing EVERYTHING is tough, slow in happening -and work for me.  It's as if I'm VERY new to music all together, TOTALLY humbling, and an amazing challenge.  Being a musician I don't think has really helped me to become a singer, nor will it likely.. It's a different area of my brain sortuh, well eventually it might be (currently it's just my clogged sinuses).  If I ever can sing anything I earned it thru MANY hours tough work.

Interestingly enough, in essence there HAVE been songs I've tried that I "never heard" prior to a singer in karaoke venues doing these songs. I've liked a few and have attempted them.  Most of the time, classic ballads that are somewhat obsure have large bridges I don't recall, or never really listened close enough to to actually carry the songs vocal melody all the way thru.  I'm enjoying doing this, yet as I stated it's like a dimension of music I never pondered as existing prior to me starting singing a few months back, so I've had a full plate.  My guess is ALL the songs *I* sing are songs the listener has never heard before, (despite how many times the listener has heard the original song I'm attempting)

I get quite a few "Oh how nice, you made it your own"  :(

(Which of course makes it tough to reply,  "but I was trying to nail the cover")

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Every month.. some are songs from the past, some are current songs and those can be the hardest. By keeping up with what's current it keeps me from feeling stale and by learning unfamiliar songs, I hope it prevents me from getting Alzheimers... If I am satisfied with the result, it gets posted...

I actually have a few songs that I "stole" from patrons, that I had never heard on the radio until after hearing them and singing them at karaoke a few times. It really is a strange feeling to sing a song, based on what you heard someone else at karaoke sing it like, and then hear the original, and think to yourself "That doesn't sound right at all..."

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Never!  LOL  I'm kinda with Mona and Charmin on this one. My karaoke enjoyment is atleast trying to sing a song that closely resembles the original, but usually in my own tired voice.
Not to say that the girls I mentioned are like me though! Everything I've heard from Charmin is exciting! And I need to hear more of Mona for sure! I just haven't been around much lately.
I've listened to old songs that I've subbed in SS a long time ago, and I think they're terrible.
Even recent ones are questionable....to me atleast.
Answering the question though.....I would never do anything that I can't feel good about at the time. If I did, I'd probably be too embarrassed to ever try again.
If I haven't tried at home before, no!!

I must be a wuss.

Sometimes, but not very often. It's so much easier (and takes less time) to learn a song I already sort of know, or a really catchy one I have heard a lot on the radio or at karaoke.  Starting from scratch is harder and takes a lot more time.

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~Suzanne Lanoue~