Karaoke Forums

hat said, I think it would be more fun to sing in a band.

The first year of the sixties was probably about the worst time to go into the military. But times were good, a man or woman either one could work forty hours a week and support the family before the lawmakers convinced everybody that they were responsible for the economy. We had the best music in the world Johnny Cash E P and all in between. With two A M radio stations you could get the best country or rock. At two in the morning right after a drag race Shreeves Port L A was kinda good too.

The bands in those times were country that could rock and rock and roll bands that could play country but all managed to play a couple of gospels sometime during the night. They started setting up with wierd lookin geetars leaning against the amps and I dont know whether it was the booze or all the gals in tight jeans but god we rocked.

About four year later I found myself with about five other sailors in a little bar in France on the southern coast. We were yearning for Trader Vic's in Portsmouth and a band who could really rock doin Long Tall Texan and others. There was only us the barkeep and a few old Frenchmen who would pounce on the cig butts we were snuffin out and smoking them in their pipes.

An old man walked in with a very old violin and threw his tam on the bar which we found out was to collect the few lira for entertainment. Bobbie Darr, a Texan looked at me and said oh god we got to listen to this crap now. After a couple of songs I didnt have clue what they were, I said I'm gonna hit him with Wild Side Of Life. I walked up put a dollar in his hat and belted out You woodnt read my letter if I wrote yuuuo. All of a sudden I thought there was a fiddle player out Memphis or somewhere for he kicked in the best country fiddle moanin you ever did wanta hear.

We sang evey song we knew leaned some Medditranean stuff and even when we were doin cattle call and yodeling and screamin even the old guys were screamin and laughing and crying..I sat down awhile to catch up on the drinking and he played songs that made me weep, laugh and feel emotions that one seldom ever feels. He opened our heart and gave our soul wings. It took one whistlin and a couple of us humming but we taught him Orange Blossom Special. I dont know what I'd give to listen to him play just one more time.

And when we were walking back to the ship I realized that my appreciation for music had changed forever. I dont hardly classify or put music in specific genres. If it's good it's music.
And it dont make any difference if it's comin out of a big array or from an old violin if it makes your soul fly it's music That old man gave me a music lesson.....

Relative to their comments, the discussion came around to the time when karaoke broke onto the scene and what happened to the attitude of live bands when they felt they were being pushed out by it.

It was not embraced by the bands...especially the one whose weekly gig was canceled.

...which was precisely the point of my post - the original post was about an old retired musician who had come to the thought that it was GOOD to have karaoke and bands. I agree - I think it's great when places can afford to put on live music and still pay the bands a reasonable amount (unlike pay to play, where bands are expected to sell tickets to their shows).

The former band members I've met who have become karaoke hosts often have a different presentation. The host seems to sing much more during the show.
Band singers used to being in the spotlight also sometimes find it hard to relinquish the spotlight to those who come to sing karaoke.