Karaoke Forums

Personally, I like to sing a song that I've never sang before, not on karaoke, not along with the radio, he!!, I like singing songs that I've never even heard, or even heard of before..... .....nooooooooooooot!!!!!
Some of the KJs on here seem to think, that it ain't no fun for them, unless every singer gets up there and makes a fool of himself..... ...just singing a song from a different manufacturer than what your used to, can trip up even the most experienced singer.
Now I've seen KJs, including myself, say in response to applause....thanks, but I have this toy at home, so unlike most of you, I have a chance to practice.
That similar topic is just plain silly...... ...any opinions....

I always practice first to learn the song. It takes about a zillion times for me to figure out what the tune is, let alone keep it in my head.

There is a lyrics website that I visit, it's not bookmarked but on it, there is a youtube video if available or the music is played so you can sing along with the lyrics. That's how I usually practice since the KJ may have that song if I cannot get it on my own for my cdg player.

I'll only sing songs OUT that I know

YES, always

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I enjoy practicing a song as much as I enjoy singing it out at karaoke.

I'm not scared. I've went up there know a song from hearing it over and over by the original artist but never having practiced it. Not to say I haven't practiced some first but sometimes the first time songs turn out pretty good and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling.

I think karaoke should be run such that the singer should never be afraid of crashing and burning. Wipeouts and trainwrecks should be okay. When I first started singing, I rarely practiced, though I usually sang songs I thought I knew (sometimes I thought wrong). There is something more exciting about just trying the song out before you've looked it up on youtube. I think the song is more fun to learn that way. And then after a couple tries, then you go hear the real version.

That said, now I tend to at least listen to a song a few times before I try it. I think it's not quite as fun this way, though, and it also gives the kj the bad expectation that a singer should be able to nail any song that they try (this in turn, I think, makes the newbie less willing to try karaoke because they think things have to be perfect). A song that took me several listenings to learn was Something About You by Level 42. I had a vague remembrance of it from the 80's, thought I knew it, but in reality was pretty clueless.

Today I was at Starbucks and heard Lovesick Blues by Hank Williams. I used to sing this song quite a bit. I like how he kind of yodels parts of it ("I hate to think it's all o-O-o-ver, I lost my heart it seems..."). Listening to him sing it, and the inflections he uses in his voice made me realize that my imitation was still a fairly cheap one. So I need to learn it better.

The other problem I have with Lovesick Blues is coming in on the right beat. The vocals seem to start off in a strange part of the song, if you know what I mean. I rarely have gotten the intro synch correct.

Lovesick Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xu71i89xvs

Another song I recently heard was Sinatra's I've Got You Under My Skin. I realized on that one I was getting some of the notes wrong...

Practice. What's that?

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You can be strange but not a stranger

When I first started going out to Karaoke, I would try songs (for the first time) with no prior practicing. Then after getting my own machine, and then building up my personal library, I started to practice at home. To date, it is rare for me to get up and sing a song cold (with no prior practice). I find that I need to hear the song a few times (to refresh my memory of it), and try it at least one time at home before trying it in public.

I will practice new songs, or songs that I haven't heard or sung for a long time. Once it's in my head, the practice is over.

I have a friend named Iron Mike, The Karaoke Kamakaze. He NEVER sings the same song twice, and never practices. Always fun, and my favorite kind of singer.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I am kinda like Iron Mike... but I am finding it harder, as I am approaching 1000 different songs sung, to go to a show "cold" and find: a song that I know; that am reasonably sure I somewhat remember how it goes; and that I want to sing.

So, I find myself repeating songs more now than ever before. The only song I have really "practiced" of late has been "A Little Good News" by Anne Murray.

I did listen to (and sing along with) a few Randy Travis and Geo Strait songs recently to confirm that I do/did remember how they go!

Practice? It's okay, I guess? But when it takes more time to "practice" the song than to sing it (which is usually the case) and considering that I prefer not to repeat singing too many songs... the return on investment (ROI) doesn't really justify too much practice!

Lastly, if I remember a song reasonably well, there's not much need to practice unless I am aware of the version(s) that the KJ has and I have the same version myself. If I have a different version, I am probably not accomplishing much for myself or the audience through practicing.

I do... just because it seems to happen that way. I usually own the new songs I like shortly after they hit the market- often before my local KJ's get them- and I have a complete karaoke setup at home. So, there would really be no reason to "wait" and try it first at karaoke.. I mean, I'm there once or twice a month, and I'm home every day. So, they pretty much all get tried out first.

That's not to say I haven't quite often come across a song in a KJ book that I'd forgotten about, never tried, and thought "Hmmm... I'm gonna throw that one up next". I mean, hell, it can only go two ways- it either works for me, or it doesn't. And if I bif trying a new song, we have a pretty cool crowd who'd forgive me. (i'd just make sure i chose one of my better well-known songs next and redeem myself a bit)

But I'd never think I "had to practice" before trying one out live.

One difference- IF it were a song I was pretty sure was at the tiptop of my range... and I wasn't sure if I'd make it or not, then nah... I'd never try it live for the first go 'round.

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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. ♥

Hey Blue,

There are plenty of songs I sing at home for my own enjoyment... but I don't call that practicing.

To me practicing is something you do to gain proficiency. And, in many instances proficiency only comes through immediate and ongoing repetition.

Now, one may become proficient at a particular song by singing it more than once, but if one is not intending to practice the song and the song isn't sung over and over... to me that's not practice!

IMHO

Oh.. and Johnny if I were a participant on the Singer's Showcase I'd be insisting that you submit one of the songs you were thinking of in the following quote:

i practice ... i don't want to worry about when to come in or whether i'm going to be able to hit the right note or not ... that is not fun for me though i'm sure it would be for some of the audience

billy never practices ... he might take a quick listen to see how a song goes, but that's it

hate

and ... i prefer using my own discs

Do I practice? Heck yeah!
Usually I hear a song I like and load it on my iPod so I can practice during my work commute. Next I'll try to find a disc or borrow one from a KJ friend to practice at home. Then I'll perform it. I'm a perfectionist about it. When I get on stage, I get disapproving stares because I'm a BIG guy, but one song usually changes people's opinions about me. I've only crashed and burned about 5 times. It's at the end of the night, I'm buzzed, breathing smoke all night, and there's that one darned note I can't hit...

I've learned the hard way not to do your toughest song last.[font=Times New Roman][/font]

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"Anything worth doing, is worth OVERDOING"... - Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

I usually try to sing along with all the songs in a show. (May as well, since I only get the mic a few times...) This kind of forces onesself to sing on the fly and develop a sense of your limitations - and also a sense of how well you can "wing it". Doing a lot of this constitutes "practice" time at least for developin range and a strong voice.

I don't usually try a song completely cold. I will look at it on YouTube a few times, get a rough idea. Usually just whispering the words is enough to give me a sense of whether it's one I feel comfortable with. If it "feels right" then it will probably work.

Only constantly. Not so much because I need to practice the songs I sing as because I love to sing. I sing 20 songs on my own for every one I do at karaoke.

I need to make up for lost time because I didn't really sing at all until I was over 50 years old.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I used to sing songs and "mimic" the original artist. I have gone for weeks singing one song after another that I hadnt heard before, When I sing the old songs now they are in my style. For example I sing Gene Watson's version of This Time You Gave Me A mountain with a Scottish accent although I sing some Marty Robins and could sing his version too. I sing songs like Roberta Flacks The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and nail it with emotion because I have practiced many songs but that was in a live situation. One stellar performance a night is enough for me to get that high although there are nights when everybody is on that high. Getting them there is what being a host is all about. Relax breathe with all of your lungs and sing and do it with emotion.

Practice? Just sing...

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Never practice (and boy you sure can tell listening to my subs )

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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]