Karaoke Forums

I got challenged by a guy who didn't like the idea of me singing "his" standards last nite. He started dedicating his songs to Da Butcha, to show him how its done. Well, his standards are pretty standard, Summer Wind, Frisco, Fly Me to the Moon, and he was getting frustrated when I countered with Come Fly With Me, Love is here to stay and Tender trap, so he suggested I do Mack The Knife, knowing that I'd go down because everybody hears top versions of that song from the one note performers.

It was kinda embarrassing for me but I stuck it out. Then it was my turn
to choose one for him, so I suggested It's All in the Game. I made sure he knew the song and he assured me he'd kill it. Well the song starts, and the words start going by without the music and he yells stop because the CD is bad. I told him no, its good, and the KJ gives him a restart. STOP! Now everybody's yelling at him because they know its a cold start, and the KJ tells him its the last restart he gets. Needless to say he just looked dumbfounded as the first 4 lines go by before the music kicks in, and he never could catch up to the music, and basically ended up crumpled in a lifeless ball on the stage. Man, I hated to see that.

So here's my request, what are the "cold start" songs out there in case I need one again one day. I know "The Race Is On" by George Jones is one, anobody want to add to the list?

One that always buggers me is The Banana Boat Song. The version I run (Supercore SPC-10) has the first round of DAY-O's a capella, and damned if I don't always sing them in the wrong key! Then when the music starts, I look like an idiot correcting the key!

This is a great topic, and I'm looking forward to reading the replies. I know there are others out there (I just can't think of any right now) because occasionally I get a singer who plays one and the looks over at me dumbfounded when the words start going and there is no music!

_________________
Spreading the karaoke gospel

Yeah, Banana Boat's a good example. It reminds me of another one, Elvis' Crawfish, which starts off with two wailing "crawfish" before the music kicks in.

The Tokens - Lion Sleeps Tonight. And it has a HUGE range - a lot of which is acapella.

Fats Domino - What A Shame. is sort of a cold start, a couple of drum sticks clicking is the start.

War Pigs by Black Sabbath is a real short start - a quick guitar chord to start with the vocals.

The Sky is Crying - SRV has a 3 count intro on drumsticks.

I'm sure I can find some more cold starts and 'quick' starts (like War Pigs, Sky is Crying) when I do a show this Tuesday. I know I had a couple when I did a show last Thursday but can't remember what they were for the life of me. I'm interested to see some songs sung by women that are cold starts too.... Hmmm... a list of 'shut up and sing' songs....

Venom- Godsmack
The Gambler- Kenny Rogers.....I miss this one every time!
I will always love you- Whitney Houston

I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones i've done or witnessed lately....GREAT topic!

_________________
Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

There is a version of Travelin Soldier that does that, only has a short cord, and then you have to start the song.

Most versions of Alica Keys Fallin' ususally gives you just a cord, or gives you nothing at all. Now, that is a challange

Power of Love by Celine Dion, is another one That one usually gives you nothing, or one version I know of gives you three short notes from a piano key.

Doesn't some versions of Unchained Melody start cold too??

Can't think of any others right now, but may come up with more later

There's a couple that start off right away. Wolly Bully has four seconds of you doing the song without music and then it goes.

I think "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" on Pioneer has no start up... it just goes right into the song with a sung note... if you're not ready for it, it can throw you.

The Doors' "The Crystal Ship" on Legnds starts right off. No chord, no hint.

_________________
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans
~John Lennon~

I know that "Unchained Melody) on the Pioneer version starts the music on the very first note. If you don't come in right away, your timing is off. The DK version has a few measures intro to the song.

Voodoo by Godsmack is another one--thanks dbk for jarring that one loose!

_________________
Spreading the karaoke gospel

Which version? Sound Choice gives a key chord & count in.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

George Jones's "Tender Years" catches me out at the bars, tho I can nail it every time at home??? It starts out with a key chord, then the words kick in about 4 seconds later without accompaniment. It's probably just the fear factor that catches me out in front of an audience.

_________________
Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves  
Snoopy

The SGB version of Voodoo is the offending one......also it is their version of Fallin by Alicia Keys that has no intro.

Unfortunately, they do a pretty decent musical version of a lot of rock stuff, but butcher either the swipes or timing.

If they could only pull the rest of it together......

_________________
Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

See I have heard that about their rock stuff before & I still have never heard what everyone else is hearing about them being so good. Someone gave me a box of them in a purchase I did & listened to every one of them & even though there are some cool titles that I don't have, they aren't worth listing - still! I ended up giving them to my kids to play with. 4 & 7 year olds don't know the difference right now.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Elvis' version of "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" is another one.

On my version you just get one piano note as a key guide before you're straight into it.

Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody To Love" starts out damn quick too....