Growing Up Karaoke 
As kids we all go through that stage when we step out and try to find our own voice whether its literally or figuratively. And, believe it or not, karaoke has been there to help us. Take the children’s gospel choir in my instance. Grandma took me every Sunday to a Baptist church where I joined the choir. At my first concert, we marched in one by one with me at the head of the line. As we made it up to the pulpit I caught my first glimpse of the 300 plus adoring worshippers in the audience and froze. I never did sing my song, didn’t find my voice that Sunday.
What does that have to do with karaoke? you say. Come on, karaoke didn’t start in
What is gospel music sung in churches but group karaoke? The church organist or
band plays the music and the congregation or choir sings lyrics from a hymn book
instead of a television screen. Yes, we have been practicing for karaoke for hundreds of years.
Karaoke as we practice it today has done wonders for the need to find our voice as we get older and realize that public nudity is a risky affair. And if finding our voice means social acceptance through promoting our individuality, karaoke is the perfect venue. There is something about singing in front of your peers that promotes a healthy self-identity. I have seen many a karaoke performance, and the typical person seems to get an almost cathartic boost from belting out the lyrics to their favorite song.
Despite the intrinsic value of karaoke however, karaoke could mature into a sport that will not only help us find
our voice, but also help us evolve into more sophisticated social beings. It is not enough anymore for people to be able to comfortably express themselves in front of others, but they must also learn to relate to others by
connecting with them. People who are able to do this are more than just emotionally healthy, they are successful
in their dealings with others both personally and professionally.
More and more, karaoke is demanding that we give great “performances,” not just a good sounding one. Taking it
to this next level is not just for budding idolettes anymore, it can help us in the workplace, in our relationships, and with our own self-actualization. Developing a unique style and public persona is not just for actors and professional singers, and just as karaoke has empowered the commonfolk from all over leave the comfort of their showers to sing publicly in karaoke bars all of the nation, it can empower us to be better communicators as well. And as I learned many ‘moons’ ago, you don’t have to take off your clothes to get people to notice, personality is all you need.
