Karaoke is an interest, hobby and passionthat has made an impression wherever it has gone. Not always the sameimpression, mind you, or necessarily a good one, but an impression nonetheless.
Karaoke stems from Japanese kara, meaningempty, and Åkesutora, meaning orchestra. It is, technically speaking, aform of interactive entertainment that allows singers sing alongwith a music video for guidance. “I have personally witnessed the growthof karaoke over the last decade, and it has been phenomenal. Not only is itgrowing in popularity, but it is also a huge stepping stone for aspiringmusicians. I have seen young karaoke singers turn into full-fledged musicians,purely out of the exposure that they have gained,” says Francis-Paul Menezes,one of Goa’s first ever karaoke dj’s.
For those with an ‘un-sharpened’ musicalear, karaoke is quite the acquired taste. The more time you spend on it, thebetter you get and more fun you will have. Getting into the groove will see youslowly upgrade yourself from solos to duets, and by the time the morning dawns,you will still be pumped up with adrenaline. KDJ Pierre Fernandes, foundermember of Goa’s first karaoke concern, ‘The Ka3oke Co. believes, “There hasbeen a significant increase in the number of people thronging to establishmentsthat feature karaoke. In a way, this highlights the excellence of singers, andbrings forth the talent of up and comers. As the night progresses, you can findpeoples nerves steeling themselves.”
Venues across the state and country havethemselves evolved. Karaoke ‘joints’ were once dark, slightly dubious places.Fortunately, these days, people of all sorts get their kicks in public Karaokevenues. With regard to this, Goa’s first ever karaoke DJ to introduce theconcept of Konkani karaoke, Tony Fernandes feels, “The spawning of a whole hostof new venues is incredible. It is fascinating to see what was once a limitedform of entertainment, now makes itself accessible to the masses. Almost everyvenue that has entertainment, offers karaoke.”
Fortunately, unlike most entertainmentoptions, this one ensures that you don’t need to spend a fortune in just onenight for a little bit of innocent pleasure. So get out there, let your hairdown, and make some noise.
