My topic of Karaoke in Asia has taken its positive and negative turns but overall there just seems to be such a subculture surrounding what I like to call the phenomenon of Karaoke that I couldn't resist but to pursue the topic to the fullest. The topic I am working with has not seen much change to its target. I am trying to unearth the history and evolution of karaoke as we know it and show the economic change as a result of karaoke (ie. technology, karaoke bar commerce, etc.) To understand the commerce that is a result of the phenomenon will be crucial to determining the overall effect that karaoke has had on the coninent and moreover, the world.
My subsequent karaoke research has brought a whole new perspective of the importance of karaoke to many people's daily lives. Not only is it a thriving entertainment industry but it has its own cult following that really is derived from the confidence people gain from singing in front of crowds, whether it be strangers or friends. Typically, new karaoke bars have a large number of private rooms with a digitally controlled song library and individual monitors, microphones and other equipment to provide an added comfort zone to those participants who need a little privacy to boost confidence and thus have fun doing it. Karaoke bars usually boast a majority of classic songs from the English language but that doesn't mean other tongues are ignored. Further incite into the phenomenon has helped me realize the extent to which globalization has intrigued karaoke.
So far, my favorite and most interesting search result was news of a karaoke machine that can correct your singing voice that was posted on BBC's website.
"This new machine would recognise the singer's use of vibrato, tremolos and other techniques," said Taito Corporation spokesman Makoto Tanaka. The article also explains how the new machine will have a reward system to give points to those participants who show improvement in their singing, ultimately making this new technology a virtual singing coach.
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1909018.stm)
Additional technology research and development has led to the emmergence of another way to entertain yourself using a phone. I found, in a blog entitled Tokyo Times, a posting that said, "Vodafone has released a mobile phone that allows you to download karaoke songs, and then project them on to a TV. Allowing woeful warblers like myself the chance to get a bit of private practice in before making another ill-advised public outing. And no need to worry about not having a microphone either, as the handset doubles up as a one. Plus, when you are belting out your favourite number, you can always check the lyrics on the phone's Japanese-English dictionary. Whilst simultaneously taking pictures of your performance with the device's 1.3-mexapixel camera." This is another way for one to distract him or herself while driving.
(quote from http://www.lee-chapman.com/tokyo_times/2004/09/karaoke_king.html)
My further research will be targeted on the original idea of the bar dedicated to karaoke and some of the karaoke events that draw headlines from around the Asian continent. I hope to show an interested person how crazy the world of karaoke has become.
--Bob
Bob--
This topic seems real interesting. I was looking up Karaoke on google and I found a good site that says that Karaoke was actually formed over thirty years ago in the city of Kobe. I also saw information about "Karaoke Boxes" that came about in Japan around the 1980's. These are specially crafted rooms in which Karaoke is practiced. It seems as if they are much like Karaoke bars that we have here in the states. I read on another site that there are over 100,000 of these "Boxes" throughout Japan. Maybe this is another area that you could explore with regards to the spread of Karaoke, not only in Japan but throughout the world. How has the popularity increased over the years in Japan, because in America it is hotter than ever...
--Tim
Posted by: Tim Blair at October 12, 2004 05:44 PM