I can't sing. I have never claimed that I could sing. I don't even sing in the shower or in my car unless I have the windows rolled all the way up and even then, I pretend I am Ashlee Simpson without the bad orange tan and horrible hair extensions and mostly, I just lip sync.
It would never occur to me to sing in public. I even hummed the lullabies to my children.
When I moved back to Michigan from Pennsylvania, I was utterly confused to see so many bars advertising Karaoke Night in great big letters. I had no idea what Karaoke was.
After asking friends and receiving the definition, I was horrified. "Why," I implored them, "would someone want to do that willingly? And why would other people want to listen to it?" After being assured that it was great big fun, I assiduously avoided any drinking establishment I tended to frequent on said karaoke night.
I eventually relaxed that rule when karaoke started popping up everyone and people I knew actively participated. In fact, the sister of one of my friends seems to think it's like being on Star Search, except no one will ever discover her and she'll never get to meet Ed McMahon no matter how many times she butchers Star Dust Woman while dressing as Stevie Nicks.
Personally, I find I can make a fool out of myself quite easily with alcohol involved. There is no need to employ a microphone and tv screen scrolling lyrics I am too drunk to follow while attempting to sing.
I'm with you! I may be the only person you know who got kicked out of a church choir because I couldn't sing. Son, at 6 months, would put his hand over my mouth whenever I started to sing him a lullaby.
I cannot imagine any torture worse than being forced to get up and sing in public. Except having to listen to me!
Posted by: vero | December 21, 2005 at 03:31 AM
I'll never forget one time I was at a bar and quite tipsy when some girl started to sing Stairway to Heaven. I stood up and yelled "YOU SUCK!" My friends pulled me back down lol.
Posted by: dragonlady474 | December 22, 2005 at 12:25 AM
And here I've spent a month getting ready to debut my new tune: If I Could Turn Back Time.
Not kidding.
Posted by: Sain't Christopher | December 22, 2005 at 02:15 AM
Alcohol is the key element in the situation. I've been dragged to karaoke bars for work and school related functions, always giving the stage a wide birth. Amongst the circles I run with, karaoke is short for 'let's drink like we're on a mission.' It's an amusing torture for everyone...and the ones that take it all very seriously, well, they give me the creeps.
Posted by: mike | December 22, 2005 at 07:44 PM
Merry Christmas, Lisa!
Posted by: Stacy | December 23, 2005 at 08:35 AM
Lisa, congrats on the new job!
I'm not one for karaoke, either, and I have singing experience. I'm not fond of singing on command either, as in "Hey, Vix, sing this for me!"
Posted by: Vix | December 23, 2005 at 10:03 AM
you all have not experienced true karaoke until you are with a mixed bunch engineers and marketing types from many countries in some little place in Tokyo or Seoul after a very long day and recent consumption of mass quantities of alcohol
I’d rather listen to mike mathers – and I detest rap
Posted by: OccamsEdge | December 23, 2005 at 02:36 PM