We continue our journey around the globe following karaoke. Last time we talked about the birthplace of karaoke—Asia. Today we will make a stop in the USA and learn some interesting facts about karaoke and Americans.
- Like the Japanese, Americans love going to karaoke with colleagues after work. The Japanese, naturally, take such outings more seriously. To the point that they rehearse the songs they are going to perform in advance. Sometimes the desire “not to lose face” in front of the boss is so strong that they even hire professional vocal tutors. Americans are simpler in this regard: a fun group of friends, drinks, and a couple of favorite hits—that is quite enough for a successful end to the work week.
- Although the Japanese are considered the inventors of the karaoke machine, the very principle of singing along to lyrics and a backing track was known in the US since the early 60s. From 1961 to 1966, the popular music show Sing Along with Mitch aired on NBC. Lyrics were shown at the bottom of the screen so the home audience could sing along with Mitch Miller and his orchestra. So when the first karaoke machines were brought to the States, Americans immediately understood what it was all about.
- In the early 90s, the popularity of karaoke reached its peak in the US. The industry’s capitalization amounted to $600 million a year. Over 60 companies within the US alone were developing devices for this market. Specialized karaoke clubs and karaoke parties in bars became an integral part of American life. The karaoke craze was reflected in popular culture—for example, scenes in karaoke bars became a classic trope in Hollywood movies.
- Americans can safely be considered one of the most singing nations. Performers from the US (along with Finns) become finalists in the Karaoke World Championships (KWC) more often than others: they regularly take top places. However, if we take children’s categories into account, Finland often pulls ahead (for example, in 2017, Finnish children and teenagers took all 6 prize-winning places).
- In 2003, Konami released the first karaoke game for the Sony PlayStation 2 in the US—Karaoke Revolution. The performance of songs in it was evaluated by hitting the notes and rhythm. The game immediately became a hit and spawned a whole wave of copycat music video games.
In conclusion, it is worth adding that karaoke in the US has long crossed the line between simple entertainment and a lifestyle. Of the dozens of books exploring the karaoke phenomenon, most are written by American sociologists and culturologists. Characters in The Simpsons, Shrek, and many other cult projects sing karaoke. For many young Americans, karaoke is a launching pad to popularity, and for business coaches, it is an ideal tool for teaching students public speaking skills. And this is just a fraction of how karaoke is treated in the US.
