Karaoke is a cultural phenomenon, life goal, antidepressant, and propelling power – dozens of books on karaoke won’t give you an answer to what exactly it is. However, it is likely that after reading them, you will come up with your own understanding of this phenomenon that has reached out worldwide.
Top-5 best-selling books that will give a fresh look at karaoke and people who sing. Learn more in our review below.
Karaoke: The Global Phenomenon
By Xun Zhou and Francesca Tarocco
Xun Zhou and Francesca Tarocco are karaoke enthusiasts who keenly research all mysteries, incidents, and fun facts about it. In their book, the authors reveal an inextricable history of karaoke and its significant cultural impact around the world.
They track down how karaoke has become an extremely successful social phenomenon which never stops evolving to keep up with the technological and cultural changes.
Through the lens of their comprehensive research and international trips, Xun and Tarocco describe various manifestations of karaoke – from karaoke-cab in Bangkok to naked karaoke in Toronto.
Numerous hilarious stories expose people’s obsession with karaoke, and its impact on politics, history, and pop-culture at the global scale.
Karaoke Idols: Popular Music and the Performance of Identity
By Kevin Brown
Most ethnographers don’t achieve what Kevin Brown did while conducting his two-year research at a karaoke bar near Denver, Colorado. Watching the bar life, a researcher found out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about karaoke and people who enjoy singing.
Brown ended up with a large-scale ethnographic investigation on how karaoke idols emerge. It shows what exactly we do when we take a mic, how we shape our individuality, especially, in terms of gender, ethnic identity, and class through everyday-life performances.
Karaoke Idols integrates an extended intro into the history of public singing and karaoke with the in-depth analysis of the karaoke singers and the community, shaped by the shared performance. This book is both for a casual reader and a scholar as it is a captivating investigation into our urge to perform.
Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love & Karaoke
By Rob Sheffiel
It is an emotional journey of Rob Sheffield, full of fun but also wrenching drama he faced when his wife passed away. This is the story about finding the courage to start it all over again and move on, holding a microphone even firmer.
The central character, devastated by his loss, takes efforts to build a new life in a new city. As a music critic to an iconic music magazine “Rolling Stone”, he, unsurprisingly, takes comfort from music. All of a sudden, Rob discovers that karaoke, being both inspiring and ridiculous, helps to find him his voice, despite he still feels empty inside,
Karaoke obsession brings him to most curious places – singing a Frank Sinatra song in a senior-citizen community in Florida or trying a Merle Haggard classic at a cowboy saloon in the Mojave Desert. Eventually, Sheffield finds himself in the best of places where the new life and new love expect for him.
One Nation Under Song: My Karaoke Journey Through Grief, Joy, and America
By Kris Gowen
What now seems a long time ago, in her previous life with a successful career, friends, and business partners, Kris Gowen dreamt of singing karaoke in all fifty states. After her best friend’s death, everything was all downhill: depression, no desire to live, business falling apart. Kris comes back to her dream and realizes that a karaoke journey across the USA is now her life-safer.
With no clear plan but with an urge to sing, Kris started off her 17, 745-mile karaoke road trip through America. She was singing at motels, luxury clubs, and any place she bumped into on her way as long as there was a karaoke system. Kris Gowen was experiencing the country and the people she had nothing in common but love to 1980s tunes. She discovered a whole new world where people are accepted as they are just because they are singing a song they love.
Hit Me with Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide To Karaoke Domination
By Raina Lee
The Karaoke Queen Raine Lee helps the beginner to overcome the stage fright, pick songs that will showcase their singing talent, and master some moves (or disguise the lack of them).
She turns what can be a confusing “rite” into a party nobody wants to leave. This pocket-size guideline on singing is supplied with the lists of best songs for any occasion, tips from karaoke world champions, people singing with their hearts – and it’s gonna rock any party. Are you ready to put on a show?
Cover photo: unsplash.com
