Let's face it - you go to a bar, you drink a few beers and you are singing to the song that is playing on the jukebox. When we drink we sing. It's no wonder that we as Americans have loved karaoke from the time we invented it. I mean who would have guessed that anybody but Americans had come up with a way to make a fool of yourself in front of a bunch of your friends while drinking and singing to classic songs. Ahh us Americans!
But your wrong! Karaoke did NOT come from US!?! Wait a minute that can't be right - no body could create crap like that. Karaoke is as much American as burger and fries. Sorry to burst your bubble - that's simply not true.
Say the word to yourself. Kar-a-o-ke. It sure doesn't sound American. If we invented we would call it American Idol. No I am just joking. But seriously, the word itself truly isn't of American origins. Karaoke is a Japanese abbreviated compound word: "kara" comes from "karappo" meaning empty, and "oke" is the abbreviation of "okesutura," or orchestra. Holding a microphone and singing a song to the accompaniment of an "orchestra," you can feel like a professional singer. If other customers give you a big hand, you feel all the happier. Karaoke has thus stimulated people's desire to sing. For that few minutes your on that stage you are the life of the party. You are a superstar. This is the same reason why games like Guitar Hero are popular (and so awesome). We want to feel "special" as my 4th grade teacher used to say. And special you are when you are singing karaoke!
So I guess we never realize that it's not us fat American's that created such a beautiful thing. Hat's off to the Japanese - those interesting folk - for giving us another excuse to make a complete fool out of ourselves and have fun while doing it!
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