Karaoke Forums

I would like thank all the users who took the time to comment on most of the songs from our new to be released CD Vampyre songs posted on SS. I think I am experiencing what some users have called burn out on the Karaoke scene.

There were several users that I have wanted to work with musically to put something together, but so far, nothing has really clicked.

Perhaps, it is something a Karaoke star syndrome. I have been in music a long time and this American Idol thing, the solo singer where there is no sense of "the group" is very sad to me. In fact, I was told once that many "live bands" are being completely replaced by Karaoke in many bars.

I know most of you enjoy the music of of some great groups and there are still a few "groups" out there. I remember the Beatles, and the Dead, and so forth, and even groups like Abba. Then I look at contemporary music and sometimes parts of it is like Teen Beat.

Just as the media has manipulated the minds of "the next generation" with concepts far more dangerous than the "cereal" Saturday morning cartoon brain washing, I feel very much isolated (sings along the tune) in my music.

Several of the female singers who are fairly talented are simply not like talking to Grace Slick in Frisco. I look back at the 80s, which were cool, and those who grew up in their teens in the 80's are now.. well as Tank Girl in her 40s who was a punker star and did not get the big "recording" deal - said what am I going to be like - Mick Jagger who as he approaches 64, John Lennon's when I get older, still leaping on stage, but not quite as high.

So, I have had my moments on SS. I have posted songs that made many people cry, I have put up things that have given a few chills. I have written lyrics that are poetry, as opposed to well alternate. But I sit there, guitar in hand, synth by my side, truly at times a one-man-band and think, what has happened to concept of musician. Have we been reduced to nameless faceless Karaoke tracks where "the Band" doesn't matter.. they are like just backup or studio musicians. Part of performing is playing the music, and I guess that is where the Karaoke burn out part comes in.

Sometimes, I go into deep thought mode, can you tell I am there this morning, and I wonder - as the rappers head down the block here outside the window, what happened to our children's children. I mean, jokingly, at 437, one begins to have a little insight.

I look at people I meet or write with a grandchild on each knee and hear my voice echoing "hey man want to start a rock group?" Well no. They can't do that. They grew up, they have families and responsibilities and children. They can't do a hit album and then head off on tour. Can they? Well thank God for small favors.. some still do.

And the females often have husbands or boyfriends that aren't into their music and either think its dumb or watch them on the computer for hours and now this is odd - the female computer geek.

Maybe I'll write a song about something. A time when people can get younger and go back. But wait, if you could be 18 tomorrow when you are certainly not 18 today, what would happen to your family, your spouse, all of it. I mean like a youth version of love potion #9, you wouldn't fit.

Karaoke has been interesting. There are some very interesting people here and yet there is that lit up circle on stage, where each one steps all alone really, and for a moment the years fade away, and you can be a star.

Maybe I should write a song... yep that is what I should do. Seeya

jvj

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Hugs hon, don't be aloof:)

Hi Jean,

Saw this and wanted to add my 3 cents...

First, this is a Karaoke site, so the solo singer is what it is really all about. I mean, its an entire industry all onto its own. The ordinary person is allowed to  become "the singer in the band" and that has widespread appeal to say the least. Of all the instruments in a band, the very most important is the human voice. There's no GuitarAOKE tracks where all is stripped but the lead guitar for example.  Yet, I think most singers here feel very much like they are part of a band when they sing.

You, myself, and several others have "snuck" onto this site and produce our own stuff. In a few cases, like Alan Moon (DWI40) his tracks were his own band, with actual band members and all. For me I'm grateful to be welcome here as I can't sing straight out Karaoke to save myself.  We should be thankful we get listened to at all!


I'm going to take a shot at what I think you're getting at. I remember a time when a band waz playing, the  focus would shift among the band. There waz the singer singing and focus was there.  Then, the drummer would drum a riff and the focus waz the drummer, the lead gutar player (especially) would have a riff part and would "sing" to the audiance through the guitar, the sax player would have their moment, etc. Then it seemed to dribble down to only the lead guitar player and singer, and now the singer. But just like clothing styles from the 20's get back into style, so will the concept of each part of the band having a focus moment return.

For what I'm doing, there is no question about it, the most important part is the vocals. I don't think its bad, its just the sytle that's out today.

Russ

Actually there is Russ.  Yet the selection is far from extensive. In fact from what I've seen the selection stinks. There is an actual site by that name too, as I recall, "guitaraoke", yet you might be correct insofar as actual lead parts not being isolated and removed. I haven't checked that on this particular site. I personally own a few "guitar Karaoke" tapes. Usually these types of training tapes and cd's that eliminate the musicians track are put together by skilled cover musicians. However sometimes this is not the case.  I do own CD's that have successfully eliminated the lead guitar on songs such as "Sultans of Swing", "Comforably Numb", "Rambling", "I'm going home", etc.  These backing tapes/CD's are the original compositions with the lead guitar removed. There is no ambience or sign of half-assed EQ type removal of the lead track either. There is no discernible lead track.  Perhaps these particular cuts, are cuts where the lead guitar track is very easy to isolate and edit out due to the recording method of these cuts,  not sure about that aspect. Tascam also has a training device that supposedly elimates center-panned guitar from most CD's, yet I've personally never tried any of these guitar session trainers such as the Tascam CDGT, or the comparable bass trainer.

I have some of these tracks.  My boyfriend likes to mess around with them and we've taken them out with us before and the crowd loved it.  It also has the regular karaoke graphics to go along with it.

But so much for that.....Jean...I know what you mean and I guess I'm as guilty as anyone on this subject.  I used to love to go out and listen and dance to the bands but now I enjoy going out to the Karoake and being in the spotlight for a few minutes and listening to the other singers and dancing to their songs.  I never go where there is a band playing anymore.  I just lost interest.  I do love to hear good music on the radio or even watch it on TV and also love to go to concerts but as for going to a club where a local band is playing....It's just not there for me anymore.  Times change and this is just a part of it.  I think there was a time when we thought that the people in the band were the only talented people there were and then Karaoke came out and we found out different.  Karaoke is way for many people who love music to be able to share it.

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SAY IT WITH MUSIC!!!!

I think that the reason karaoke replaces bands in bars has nothing to do with the public wanting it.  It's because it is a lot cheaper for the bar.

Music Minus One has karaoke disks for many instruments, including guitar, but it is mostly classical.
http://www.musicminusone.com/Main/Instr ... ent=guitar

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~Suzanne Lanoue~

That maybe the situation in your area but as I see it the bar makes more money when the patrons are more involved in the entertainment i.e. singing karaoke; which to me, equates with the public wanting it more.  Don't get me wrong, we have some friends in a band and will go to Eureka Springs this fall to hear them play there but although they are great musicians and great people some of our friends are ready about 10:30 - 11:00 to finish the night off at the karaoke joint.  I can't speak for anyone but myself and what I have witnessed but I personally will drink more when I am part of the karaoke crowd.  Usually, if I am just listening to the band I don't drink as much, I sit back and enjoy the music; that is the limit of my participation.

I think the fact that karaoke is less expensive is secondary.  If I were a club owner my assumption would be that the crowd, who participates in the entertainment is going to make me more at the bar, and it costs less!

Susie

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From experience, I can tell you that a major reason there are fewer bands playing today than in the past is because the musicians cant make a decent living playing anymore.  I have a band that consists of 1 lead guitar, 1 rythmn guitar, 1 pedal steel guitar, 1 fiddle player, 1 drummer, and 1 keyboard player.  There are times when I can not take my band with me because the money is not there to pay them for the gig.  Each member needs to be able to make no less than 100 dollars for a couple of hours, more if they play longer. That means, for my band to play, it takes at least 700.00 to hire us then we talk about travel expenses, motels, and food.  Therefore if my band is going to play anywhere that we have to travel more than 100 miles, it is going to cost somebody some money to get us to play.  On the other hand, I can go play by myself, take some tracks from the studio, play my guitar with them, and I can make a lot more money by myself. What I am getting at is an issue of economics.  It is a lot more economically sound to use discs and a guitar than it is to try and pay the band to go play somewhere.  I play a lot of shows where I do just that.  Most of the band is married, has a wife and kids, car payments, house payments, or rent, and they have to make enough money to survive.  The music business is not an easy business.  You can have a lot of desire to make it, but reality hits pretty hard when the bills come in and you have to take care of your family.  My band understands this and most of them have other jobs they rely on first.  We have a regular place we play together as a band and people can count on seeing us there every week.  We get the joy of playing live music and entertaining the crowd that comes to hear us.  We also have a regular gig playing as a band in a concert situation on a monthly basis where we play for around 3,000 people at lest once each month.  When my phone rings, most of the gigs outside of that, I do myself with studio tracks and my guitar.  I do have one big one coming in January when I am going to have the band join me and we are going to be doing a welcome home concert for the local National Guard troops that are scheduled to return from Iraq.  The television stations and country radio stations are supposed to be there to provide coverage.  It will be a free concert because I refuse to be paid for doing this one. The band has agreed to play a free concert with me for this purpose.  I am really excited about it! The reason I have rambled on about my band and music is, not only is it my best example because it happens to me, but to make a point that economics is probably the biggest reason that there are fewer bands playing anymore. It is definitely cheaper to hire a karaoke jockey or even a single person singing act than it is to hire a band.  The kj  and the single performer will make more money in the end, and the bar, or whoever it is that is hiring the entertainment will make more due to lowering overhead. Just my take on the matter. Sorry for rambling!

I have to say that I gave up the music business after the 80's it cost me more time and money in studio time and rehearsals then trying to keep the bands together. I got so disappointed at band members because of their drug addictions that I call it quits. I loved the 80's because it was full of energy. And that is way I got into the music scene. I remember the 70's as well I love the fact that there were many artist out there singing protest songs which brought awareness to what was going on at that time and got people to act against a false war. Now there is a bigger problem and one of the only bands singing about it is Green Day. I try doing my part and I guess I do it karaoke style it's my only outlet here unless there's a protest going on somewhere near. I did have a problem here though when I sub " Peace Train" and my discription was to long. I posted it here in the fourm and it got nuked. I guess it was because it was a political statement and we are not in a democracy here. I will try to sub it again and try to find anything that might be offensive ? I say no more. Hope everything goes well with you out there jvj and hope to get a copy of your CD keep me posted. God Bless!!

wish you the best JVJ!

Well, West Virginia has never really had much of a music scene. Pittsburgh was voted by a few magizines as having the best indy music scene in the country., bunch of BS. People on a small city level want to hear music they are familiar with, not something they have never heard. They want to sing along and have fun. Most bands now days play little or no covers, big mistake, and bring in 0 customers. The bar does not make any money. Good bands that play covers book for $1000 and over and draw a decent croud but Karaoke, they can generally find a guy for $200, around here there is a bunch of cheap KJ's if they wish to go that route $100 or so. and maybe have a little less crowd but the bar makes more money.

The problem is not the bars, not the people, it's the bands.

If you serious about what you do pick up and move to a place that will support you. New York, LA, or London are big music cities where a band can make it with not allready having their foot in the door somehow. I have had many friends try to make it, all should have never quit there day job.

Just to let you know... jvj (my husband), is actually from 'the bay area' in CA. He made a living for something like 30 years playing around SF and SJ. We're not counting on WV to provide a 'music scene'.

And for all of you who have been wondering where we are... we only have sporadic internet access right now. I'm sorry we have been away, but we'll be back once things are straightened out.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Yes, live bands are getting rarer.  I've been in on several bands.  Part of the problem is simple economics, yes.  For the band members, and for the bars.  If you can't bring in the customers and KEEP them there, then the bar isn't selling enough drinks to make it worth their while.

You don't have to be Karaoke in order to get the audience involved.  You know that wireless mic?  Well when the band is doing a song you know everyone knows, the lead singer in the band (if they don't have to drag an instrument with em it's easier) starts walkin around and getting the crowd into the song.  They love it.

Sure, sometimes those customers sound awful, but ya know what, everyone loves it.  Or you sing to an audience member.  They like that too.

I started with Karaoke tracks so I could practice my vocals when not in rehearsal.  I hate singing with the CD - I can't develop my own style that way.  And I don't play an instrument well enough to do it.. so in the early days, we'd make a scratch track sans vocals that I took home and howled to, and now, I use CDG's.  

Original music is a wonderful thing, as well.  I've written songs and poetry and have had them enjoyed.  However, most bar customers just don't wanna hear it.  At least not ALL originals.  They want "FREEbIRD!"  or "SHANIA!" .. they want to dance and they want to sing along, that's all.

Original bands generally do better in venues that are known for them.  Then the folks coming in know they are going to hear new stuff, and that's what they are going there for.  

Keeping musicians in a band, or getting them to attend rehearsals (especially drummers for some reason, in the bands I've been in) is a true pain, I agree, and I haven't even RUN a band.  LOL  I just sing.  But to get there and find you can't rehearse because hardly anyone showed up, that can turn ya off, I know.

Every era has its attractions.  I liked the 80's because that's when I was young and single and dancing, and those songs are where lots of my memories are ... others like their era for the same reasons, and some like an era before or after their prime, and / or for completely different reasons.

I'm sorry to hear you're burned out, but ya know, sometimes stepping away is a good thing, just don't step away tooooo long, it takes no time at all to suddenly find yourself  a has been.   (I don't mean on a Karaoke site of course, I'm talkin music business in general)

Best Wishes!

Teri Jo

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Teri Jo
...May the road rise to meet you... just, not too quickly, and not too hard!