Karaoke Forums

Hi

I am new here, and a long time karaoke addict...
On that note, I am entering a contest for a local small rural town fest (kind of like a hometown American Idol thing)...and I am trying to decide on a song, or perhaps try out a new one.  I haven't done a contest in many, many moons and don't know what's hot these days in general.  Also, I am new to the area that the contest is in...seems to be a mix of classic rock and country here, or at least those are the only two kinds of stations we get here.  
So, here's the list of what I already sing....it's kind of an odd mix of genres:
(asterisks are on the ones that I do extremely well...or so I am told)
Fever
That's Life-Frank Sinatra*
Born To Be Wild
I Will Survive
Bring Me Some Water-Etheridge*
Come to My Window
I'm the Only One*
Breathe *
455 Rocket*
I Feel Lucky*
Broken Wing*
Man, I Feel Like a Woman
That Don't Impress Me Much
Then you can tell me goodbye
No One Else On Earth*
Gimme One Reason*
Black Water
Brass In Pocket
Missionary Man
Walkin on Broken Glass
Barracuda*
Magic Man
ROck-n-Roll (Been a long time since I)*
Candy, Every Body Wants (10,000 Maniacs)*
Ballroom Blitz*
Bohemian Rhapsody
Fancy

Oh, and I do ALOT of Pat Benetar-
Heartbreaker*
We Belong*
Hit Me witth YOur Best Shot*
Invincible*
All Fired Up*
Love is a Battlefield*


Ok, so that's that.  Comments, suggestions...PLEASE!!  
Thanks so much!!

PS- the qualifying round for the contest is this Friday, so please help fast if possible!!!

Do a gender-bender.  Sing "You Can Leave Your Hat On," except change it to "You Can Leave Your Boots On."

Ha ha

I love doing gender-benders...and if I knew that song better, it'd be awesome!! I am only vaguely familiar with and won't have enough time to perfect it before this contest, but I am definitely going to add it to my list!!   Thanks!!!!

I'd pick 455 rocket or something else UPBEAT --Current  hit list could be someting by Gretchen Wilson.    In a contest SONG SELECTION is almost as important as Vocal ability --(depending on the juding criteria ) By the way how is this contest judged?  CRowd NOISE or actual judges ?

If there is one thing I know about the contests I have entered, and there have been alot of them, it is that the best singer rarely wins. Usually, it is the best gimick that takes home the prize. If you have any songs that you could get a bit theatrical with, possibly even dress up, I'd go with that one. Of the list you provided, I'd say you could sing FEVER, wear a sequine dress, and maybe even have one or two of your male friends kinda "play courting" you all over the stage while you sing the song. Or memorize the song and jump off the stage and sing it as sexy as you can to the oldest guy in the bar!!

Trust me though, I've seen a girl with a masters degree in vocal performance get beat in a karaoke contest by a 18 year guy old who couldn't carry a tune but did "Secret Agent Man" and ran all ovr the bar doing James Bond tumbles with his fingers in a gun shape. Entertainment always means more than vocal performance in contests!!

_________________
C Mc
KJ, FL

I play for several contests / talent shows a year and also go to several.

Do something upbeat!

NO MARTINA MCBRIDE!  Done too often

That's exactly what I do on Fever...I am not sure that there's any other way to do that one!!  BUT the finals will be held on stage at a small town fest...that said, I don't want to go with anything too terribly suggestive either in lyric or 'performance' because there will be kids there.  I've noticed that a good section of crowd (mom, dad and kids) gets lost with stuff like that at times...then again, who knows around here, I moved from a big city and that's where I usually sing.

455 Rocket is, by far, one of my best songs...my only concern was that musical break, I think it might be slightly too long...but I'll add that to the list of contenders any way!! I'll put the list of contenders is at the end of my messages from here on out.

I, seriously, live in podunk USA...my town is literally eight square blocks and the town hosting the contest is maybe three times that size, if that. Towns here are twenty or so miles apart...separated by corn and soy fields. We're not talking the karaoke event of the year here...oh, and believe it or not, karaoke is VERY new around here...so I really don't think competition will be all that heavy.  So far I haven't seen anyone that can even 'work' the mic.  I am not sure how it's being judged at all.    
The funny thing is that the first song to pop in my head was 'Footloose' cause that's what my town's like...BUT I think people would get the reference and be offended.  We already have segregation between the 'outsiders' and 'lifers' here...and I have managed to break the barrier in other things, so I really don't want ruin that. Honestly, I think the contest will be more a popularity contest, but this area does have a real appreciation for talent and expresses such...so I am thinking, right song, right perfomance might just work here.
Before I forget, one of the only stations we get clearly here is a classic rock one and it is absolutely the best classic rock station I have ever heard...there's something good on everytime you turn it on and you never have to change stations.  Ok, sorry this was soo long, but I thought it might help with the suggestions. Please keep 'em
coming!!!  Thanks again everyone!!!
   CONTENDERS SO FAR:
455 Rocket-Kathy Mattea

All Fired up- Pat Benatar

Heartbreaker-Pat Benetar

Bring Me Some Water-Melissa Etheridge (a little to suggestive maybe, but its my most requested/suggested)

I Feel Lucky ( only cause I can work the town's name, with 'come on and pick me tonight' easily into that song at the 'Hey Dwight, Hey Lyle 'part)

With the final contenders you have selected, I'd go with 455 Rocket (you seem to be leaning towards it anyway) I agree with what was posted earlier that alot of the times the best singers don't win.  I was in a contest where there were 2 awesome singers ( I've heard them before)  but they sang bland songs that didn't showcase their voices, and were so boring (the songs) that your mind wondered while they were singing. They placed very low on the final vote, but I won 2nd and another girl won 1st and what we did different were attention grabbing songs. As far as the musical break: it seems longer to you than the audience, just move around (maybe slap you leg in time to the music, or sway) and look around smiling during it....