GMA Holds Karaoke Marathon
June 28, 2001 -- It's show time on Good Morning America, as the show launches a 24-hour karaoke marathon, live from ABCNEWS' Times Square Studio at 1500 Broadway.
GMA Correspondent Lara Spencer hosts the nonstop singing extravaganza, which continues through Friday morning's show.
Amateur singers and special guests are stepping up to the mike for rousing (and maybe not-so-rousing) renditions of popular songs. Karaoke participants are also serving as judges, holding up cards that give a rating of one to 10 for each performer. They will help pluck five finalists from the crowd of hopefuls vying for a shot at glory.
Friday morning, viewers will be able to log onto ABCNEWS.com to vote for their favorite karaoke singer.
It's not the first time Good Morning America has stayed up all night at the studio. In May, the show led off its "All Night Long" summer series with a 24-hour dance marathon.
And now, the karaoke craze is upon us
Japan's Gift to the World
The word "karaoke" originated in Japan from the words kara meaning "empty" and oke meaning "orchestra". The karaoke machine performs the background music, while the lyrics are spelled out on the screen. The performer reads the lyrics and belts out the tune.
According to one legend, karaoke started rather humbly at a snack bar in the city of Kobe about 30 years ago. A strolling guitarist called in sick, and the quick-thinking bar owner prepared tapes of accompaniment recordings and let his patrons take the stage to sing along.
Since then, it has grown into a commercial enterprise, and karaoke bars sprung up all over Japan, spreading to the rest of Asia, the United States and Europe. Now, most people do not have to go far to take to the stage and sing top karaoke songs like Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" or Patsy Cline's "Crazy."
Almost all CD single releases by Japanese pop stars now include a special "karaoke version," with the vocal taken out of the title track, so enthusiasts can warm up at home before heading to a karaoke bar, or karaoke box, which are small rooms rented by groups of people who want their own private space.
Singing Secrets
There are scores of karaoke Web sites, and author Jeffrey Allen even wrote a book, Guide to Karaoke Confidence, dedicated to perfecting karaoke techniques. Some of his top tips:
Where you practice can be as important as how frequently you practice. Be sure to practice in a place where you feel free to sing out.
The muscles used for sit-ups or leg lifts are the same used to support (or press) air through the cords to bring forth a singer's sound. Some of these exercises, on a regular basis, add power to your overall tone.
When you take a breath for singing — to open the throat — add a yawning feeling as you're about to produce the tone (the beginning of a yawn, to be exact).
Posture is the foundation. Be sure your posture is erect when singing — not a military stance, but comfortably upright. This positions you for maximum support.