The Karaoke Story

Karaoke has its roots in 1970s Japan. The Kobe City port was an international mecca, often referred to as "the gateway of fashion and trend." In fact, instant noodles, automated ticket gates and saunas all stemmed from this region.

Whenever a strolling guitarist canceled a gig, bar owners would bust out accompaniment tapes for their patrons to sing along to, which would up becoming a popular pastime not just in Japan, but around the world. Perhaps it was the suppression of individualism, the pent-up frustrations of working such long hours or the exportation of karaoke around the world that ensured the karaoke party never stopped.

In the 1980s, Pioneer started churning out karaoke songs on laserdisc. Japanese companies like Victor and DKK followed suit to produce English karaoke hits. When CDG karaoke came out, playing accompaniment tracks and bouncing lyrics across TV screens, the karaoke craze had officially hit America.

Hudson marketed one of the earliest mainstream karaoke machines, the "TurboGrafx-16," which sold for $400 and enjoyed a very short shelf life before dying off. In the early nineties, DK Karaoke produced a collection of ninety-nine karaoke hits, containing everything from Bel Biv Devoe to Lenny Kravitz, which became the standard in every venue. Entertainers hired for parties, weddings and other events added karaoke to their rosters, thus solidifying the pastime as a fun party activity.

The popularity of karaoke bars has greatly increased. "For people who don't sing but like to watch, the show has given them a reason to have a drink and stick around for a few hours," says Grant Tucker, a veteran karaoke host in Glendale, California.

Although, the crowd is also more discerning with many more "Simons" than "Paulas," which may send the trend from the public sphere into private living rooms with the advent of Playstation's Karaoke Revolution.

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