Karaoke- a “Serious” Form of Entertainment
Fun is a fundamental requirement in life and something that most people don’t spend enough time doing. It is crucial to our overall health to ensure that we actively pursue some of the lighter, more fun areas in our lives to ensure that we are adequately living.
For most people, it is difficult to break free of the day to day responsibilities and find the time to relax and enjoy life. Sleep is often falsely considered adequate relaxation, yet there is a significant honorably mention to going out and having plain unadulterated fun! In our society, entertainment is taking a lower seat on the totem pole as we gear up for more and more productivity. Of course, it would be far more beneficial and healthy for this type of person to break free of the nagging responsibilities and learn to enjoy their free time.
One way that many people try to compensate for adequate rest and relaxation is through passive activities that require only minor attention. Television, sports, theater, or concerts are all forms of passive activities that involve living in alternative situations to imagine ourselves as the characters we watch. This is often a means to escaping ones own troubles and reducing stress, albeit only for the time spent in this activity. However, it is important for us to also active engage in alternative activities to interact in new situations that will help us to grow as individuals. Perhaps the most exciting and satisfying of these to get off our couches and DO something!
There are many things that involve active involvement which will help individuals to self actualize. Going out dancing, traveling to new places (which could be in your own city), swimming, joining a sports team be it baseball, hockey or football, going for a run, playing darts or pool, learning an instrument or playing one you don’t play enough, or going out and enjoying some good old Karaoke!
Most people however do not do enough pushing of their own potential. It can be quite challenging to get started doing something that will make you feel like you are growing as an individual. The interesting thing is that it will typically become quite addictive and pretty soon you will be wanting to do more and more. It is even contagious and many or your peers will find themselves motivated to do more too.
Maybe it’s time to learn how to play an instrument that you always were intrigued with. Bang on some drums or strum a guitar. Dance like a fool and not care what it looks like. Sing the most beautiful, sappy song you know or a rank song that you can enjoy emitting the loudest primal scream possible to man.
Whether you are a good singer or not, Karaoke can be both a lot of fun and a great self motivator to do other things. It will help individuals to build the confidence to get in front of people and cathartic in the sense of being able to sing, scream, yodel or however else you sing! Most places you go are relatively carefree and none judgmental and will applaud you for your courage to get up. In almost all cases, applause and laughter ensues!
It is rumoured to have originated in Japan, from the words kara meaning empty, and oke (okesutora) meaning orchestra. Apparently, a performer failed to show at a venue one night where a crowd had gathered for a performance. The owner of the bar was said to have put on a tape of songs and asked whether anyone would get up and perform. The night turned into such a success that the bar began having frequent shows without performers and it soon spread across Japan and later the world.
Now a days, the technology has become much better. With words being displayed on a TV, indicating timing and rhythm. The song quality is generally much better and the voice track is removed for people to replace with their own renditions. There is a real following and many people are quite passionate about it and are involved weekly.
There is a quality of the stage that enlivens people more than any other place. It is getting up in front of people, putting your ego down and simply singing. For those with immense talent (the minority), it gives them a chance to feel like a star for a night and sing over an amplified system where people are actually listening. In any case, it provides a great opportunity to overcome the fear of being in the spotlight and has done some great things for self actualization in many.
So, although Karaoke is a Japanese word that means ‘empty orchestra”, it translates into ‘fun’ for many people all over the world.
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