Karaoke comes from the Japanese words
”
kara
”
, meaning
”
empty
”
and
”
oke
”
, meaning
”
orchestra
”
. The idea being that music pumped out of a box with the vocals
muted is kind of like an abandoned symphony hall.
Or something like that.
Karaoke comes from the Japanese words “kara”, meaning “empty” and “oke”, meaning “orchestra”. The idea being that music pumped out of a box with the vocals muted is kind of like an abandoned symphony hall.
Or something like that.
Karaoke is now a world-wide phenomenon practiced by everyone from businessmen to college students to drunks. Especially drunks. Gilroy residents can even order an in-home karaoke party with deejay by calling Carmen Washburn’s mobile karaoke service at (650) 593-3946.
The sing-along party is said to have originated in the mid-1970s in Kobe, Japan. The fashion mecca of the country has been recognized as a source of cultural chic for centuries. In fact, there is a saying in Japan that “all things new come from the west,” a reference to Kobe’s influence on popular culture in Tokyo and beyond.
Japanese homes are often constructed of thin wood, not much of a barrier to noise from the neighbors. Practicing karaoke at home can be a nuisance, so folks who need to get their vox on head to karaoke boxes, like the one portrayed in the 2003 indie film hit “Lost in Translation.” The roadside facilities consist of sound-proofed rooms where you can belt out “Unchained Melody” in complete isolation. Japan has more than 100,000 according to KaraokeKanta.com, an enthusiasts’ Web site. And KaraokeScene.com, an online magazine of all things karaoke, notes that the first box was actually a former freight car which the owners set up in an Okayama rice field in 1984.
Thus far, no karaoke boxes exist in the local area. But if you head up to San Francisco’s Japan Center, on Geary Blvd. between Webster and Fillmore, you’ll find plenty. Make a night of sake and badly sung show tunes. Heck, make a weekend of it – the Miyako Hotel offers luxurious Japanese-style comfort with saunas and hot tubs in some suites.
