Karaoke calling

Around 2,200 people applied just for Japan. For those who did not qualify, all is not lost as they remain rock stars in an “empty orchestra,” which is the meaning of the Japanese word karaoke.

TOKYO (AFP) — For wannabe professional singers, talent shows like “America’s Got Talent” and “The Voice” are today’s choice stepping stones to superstardom. That’s how ex-nobody Susan Boyle rose to fame in 2009 via the UK edition of “Britain’s Got Talent” where her audition became viral. She is now a certified concert queen with bookings for The Vatican’s Christmas concert next month and an upcoming 2020 tour.

For the thousand others aspiring to become a Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber but could not qualify to step on the glamour stage in front of a packed audience, there is still the old and tested avenue to demonstrate their vocal prowess: karaoke singing.

In the Philippines, karaoke still permeates everyday living amid the popularity of singing microphones and online music as eateries and homes are equipped with modern versions of such sing-along machines for drawing customers or for pastime. Videoke machine assembly, renting and studios are also lucrative enterprises due to the high demand for singing on microphones for parties and relaxation.

In Japan, where the karaoke concept was born around 50 years ago, the tradition lives on not only in nightclubs and bars but through the annual Karaoke World Championships (WKC), where the best karaoke singers from different countries have been competing since 2003.

A total 40 amateur warblers selected from 30,000 entrants vied for the title of WKC champion from 27 to 29 November at Kanda Myoujin Shrine Hall in Tokyo. The selection process for the contest started by Finland differs from country to country, but in Japan the company asked wannabe competitors to upload their singing performances at karaoke parlors, said Kikumi Onchi, an official of Daiichikosho, a Japanese karaoke company backing the event.

“We listened to each one of the songs, selected several singers for regional competitions, and picked the final four singers for the world championships,” Onchi told AFP.

Around 2,200 people applied just for Japan. For those who did not qualify, all is not lost as they remain rock stars in an “empty orchestra,” which is the meaning of the Japanese word karaoke.