Are you Karaoke Queens?? ( or Kings)

[amyj23]

IMHO there are 3 elements to be an entertaining karaoke singer:

1. a decent voice

2. familiarity with the song + lyrics

3. 'stage presence'

 

If someone has 2 out of 3 they're decent to watch. All 3 and its pretty good.

 

With that being said, I finally worked up the nerve to sing a few cruises ago and now I try to get up at least once. Still requires plenty of liquid courage first.:rolleyes:

I disagree with #1. I'm a bad singer. But I have lots of familiarity with the songs/lyrics and have a ton of enthusiasm when I sing. I usually have a huge response after singing because I'm fun. I usually hate watching the people who think they have good voices because they're way too serious. Karaoke is meant to be fun. Half the time, people who think their voices are good, would get ripped apart by Simon. Every once in a while, good singers get up at karaoke and it's actually entertaining. My goal these next two cruises is to get the liquid courage to go up. I hope everyone will enjoy my rendition of Sweet Caroline. If anyone will be on my cruise(s), I hope you cheer me on! :p

[pcb412]

I'll sing with you Peter!! :).. I don't THINK I'm half bad... :D

 

Well, in that case, I guess we're on for a duet. Any thoughts? I have some ideas.

 

I disagree with #1. I'm a bad singer. But I have lots of familiarity with the songs/lyrics and have a ton of enthusiasm when I sing. I usually have a huge response after singing because I'm fun. I usually hate watching the people who think they have good voices because they're way too serious. Karaoke is meant to be fun. Half the time, people who think their voices are good, would get ripped apart by Simon. Every once in a while, good singers get up at karaoke and it's actually entertaining. My goal these next two cruises is to get the liquid courage to go up. I hope everyone will enjoy my rendition of Sweet Caroline. If anyone will be on my cruise(s), I hope you cheer me on! :p

 

I agree with you. You have 2 out of the 3 so by my criteria you'd be entertaining. I don't think a good voice is necessary. A ton of enthusiasm goes a LOONNNNGGGG way in karaoke. My voice is lousy but I know the songs and try to have fun with it.

[amyj23]

Well, in that case, I guess we're on for a duet. Any thoughts? I have some ideas.

 

 

 

I agree with you. You have 2 out of the 3 so by my criteria you'd be entertaining. I don't think a good voice is necessary. A ton of enthusiasm goes a LOONNNNGGGG way in karaoke. My voice is lousy but I know the songs and try to have fun with it.

 

Too bad you're not cruising with me. You could have cheered me on!

[flatman]

I just got off the Carnival Freedom and after years of hosting karaoke and not being half bad myself, I had the great fortune of meeting Brad and Tammy from Chicago on cruise critic who told us on a roll call forum that she was pretty good and after meeting them and hearing her, I have to say I was blown away. The entire ship was blown away. Tammy sang a Whitney Houston song and nailed it. Then her and Brad got up and did an Ike and Tina version of Proud Mary. Slow at first, then kicked it, and a standing ovation was ineveitable. Ya know I love to sing and have been told I'm not bad, but when I watch people like Tammy I get really happy to have been there to talk about it.

[Magic City Cruiser]

IMHO there are 3 elements to be an entertaining karaoke singer:

1. a decent voice

2. familiarity with the song + lyrics

3. 'stage presence'

 

If someone has 2 out of 3 they're decent to watch. All 3 and its pretty good.

 

I agree, EXCEPT, I think #3 should be #1! I cruise every year on a "girl's cruise". :D We range in age from 33 to 60. Two of us have good voices and are karaoke pros. The rest of us love to cheer them on and dance when they sing. One of them is also an actor in community theatre, like me. Though she has a nice voice, what she lacks in vocal ability she makes up for in spades with "stage presence"! We're teaching our other singer that important lesson. I'd MUCH rather listen to someone with a not so good voice who was up there, having a good time (but, indeed, knew the song) and "working the crowd"! Nothing gets on my nerves on Cruise Karaokes than those divas with a beautiful voice who get up there and sing a bunch of songs but never look at anyone in crowd or even acknowledge applause or shout outs. I'm there, in the audience, to have a GOOD TIME, not listen to a real pretty song! Pretty songs are great, but you're "performing" and I don't think you should forget your audience!

I love being the center of attention but can't carry a tune in a bucket. I let the "singers" have their fun but I'll usually pull out my signature song during a cruise "Harper Valley PTA" or "Kawliga". It's soooo bad it's funny but I have the crowd stomping and cheering all the way through :p.

We've got 10 this year and we're already planning to have a group "signature song"! Most of us can't sing so the strong singers will carry the song and the rest of us will be "choreagraphed". We can't wait!

[Magic City Cruiser]

I disagree with #1. I'm a bad singer. But I have lots of familiarity with the songs/lyrics and have a ton of enthusiasm when I sing. I usually have a huge response after singing because I'm fun. I usually hate watching the people who think they have good voices because they're way too serious. Karaoke is meant to be fun. Half the time, people who think their voices are good, would get ripped apart by Simon. Every once in a while, good singers get up at karaoke and it's actually entertaining. My goal these next two cruises is to get the liquid courage to go up. I hope everyone will enjoy my rendition of Sweet Caroline. If anyone will be on my cruise(s), I hope you cheer me on! :p

 

Me and my girls would LOVE you, sweetie!

[wakeuptotheday]

on any given cruise- i WILL be at the karaoke/piano bar. I love it! I was in the legends show on my last cruise- can't wait til my one coming up in a week! I go to karaoke every week with friends- love it!

[StinkyFeesh]

I'm planning something for a surprise for my wife on our next cruise this summer and I was wondering about the karaoke so it's kinda funny this topic came up.

 

I'm curious if I can expect the karaoke song selection to be the same company wide? Perhaps it's like buying software licenses within a company and one provider did all the karaoke for all the ships? For this to work I need a song to be available. I saw it was on the Pride, now I just to be sure it is on the Freedom too. And also, I've never done karaoke before.

[Crazy4Koko]

Well, in that case, I guess we're on for a duet. Any thoughts? I have some ideas.

 

 

 

I agree with you. You have 2 out of the 3 so by my criteria you'd be entertaining. I don't think a good voice is necessary. A ton of enthusiasm goes a LOONNNNGGGG way in karaoke. My voice is lousy but I know the songs and try to have fun with it.

 

 

Bring it on honey... whatcha got?

[gapearl]

I did karaoke for the first time on the Fantasy. I sounded a hot mess, but you couldn't tell me I wasn't rockin'! I sang Billie Jean, Independent Women (Destiny's Child), Hit Me Baby One More Time, and BF and I did Ike & Tina's Proud Mary. They didn't have Single Ladies or my favorite Madonna song (Hung Up) so I'm hoping for those on the next cruise. Check out the attachments to see me in action.

[flatman]

IMHO there are 3 elements to be an entertaining karaoke singer:

1. a decent voice

2. familiarity with the song + lyrics

3. 'stage presence'

 

If someone has 2 out of 3 they're decent to watch. All 3 and its pretty good.

 

I agree, EXCEPT, I think #3 should be #1! I cruise every year on a "girl's cruise". :D We range in age from 33 to 60. Two of us have good voices and are karaoke pros. The rest of us love to cheer them on and dance when they sing. One of them is also an actor in community theatre, like me. Though she has a nice voice, what she lacks in vocal ability she makes up for in spades with "stage presence"! We're teaching our other singer that important lesson. I'd MUCH rather listen to someone with a not so good voice who was up there, having a good time (but, indeed, knew the song) and "working the crowd"! Nothing gets on my nerves on Cruise Karaokes than those divas with a beautiful voice who get up there and sing a bunch of songs but never look at anyone in crowd or even acknowledge applause or shout outs. I'm there, in the audience, to have a GOOD TIME, not listen to a real pretty song! Pretty songs are great, but you're "performing" and I don't think you should forget your audience!

I love being the center of attention but can't carry a tune in a bucket. I let the "singers" have their fun but I'll usually pull out my signature song during a cruise "Harper Valley PTA" or "Kawliga". It's soooo bad it's funny but I have the crowd stomping and cheering all the way through :p.

We've got 10 this year and we're already planning to have a group "signature song"! Most of us can't sing so the strong singers will carry the song and the rest of us will be "choreagraphed". We can't wait!

 

Lol. If I am in the crowd I will definetely be your biggest fan.

[Magic City Cruiser]

 

Lol. If I am in the crowd I will definetely be your biggest fan.

Triumph, October 11. The JSCruisers will most DEF be the talk of Cruise Karaoke!! Yall come!:D

[dac61]

Want to clear a room quickly..... Let me sing LOL Not enough booze on the ship to make this happen!!!;)

[baseballmom2]

So I saw someone mention they wanted to sing "Sweet Caroline", and I know that it is a very popular karaoke song but I was just wondering why??? I know this might be a "why is the sky blue" question but I don't think I've ever been to karaoke when it HASN'T been sung, and usually it is sung multiple times! Is it because of the audience participation factor? Am I just too young and I don't "get it"? Either way, its starting to grow on me! :)

[littlesnit]

StinkyFeesh,

I'm not positive, but I don't think any cruise line puts that much thought into their karaoke shows. If they did, IMO, they would make sure the host/hostess was top notch at each and every show. Some hosts may even have some of their own discs which they may make available at the shows they run.

 

You could use a search engine to find a karaoke company which sells CDGs (CD with graphics) and find the song you're looking for. I bought most of mine from a company whose title has to do with 50's music ;). I also bought a lot from that auction site (notice I'm trying not to use actual web site names here.) The company I use has free shipping and you would be able to get an individual song (if available) for 5 bucks or a conglomerate disc for about 20. Then take your own disc to use and hope they haven't switched over to computerized karaoke yet. The CDGs also play on regular CD players (audio only) so you could practice beforehand if you wanted to.

 

If the song is really popular, there's a good chance they would have it onboard, but discs get damaged, so even if they have it one week, they might not the next.

 

Hope this helps.

[DanJ]

I did karaoke for the first time on the Fantasy. I sounded a hot mess, but you couldn't tell me I wasn't rockin'! I sang Billie Jean, Independent Women (Destiny's Child), Hit Me Baby One More Time, and BF and I did Ike & Tina's Proud Mary. They didn't have Single Ladies or my favorite Madonna song (Hung Up) so I'm hoping for those on the next cruise. Check out the attachments to see me in action.

 

Very impressed to see a Sound Choice logo on the screen behind you. As anyone who has been around karaoke for any length of time knows, Sound Choice are amongst the best reproductions out there. Most of the cruise ships I have been on have had lesser quality brands like Music Maestro, Top Hits and some no-name brands. When they buy discs, they buy in bulk, so they go for cheap in a lot of cases. Which works in their situation with a captive audience there for a week. A guy running karaoke in a bar a couple times a week won't survive with the kind of music the ship's generally have.

[SkyMaster]

 

I'm curious if I can expect the karaoke song selection to be the same company wide? Perhaps it's like buying software licenses within a company and one provider did all the karaoke for all the ships? For this to work I need a song to be available. I saw it was on the Pride, now I just to be sure it is on the Freedom too. And also, I've never done karaoke before.

 

Oddly enough, NOPE! It seems every ship has a different selection of music available. Some of the newer ships have switched to solid state music, and don't even have the CD+G disks available. (Although I'm told that they still have the ability to play these disks.) I've been told that it's up to the karaoke host/hostess to keep the music, and books updated and available for the public. I agree with someone above who stated that they don't seem to have a lot of "really dedicated" karaoke host/hostess who take good care of the music and books. That seems odd to me, because karaoke is usually VERY popular aboard Carnival ships.

Hope your surprise works out, and you're a BIG hit with not only your wife, but the rest of the karaoke crowd. It's a lot of fun!

 

"SKY"

[flatman]

StinkyFeesh,

I'm not positive, but I don't think any cruise line puts that much thought into their karaoke shows. If they did, IMO, they would make sure the host/hostess was top notch at each and every show. Some hosts may even have some of their own discs which they may make available at the shows they run.

 

You could use a search engine to find a karaoke company which sells CDGs (CD with graphics) and find the song you're looking for. I bought most of mine from a company whose title has to do with 50's music ;). I also bought a lot from that auction site (notice I'm trying not to use actual web site names here.) The company I use has free shipping and you would be able to get an individual song (if available) for 5 bucks or a conglomerate disc for about 20. Then take your own disc to use and hope they haven't switched over to computerized karaoke yet. The CDGs also play on regular CD players (audio only) so you could practice beforehand if you wanted to.

 

If the song is really popular, there's a good chance they would have it onboard, but discs get damaged, so even if they have it one week, they might not the next.

 

Hope this helps.

 

The last time I saw Carnival put any real effort into Karaoke was in April 2008 on the Imagination. I can't remember the hosts name but he was really good and filled up the dead time wonderfully with his great voice.

[gapearl]

Very impressed to see a Sound Choice logo on the screen behind you. As anyone who has been around karaoke for any length of time knows, Sound Choice are amongst the best reproductions out there. Most of the cruise ships I have been on have had lesser quality brands like Music Maestro, Top Hits and some no-name brands. When they buy discs, they buy in bulk, so they go for cheap in a lot of cases. Which works in their situation with a captive audience there for a week. A guy running karaoke in a bar a couple times a week won't survive with the kind of music the ship's generally have.

 

I'm glad to know they have good equipment. Since it was my first time I didn't know good from bad. I just grabbed the mic and started singing. Even though she didn't have the 2 songs I wanted, I was very impressed with her selection. She had music from every genre and lots of it.

[Starz723]

Im a professional vocalist. I make a living out of singing. Im lucky and blessed and have been doing it for a very long time. I work every weekend entertaining and when I was younger I toured with my band. Ive sung on the best stages, even Broadway.

 

I have such fun at Karaoke. I get so many people come over to me and say..Wow, you should do this professionally. LOL. then I tell them all I do for a living. By the end of the cruise I have a fan club. I wish I could bring my own CD's of tunes they dont have, but they wont let you do that. Some of the songs Id like to sing are not in my key thats the problem with Karaoke for me. But, I can usually find a couple in my register.

 

There are alot of good singers. The legends show is fun too, but they need to get new legends.

 

I hope some of you will be on my forthcoming cruise!! Ill see you in the karaoke lounge for sure.

[2ndcruiser-destiny]

I sing on every cruise...i have no vocal training...lol. However,i love to enjoy myself and entertain people. So i usually get up there with one of my cruise buddies and we sing a couple of songs. Last cruise we turned the piano bar into impromptu karaoke.

 

I enjoy listening to good singers but i'm there to have fun if i wanted to see the next American Idol I would turn to Fox LOL.

[pcb412]

Too bad you're not cruising with me. You could have cheered me on!

 

I'll cheer for you anyway. Enjoy your upcoming B2B.

[pcb412]

Bring it on honey... whatcha got?

 

Game on!

 

Some of the duets that I've enjoyed watching other people perform and wanted to try myself are 'Don't go breaking my heart' and 'You're the one that I want.' I'm no Elton John or Travolta (which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned) but that won't stop me from taking a shot at it. As a solo, I've done 'King of the road' and 'That's Life' (gotta love Frank for karaoke).

[littlesnit]

Hi Marge,

I had no trouble using my own discs on the Triumph last Sept. Leanne was very nice about it, even apologetic that they didn't have a pitch changer on the system in the lounge. They did have one at the afternoon show at the casino stage, and she said she wished they would update the system they used in the lounge. (Again, karaoke unfortunately not a priority for the cruise lines.) Sometimes there is a pitch changer and the host doesn't know about it. I've shown at least 3 hosts on ships how to use that function.

 

I'm sailing on the Pride this fall and since I've updated all my own equipment, I can now make discs of my favorite songs in my keys. Maybe you can find a local karaoke DJ to do the same for you before you cruise.

 

Happy sailing,

[Starz723]

I have a few cd's of tracks I use with my band.. Ill bring them..Just in case.

 

When I was on the Carribean Princess last year, they were able to bring down the key when I sang "Somewhere" from west side story. VanBasco has a great online karaoke player where you can upload midi files and change the key and tempo.