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| History Of Karaoke |
| WORD ORIGIN: |
| The Japanese word "Karaoke" is now listed not only in Japanese dictionaries but also in the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary published in England, one of the most distinguished and formal English dictionaries, proving the word has become common throughout the world. Karaoke is a typical form of entertainment for Japanese business people; they drop into a bar with colleagues after work, have a drink, and enjoy singing popular songs to the accompaniment of Karaoke. Karaoke has been entertaining people ever since it's invention 20 years ago, and has become firmly established in Japanese society, going far beyond just a temporary boom. |
| BORN IN KOBE: |
| Karaoke is a Japanese abbreviated compond word : "kara" comes from "karappo" meaning empty, and "oke" is the abbreviation of "okesutura," or orchestra. Usually, a recorded popular song consists of vocals and accompaniment. Music tapes in which only the accompaniment is recorded were named "karaoke." It is now widely recognized that the use of Karaoke started at a snack bar in Kobe City. It is said that when a strolling guitarist could not come to perform at the bar due to illness, the owner of the bar prepared tapes of accompaniment recordings, and vocalists enjoyed singing to the tapes. Even though it is only legend, this might have been the beginning of Karaoke, and since then, Karaoke has been commercialized and has become popular all over Japan. |
| NEW TRENDS COME FROM THE WEST OF JAPAN: |
| There is a saying in Japan that "New trends come from the West of Japan." Japan's first supermarket and sauna were established in the Kansai area, and Kansai has successively created unique businesses and products such as instant noodles and automated ticket gates. Especially among the cities in the Kansai area, Kobe features an original urban atmosphere. There is another saying that "Fashion comes from Kobe." It is said that the fashion of young women is recognized first in Kobe and becomes popular in Tokoyo later, so fashion magazines have to keep an eye on the women in Kobe. Since Kobe port was opened to international trade in 1868, on the eve of the Meiji Restoration, Kobe has been leading the way towards international exchange, and many foreigners have come to live in Kobe. Western-style residences in which foreigners used to live are located in Kitano-cho, where a jazz festival is held every year, showing Kobe to be a mecca for jazz fans. In addition, many foreigners participate in the "Kobe Festival," known for it's parade enlivened with samba rhythems and dance. Such musical leanings lie behind the birth of Karaoke. |
| THE BACKGROUND OF KARAOKE'S POPULARITY: |
| The Japanese like parties. From ancient time, a party became enlivened when someone started singing and the others kept time with hand-clapping, making the atmosphere more cheerful. It has never mattered whether the person sings well or not. Even if he sings out of tune, it can spark laughter and make the party more lively. Having such a custom, the Japanese are generous when they listen to the other people sing, and can easily sing in front of others without feeling reluctance. This also seems to be one of the reasons that Karaoke has been largely accepted in Japanese Society. Karaoke was born in a night amusement quarter at the end of the high economic growth period. Until then, customers used to listen to popular songs via wire broadcasting, request favorite songs by telephone, and the wire broadcasting company put the songs on the air. Such a system continued for quite a while. However it might be unnatural for may Japanese who like singing to only listen to other people sing. It was then that Karaoke appeared in the scene. Holding a microphone and singing a song to the accompaniment of an "orchestra," you can feel all the happier. Karaoke has thus stimulated people's desire to sing. For corporate soldiers living in a stressful society, there is no other entertainment that can make them feel so refreshed. Consequently, Karaoke immediatly spread from Kansai all over Japan. |
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