- IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students from one of the several schools which showed up at the Tuff Gong studios for the Bob Marley 60th birthday celebrations participate in the Bob Marley karaoke competition on the Gong's birthday last year.
Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
KARAOKE HAS carved out a niche in the Jamaican entertainment market and, with shows held at many venues, continues to grow from strength to strength.
The word 'karaoke' comes from the Japanese words 'kara', which means empty, and 'oke'(short for okesutora), which means orchestra. Karaoke tracks only have the music. The vocals are provided by someone who follows the lyrics from a screen or book.
Widely accepted to have originated in Kobe, Japan, from its early beginnings with tape recordings karaoke moved on to CDs, finally incorporating videos and graphics along with on-screen text prompts for those unsure of the song words. Home karaoke sets are also available.
Over the last decade, Jamaican entertainment venues and hotels have capitalised on the popularity of karaoke. What makes it fun is that even though the person singing isn't always very good (and isn't expected to be), they are applauded.
KARAOKE WEEK
The number of places in Jamaica offering karaoke continues to grow. Among the popular, regular venues are the Hilton hotel, Peppers Night Club and Carlos' Café, Indies, Headley's Passero Lounge and Backyaad, all in Kingston and St. Andrew, and many hotels outside the Corporate Area. The outdoor events are usually free.
The karaoke week starts off on Sunday night at Peppers on Waterloo Road. It has been running for approximately eight years. Coupled with the karaoke are pool and drinks, available at another section of the club.
"The turnout is excellent. It started in small numbers and then it became popular. The people sing all types of songs. It's a mixture of people that come and sing. Karaoke is all about fun. Even artistes like Richie Stephens, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and Diana King have passed through," said Nandu Kurup, general manager of Peppers.
Mr. Kurup said although professional artistes 'pass through', his karaoke is also for everyone. "Youngsters, newcomers and person from overseas come to the karaoke as well. It's not strictly for the big singers," Kurup said.
CROSS-SECTION OF PATRONS
In case you missed Peppers on Sunday night, on Monday karaoke is on at Headley's Passero Lounge, Holborn Road, New Kingston. This seven-month-old event starts at 9:30 p.m. and attracts a wide cross-section of patrons. "I get a good turnout for karaoke. I see a lot of people, even big men, perform at the karaoke sessions and they enjoy it as well," said Headley Brown Jr. of Headley's Passero.
If the first day of work was too tiring and you were unable to make Headley's, there is Backyaad on Constant Spring Road the following day. Karaoke kicks off at around 9:30 p.m., hosted by Quacky.
HOT SPOTS
Holborn Road comes alive with karaoke once more on Thursday at the Indies Pub and Grill. The singing starts at 8:30 p.m. "The crowd is on and off. People who follow up karaoke are always here and, of course, the people who come to Indies Pub and Grill," said Yaquema Sewell, the hostess for the venue.
On Friday, the end of the work week for many, Carlos' Café and the Hilton hotel are hot spots for very exciting karaoke and karaoke fans. Carlos' Café started hosting karaoke night six years ago. It starts at 9:00 p.m. and finishes at about 1:00 am. Carlos' Café also has pool tables, a bar and food.
"It has a tremendous following; it has been very good. People take it so seriously that sometimes they walk with their own CDs. Some people go to every karaoke from night to night. It has a serious following like that," said Carlos Max-Brown of Carlos' Café.
Starting at 7:00 p.m. and finishing at 10:30 p.m., the Hilton's poolside karaoke show is hosted by Jenny Jenny. Karaoke has been going on at the Hilton for over eight years and the crowd support continues to grow.
Kurup believes that Jamaica's singing culture makes the karaoke business viable. "A lot of people who come here get relaxation. In Jamaica everybody is just like singers and deejay, so the numbers increase every night," said Kurup.
"Jamaica has a lot of raw talent. There is a lot of raw talent but some people take it too seriously, like they are artistes and not raw talent. Overall, it's a lot of fun. They enjoy singing and people keep coming," said Max-Brown.
Despite Kurup and Max-Brown's optimism, a representative of Mega Star karaoke believes the market has become saturated.
"The karaoke business is becoming too competitive. There are too many people in it, so people have so many choices where to go. When we started karaoke in Jamaica about nine or 10 years ago at Devon House, there weren't so many places so the providers would make money from people buying at the bars," he said.
PROVIDING SERVICE
Mega Star also did karaoke at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Market Place and at Peppers, before the owners of Peppers bought their own equipment. Mega Star provides the system for many karaoke events, including those at the Hilton and the Indies Pub and Grill, as well as some north coast hotels.
The music library is an important element in the karaoke set. "The library is affordable. You have to keep adding things, Jamaican people want the newest songs. People will sing North American old songs too, and people laugh, so it's fun," said Max-Brown. However, the people at Mega Star say in order to have everybody's favourite song, the library can be costly.
This is part of the reason why, according to a representative of Mega Star, it is not profitable for the venues to purchase the equipment. And, furthermore, the complete karaoke equipment is very expensive. According to the Mega Star representative, the projector alone costs US$5,000. Then there is the amplifier, screen, microphone and the speakers.
EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT
The screen, speakers, amplifiers and karaoke disc player are available in Jamaica. However, the authentic karaoke disc player is very expensive and some people have to use the alternative, the karaoke DVD player, which does practically the same job.
Still, more persons are getting into karaoke. Carlington Williams from Mega Star does karaoke jobs on his own at a car wash on Holborn Road on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m., and at Savannah Plaza, Constant Spring Road, on Sundays at 8:00 p.m.
"Very soon I'll have more locations. Karaoke is big in Jamaica now. It has been growing and is very popular. Karaoke fans follow karaoke all over. It's growing because it goes well with the bars and clubs. Karaoke night is normally one of the best nights at a club," said Williams.
People sing at karaoke session for various reasons.
"For me, I have always loved singing ever since I was a little girl. Unfortunately, I became practical and put my dreams on hold to pursue a career and a family life. However, it is still in my blood and so karaoke is my way of venting while partially fulfilling my dream," said Zaqkeisha Lee, a regular patron at the Carlos' Café's karaoke night. She adds that karaoke is all about fun.
"Karaoke is for those who may or may not have talent in singing and who are secretly wishing to become singing sensations. Karaoke provides an outlet for people who just want to relax and have fun," said Zaqkeisha.
