It’s powerful enough to cause people to remove it from their songbooks. And trigger people to kill.

“The trouble with ‘My Way,’ ” said Mr. Gregorio, “is that everyone knows it and everyone has an opinion.”

Others, noting that other equally popular tunes have not provoked killings, point to the song itself. The lyrics, written by Paul Anka for Mr. Sinatra as an unapologetic summing up of his career, are about a tough guy who “when there was doubt,” simply “ate it up and spit it out.” Butch Albarracin, the owner of Center for Pop, a Manila-based singing school that has propelled the careers of many famous singers, was partial to what he called the “existential explanation.”

“ ‘I did it my way’ — it’s so arrogant,” Mr. Albarracin said. “The lyrics evoke feelings of pride and arrogance in the singer, as if you’re somebody when you’re really nobody. It covers up your failures. That’s why it leads to fights.”

More fascinating is that in the Philippines, karaoke bar employ gay men as the “guest relations officers” to mediate disputes between male patrons. They’re neutral forces because they don’t compete for female attention.

Via NYT.

The Poo Families

Scott Louie just had to do it.

Ever want to know where the people with your surname live? Type it in here and you can see biggest concentration of your clan.

The Lee Families

“Lee” might be concentrated in California and New York, but the key is to enter something other than what you’d think is a name. For instance, people with the last name “Karaoke” live in California, Oregon, and Florida but mostly Hawaii. There must be some powerful singers there if they’re brave enough to make “Karaoke” their last name.

The Karaoke Families

Via Real Tomato.

Karaoke Around the World: Global Technology, Local Singing but at $160 I’d rather experience a few nights of debauchery instead. Like this one:

However, the very global chapter titles include “Karaoke in Italy,” “Swedish forms of karaoke,” and “Karaoke and Middle Aged Woman in Japan.” Dying to know!

Truly the city that never sleeps, Vegas the place for unabashed celebration or sad song crooning. If you’re heading over to Vegas anytime soon, check out the low-key karaoke at the Imperial Palace, which I heard about on Karaoke Scene’s radio show. Like any gambling, buffer mongering Chinese family, that’s where we were headed for the holidays. I dragged my aunt and cousins through the maze– up a side escalator and through the aisle of Dealtertainers, celebrity impersonating dealers who perform Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, and Lady Gaga– to get there.
The IP lounge is a cozy corner on the second floor where they serve $5 pitchers. You peruse the songbooks on the back wall and sit at one of the high cocktail tables. I’m sure Vegas hosts some great locals haunts, but the IP is for out of towners and is conveniently located on the strip. It’s the place to go be when you lose your big bucks at the Bellagio and to mingle with the common people.

On the Wednesday we went, the average song wait time wasn’t bad– about 30 minutes. On stage, you have a coatrack of props such as boas and cowboy hats that give you that extra flair when you’re singing Garth Brookes. My family took full advantage of this because we like to accessorize.

And take shots, as a family.

Here’s this rowdy Filipino family who sat next to us. They told us we were honorary Filipino because we could sing. Thanks guys!

Not that I need it to be Christmas to sing my fave karaoke song, All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey, but this seemed to go over well at the bar. Check out my Star Wars T-shirt dress from H&M which is favorite karaoke outfit right now.

Monica gets singer of the week since she’s not afraid to get down and dirty. Much props!

So I’m trying to spend the credit I accrued from some bad holiday purchase at Urban and I come across this. Srsly, what kind of “friends don’t let friends sing karaoke”? Let me tell you– really boring ones.

I’m very grateful Urban carried my book and all but stop pouring the haterade!

They really do have this at karaoke.

I could listen to this on endless repeat in my teenage bedroom.

Or at least stand in the same room as her! I just got word that I’ll be going to a pre-Grammys celebrity karaoke party tomorrow, with acts like Miley Cyrus, Kanye, Mariah, Black Eye Peas, and maybe Rihanna. It’s going to be hosted by Aubry Fisher of L.A. Ink. The one rule?

“Each musician singing and participating cannot be allowed to sing their own song.”

Mariah singing Miley? Will.I.Am singing GNR? I really hope so.

Awesome tulle skirt and the combination of leather and lace! Reminds me of what Phoebe Cates would have worn in Lace.