I watch the clock, it’s 12 A.M.
The server’s so far from where we’ve been
I got my notes, I got my cut-paste too
I got to get ready to make sure I post through
I type the words and make a stupid joke
I kinda like it in my top place post
Make some crack about how Ruth is drunk
(or how she wish she really was drunk as a skunk)
‘Cause
Songs last for so long
Even after you’ve bombed
And I know that these songs suck
And soon you’ll be stuck
With a hefty bill
And I…
There is but the scoring has no consistency. And to top it off, the world is divided into those that automatically subtract a couple of thousand points from the way they hear their own singing and those that automatically add a couple of thousand points to their perception of their performance.
I say all this as an expert with no experience at karaoke.
“Dragostea Din Tei” by O-Zone (Numa numa song) and “I’m Not Okay” by My Chemical Romance. However, I once got my coworkers to do a group sing on “Bohemian Rhapsody” and it was amazing.
RassilonTDavros
Anyone who claims large crowds of people spontaneously bursting into song in a musical is “unrealistic” has clearly never started singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in public.
TheStranger
Can confirm. The DJ played it at my wedding last summer and the dance floor erupted in impromptu sing-along.
I’m probably dating myself, but my go to is “Taxi” by Harry Chapin. (As my sister commented after hearing me sing it, “Sad songs make him (referring to me) so happy.”
Whole Lotta Love Dred Zeppelin version, performed by a 300 pound Jamaican Elvis impersonator. My version is a little lighter both in skin tone and in weight.
I agree. Do you think it reminds her of her parents and how she feels her life fell apart without them? That is what I was getting from it. Or do you think it reminds her of Billie and her regrets over letting her go?
I could probably make a more accurate guess if I looked up the rest of the lyrics, but I am very tired.
It’s a post-breakup song. It’s about the singer going about her daily life and things seem like they should be normal – getting better, even, in some ways – but she’s just shuffling through life half-awake, and it’s somehow all wrong without the person she’s missing.
“I go about my business, I’m doing fine
Besides, what would I say if I had you on the line?
Same old story, not much to say
Hearts are broken every day…”
Plain Marie
Similar tone: “I ain’t missing you” by John Waite.
“And there’s a storm that’s raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
And I ain’t missing you at all
Since you’ve been gone away
I ain’t missing you
No matter what my friends say”
Heh, I’ll explain since it’s not that well-known yet, I think. There’s this videogame series formerly called “Yakuza”, now called “Like a Dragon”. The main protagonist is Kazuma Kiryu, a stoic and noble guy who keeps doing the right thing despite constant personal cost. And over the course of the last 7ish games/20 RL years, he’s seen a lot of loved ones get hurt and/or die.
The game series is also known for having tons of minigames, one of which is karaoke with your protagonists. And it’s standard now for these songs to include little videos in the background while the singer, as well as for half of these songs to be bangers while the other half are heartbreakers. So basically, it’s a deeply nostalgic and heartrending experience to listen to Kiryu sing about heartbreak and lost opportunities, because just in case you’d forgotten about the events of the first few games, the background movie very pointedly reminds you.
I don’t really fully appreciate the Japanese experience of karaoke, but it does seem to be an opportunity for someone incredibly composed and stone-faced to let loose with the deep pain they’ve been carrying for decades. And the voice actors do a fantastic job conveying it.
I was gonna ask that too. The only karaoke place I know of was at an arcade and it was not private at all.
HueSatLight
There apparently was a Japanese restaurant in Bloomington where you could rent a karaoke room, but they permanently closed after covid. Also plausible for the school to have a private karaoke room.
Had she not realized how the song would sound until she got through it?
Did she pick it specifically for Jennifer and bail when it didn’t get the reaction she wanted?
ya, a lot of times people don’t think about the lyrics of songs past the memorable line in the chorus. Which is how you get a song about break-up sex at wedding receptions.
Discussion (181) - “Dreams last”
Ana Chronistic
I watch the clock, it’s 12 A.M.
The server’s so far from where we’ve been
I got my notes, I got my cut-paste too
I got to get ready to make sure I post through
I type the words and make a stupid joke
I kinda like it in my top place post
Make some crack about how Ruth is drunk
(or how she wish she really was drunk as a skunk)
‘Cause
Songs last for so long
Even after you’ve bombed
And I know that these songs suck
And soon you’ll be stuck
With a hefty bill
And I…
got bored of this
LynziGraye
A+, perfect comment.
True Survivor
Seconded.
Savail
Are you ever not awesome?
Kaiyalai
One trillion points.
…There’s scoring in karaoke, right?
Mark
There is now!
Clif
There is but the scoring has no consistency. And to top it off, the world is divided into those that automatically subtract a couple of thousand points from the way they hear their own singing and those that automatically add a couple of thousand points to their perception of their performance.
I say all this as an expert with no experience at karaoke.
Felis Dee
I like the Joyce icon that went with this – like, angry singing Jewel is totally a thing .
NGPZ
*plays “Circle of Life” from Lion King Soundtrack CD on karaoke system*
NGPZ
Anyone wanna drop their favorite karaoke songs while we at it? ^^
sultryglebe
“Dragostea Din Tei” by O-Zone (Numa numa song) and “I’m Not Okay” by My Chemical Romance. However, I once got my coworkers to do a group sing on “Bohemian Rhapsody” and it was amazing.
RassilonTDavros
Anyone who claims large crowds of people spontaneously bursting into song in a musical is “unrealistic” has clearly never started singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in public.
TheStranger
Can confirm. The DJ played it at my wedding last summer and the dance floor erupted in impromptu sing-along.
Max
Tequila. Easy to remember. And you can do the Pee Wee Herman dance.
Queen Anthai
My go-to songs are Smashing Pumpkins “Today,” Hole “Celebrity Skin,” or Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
Bicycle Bill
I think I already mentioned that I will do ‘Marijuanaville’ (a parody version of Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Margaritaville’) at the drop of the proverbial hat.
NGPZ
How have I never heard of that song until now?!?!?!
Colineo
Time is Running Out by Muse.
Disastroid
Only ever done it twice, but it was Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” and David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”.
morleuca
Malfunction by Steam Powered Giraffe
Needfuldoer
Nope. Two problems:
– I’m way too self-conscious
– My taste in music (mostly prog rock) is nowhere near my vocal range (Darius Rucker with a head cold).
Hof1991
Johnny Cash. I can fit in that range. That is, I do not really have a singing voice but I can growl. Folsom prison blues. Hurt.
Alan in DC
“LIFE IS A ROCK” by Reunion.
Even after five drinks, I can still knock that one out of the park.
Steve C
I’m probably dating myself, but my go to is “Taxi” by Harry Chapin. (As my sister commented after hearing me sing it, “Sad songs make him (referring to me) so happy.”
Abel Undercity
I killed with the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” at karaoke once.
Once.
Mr D
Parte del Aire, by Fito Paes. The Euforia version, specifically.
Opus the Poet
Whole Lotta Love Dred Zeppelin version, performed by a 300 pound Jamaican Elvis impersonator. My version is a little lighter both in skin tone and in weight.
Essex
“blitzkrieg bop” by The Ramones
“This Year” by The Mountain Goats
“Everything About You” by Ugly Kid Joe
Kelibath
White Flag (or anything really!) by Dido.
I have a breathy, slightly wavery voice, mainly due to health complaints.. but it works incredibly well for her songs
Roborat
Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson.
Jeff K!
My go-tos:
“Be Prepared”
“My Way”
“Gaston”, when I have a partner
“In the Dark of the Night”
Oh, and “One Week” when I feel like showing off speed.
Please note that I’m usually wearing a cape and big brimmed hat, which aids with villain songs.
Synnerman
“Wig in a Box” and “Midnight Radio” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch
“Out Here On My Own” from Fame
“All Time High” from Octopussy
Mark
Twice now I’ve read that as “Late Nite Radio” (John Denver) which is probably not at all the same.
Warcodered
Song seems oddly character specific.
Thag Simmons
Yeah that tends to be how you write a karaoke scene in a story
True Survivor
I agree. Do you think it reminds her of her parents and how she feels her life fell apart without them? That is what I was getting from it. Or do you think it reminds her of Billie and her regrets over letting her go?
I could probably make a more accurate guess if I looked up the rest of the lyrics, but I am very tired.
Thag Simmons
Considering that the next lines she didn’t sing are “You were meant for me and I was meant for you” I’d assume this is about Jennifer.
miz
It’s a post-breakup song. It’s about the singer going about her daily life and things seem like they should be normal – getting better, even, in some ways – but she’s just shuffling through life half-awake, and it’s somehow all wrong without the person she’s missing.
“I go about my business, I’m doing fine
Besides, what would I say if I had you on the line?
Same old story, not much to say
Hearts are broken every day…”
Plain Marie
Similar tone: “I ain’t missing you” by John Waite.
“And there’s a storm that’s raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
And I ain’t missing you at all
Since you’ve been gone away
I ain’t missing you
No matter what my friends say”
anon
great for the ppl who make ‘chara playlists’ for ppl on yt lol
tho i wonder how many stereotypically canadian songs a karaoke machine would have lol
Needfuldoer
Any good karaoke machine should have at least a couple Rush songs.
Imogen
Ruth, you picked the song. You knew this would happen.
anon
Sometimes regret is a delayed effect , at least she’s not singing “shots shots shots” 8D;
Archieve
Judging by Jennifer’s expression it looks like Ruth isn’t the only one experiencing delayed regret from that song.
Smallmoon
Tequila may be an equally bad choice, but perhaps for different reasons.
Sirksome
This is the saddest karaoke I’ve ever seen.
Thag Simmons
honestly it might be above par for me.
Abdomino
Yeah, restaurant I worked at had such a low turnout that it was mostly just the guy running it who’d sing, the owner’s brother-in-law.
Jeremiah
Really? This looks pretty normal for me.
Coatl
In karaokes you will find all kinds of environments
Jamie
Eh. I watch Kiryu sing karaoke.
Decidedly Orthogonal
Mecha Godzilla? What’d they sing?
Jamie
Heh, I’ll explain since it’s not that well-known yet, I think. There’s this videogame series formerly called “Yakuza”, now called “Like a Dragon”. The main protagonist is Kazuma Kiryu, a stoic and noble guy who keeps doing the right thing despite constant personal cost. And over the course of the last 7ish games/20 RL years, he’s seen a lot of loved ones get hurt and/or die.
The game series is also known for having tons of minigames, one of which is karaoke with your protagonists. And it’s standard now for these songs to include little videos in the background while the singer, as well as for half of these songs to be bangers while the other half are heartbreakers. So basically, it’s a deeply nostalgic and heartrending experience to listen to Kiryu sing about heartbreak and lost opportunities, because just in case you’d forgotten about the events of the first few games, the background movie very pointedly reminds you.
I don’t really fully appreciate the Japanese experience of karaoke, but it does seem to be an opportunity for someone incredibly composed and stone-faced to let loose with the deep pain they’ve been carrying for decades. And the voice actors do a fantastic job conveying it.
Queen Anthai
Yeah but then you get something like “Ichizu Samurai” and…well…
Abdomino
Hm, yes, singing songs that you absolutely “loathe” for karaoke. Very happy-person behavior.
Abdomino
Wait is this one of those karaoke bars with the private rooms? Are those a thing in the States now?
Sirksome
I was gonna ask that too. The only karaoke place I know of was at an arcade and it was not private at all.
HueSatLight
There apparently was a Japanese restaurant in Bloomington where you could rent a karaoke room, but they permanently closed after covid. Also plausible for the school to have a private karaoke room.
I Know Why the Mowed Lawn Screams
IDK about Indiana but there’s at least a few here in NYC. Probably just creative license though.
Dara
I guess it depends upon where you are but they’ve been a thing in Seattle for ages.
Queen Anthai
Seattle is the only place I’ve ever found one and I desperately want one in New Orleans.
Yumi
I know some in Michigan. There probably aren’t a ton in Indiana, but it’d make sense for them to be by a major university.
Tawdry Quirks
I know there are definitely several in the Austin area with private rooms, but I’m not certain about Bloomington, having never even been to Indiana.
Synnerman
Austin, TX has a few.
Hof1991
The university may have a room for it. Doesn’t seem like a bar and the cast is too young to be in a bar legally.
Li
Ruth is legal now IIRC.
Needfuldoer
I think it was more of a “it seemed like a good idea when I picked it” decision.
thejeff
Yeah, I’m not sure what the intent was here.
Had she not realized how the song would sound until she got through it?
Did she pick it specifically for Jennifer and bail when it didn’t get the reaction she wanted?
HueSatLight
ya, a lot of times people don’t think about the lyrics of songs past the memorable line in the chorus. Which is how you get a song about break-up sex at wedding receptions.
Yumi
Ruth needs to rock some songs by Canadian singers. Alanis Morrissette or Avril Lavigne would be my top choices.
Thag Simmons