“If you can’t hit these notes, don’t sing” I Will Always Love You, “” said Galbound Hamilton, 33, who won the 2020 Karaoke World Championships. Many classical songs should probably be avoided unless you are a widely trained vocalist, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Journey, Queen, and especially “Bohemian Rhapsody”. If you want to make a good sound, he also advises caution when trying “raps that are really too fast for you”. Hamilton, Seattle’s print shop general manager, goes to karaoke almost every night. He sings to himself at least four hours a day in the car, in the shower, at the desk, and elsewhere where he can. Let him practice using the karaoke app on his smartphone. Hamilton maintains a list of popular mobile phone songs in various categories such as uptempo, ballads and duets.His favorite is A version of Leonard Cohen’s “Halelujah” by Alexandra Burke. For karaoke, you don’t have to remember all the lyrics, but it’s helpful to practice until you can sing with confidence. If given the option, Hamilton avoids private karaoke rooms and instead opts for bar-style public rooms where the audience includes strangers. If you’re shy or planning to sing something new, alcohol can sometimes relieve your nerves. Don’t overdo it, choose a drink at room temperature. “Cold drinks aren’t good for your throat,” says Hamilton. She doesn’t have to be a good vocalist, but she does need to consider her skill level when choosing what to sing. A bright party song that encourages you to sing is a good option for a decent singer who may have a hard time carrying the song alone.
Karaoke varies by region. Hamilton first started as a teenager in Jamaica. In his experience, the audience only tolerated skilled singers. “They boo you, stop you, and drive you off stage,” he says. Hamilton found that some cities had more skilled singers (New York, Atlanta), and some cities leaned towards inaudible drunkards (Los Angeles, Chicago). But most of the time, your fellow karaoke fans want joy and liberation. Expect support as long as you make a sincere effort. “Most people are there to sing and because they have no judgment,” says Hamilton.