Karaoke is KooL...and a little about me and the Mr.

I always thought karaoke was lame. I didn't understand why listening to a bunch of mediocre drunk singers could be a good time or why someone would want to put themselves out there like that. For starters I'm not one to be on the stage and especially not the center of attention. I experienced it a number of times in dance, music (band and choir) and I was even lead in a play once. It's not that I failed, in fact, I did great; I just didn't like how it felt. I'm an introvert and a very private person. I feel everything deeply and cry easily which makes it very awkward to be in social situations, let alone be on display. When I was a teen I started squishing my feelings somewhere inside my body instead of listening to them, then did all the socially acceptable things. This would continue for decades until my body finally started to fight back. I crashed and burned. Now, after nearly 10 years of healing, recup and hard work I'm slowly working my way back into social situations with new boundaries, different self expectations and confidence to be me. So why karaoke? ...blame that one on the husband! 

John might be the last one you would think to find on a karaoke stage. He's introverted to the point of needing no friends. I am his only person. Anyone else he knows is at acquaintance level where today's weather is the main subject of conversation. The thing is, he's also deep feeling, but where him and I differ is that he doesn't want to get involved in anyone else's world and I'm wired to want to help anyone in anyway I can. This is why I've been going to karaoke...to support the Mr...but now I think it's kool!

Have you ever felt left out, the odd ball, the ugly one? Been made fun of? Bullied? Well you won't feel that way at karaoke. It's the most all inclusive social situation I've been in. You can sing like shit, wear any costume, dance like a freak and the crowd will cheer you on. There's an energy of comradery and  acceptance within the common goals of having a rockin' good night, peopling and interaction, and expressing your silliness, feelings, or deep passion through singing. When someone is singing off key or without confidence, the crowd chimes in. Like opposite world of American Idol, the whole room is singing with that one person encouraging, then clapping and whooping as they exit the stage. This is the social etiquette of karaoke and even if you know the praise might be just complementary, it still feels good. There is a freedom in knowing you will never get booed; a healing that comes at 10:36pm on a Saturday night when a human's basic psychological and emotional need of being seen is met. 

But this isn't only for the singers. As a bystander, I also reap the rewards of hanging with the karaoke crowd. Even though I don't interact much, there are always genuine smiled greetings and a fond welcome. "Are you singing tonight or just here with Willy?" and "Nice to see you!" Though there is flirting and I'm sure some folks have met their mate at karaoke, the focus is different; it doesn't feel like a meat market. Everyone is polite and friendly. Every type and size and DNA of human can be seen at karaoke and they are all just glad you are there so they can have this shared experience.  There isn't deep heady conversations here, just "You did great!" or "What song should I sing next?" The whole atmosphere is charged with positivity and light heartedness and no one is a stranger.

It's kinda dreamy if you think about it. It's like everyone there has learned to "Be Kind" just like the trendy tee shirts tell us to do these days. It would be pretty cool to see this behavior out in the real world but maybe it does translate. I never could have imagined that karaoke would open my mind and give back to me. It's great to be around nice humans and to see them taking chances and living it up! It injects positivity into my world and makes me ponder how I want to live vivaciously. I've been going to karaoke for John but by being open to the experience and observing instead of judging it has gone from Dorksville to an enlightening activity.