Celtic Engagement Rings

Irish Rhapsody

Irish Rhapsody

Karaoke Contests – Nailthe Lyrics and be a Winner

Karaoke is not just about hanging out at your local bar and casually—or drunkenly—singing song lyrics in front of an easygoing crowd anymore.  It’s about competition.  It’s about winning.  It’s about prizes, trophies and money.  Karaoke contests have become as popular as karaoke, itself.

Most karaoke contests have Best Male, Best Female and Best Duet categories for singers who can wow a panel of judges with their vocal prowess and knowledge of lyrics.  But in a karaoke contest, you can’t just impulsively jump onstage, grab the microphone, hit a few sour notes, botch the lyrics and score points for making the audience laugh.  This is no longer a game.  Singing the lyrics to prerecorded music is now showbiz, baby!

And in showbiz, it’s about putting on an entire show.  It’s not only about singing a song and acing its lyrics.  It’s about your entire performance.  The song you chose is the heart of that performance, though.  So select a song you like and thoroughly know, with lyrics you could sing in your sleep.  But no matter how much you like a song, skip it if it’s out of your vocal range, or if its lyrics trip up your tongue.

Make sure the song and its lyrics suit your voice.  If your voice has a twang, go for a country song, not Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”  Is your voice gravelly?  Maybe a Rod Stewart tune would be best for you.  Do you have range and power?  A Broadway show tune, with its dramatic melody and lyrics, might be a good choice.

Your song and its lyrics should be familiar to the audience, because their participation in your performance can score points for you.  Even if you love an 18th century Irish folk song, and can sing its music and lyrics beautifully, force yourself to pick something more mainstream.

Dress like a star!  Don’t just throw on torn jeans and a t-shirt you’ve pulled out of the hamper.  Put on a cowboy hat, fringed vest, and cowboy boots if your song has country music and lyrics.  Wear a tux or gown if you’re crooning a classic.  Dress in leather if you’ll be roaring heavy metal, or like Elvis if you’ll be singing one of his numbers.

Before the performance, steer clear of alcohol.  If you’re nervous, soak in a hot bath, or meditate to ease the tension.  And never eat a big meal before you sing.  Nobody wants anything other than a melody and lyrics coming out of your mouth while you’re onstage!

Have fun, make eye contact with the audience and judges, and work the stage.  That doesn’t mean you need to breathe fire like Gene Simmons, or have a slew of choreographed dancers in tow, like Madonna.  It means move around.  Use gestures and body language that illustrate the lyrics, without getting corny.  Bring the song and its lyrics to life.

If you don’t win, be gracious and professional.  You’re not in a position to be a diva yet.  And if you do win, it may just give you the confidence to pick another song, practice singing its lyrics, and take a shot at entering another karaoke contest!

About the Author

Practice your karaoke song lyrics with those at Lyrics Bay. You can also find new lyrics at the site.

An Irish Rhapsody $4.99 An Irish Rhapsody

Irish Rhapsody (Richard Hayman And His Orchestra) $6.49 Irish Rhapsody (Richard Hayman And His Orchestra)

Rhapsody $6.49 Rhapsody

Irish Rhapsody $7.99 Naxos:8555016

Light Classics - Irish Rhapsody / Richard Hayman, et al $20.56 Disc 1:Irish SuiteIrish SuiteIrish SuiteIrish SuiteIrish SuiteIrish SuiteMy darling Irish roseGeorge M. Cohan MedleyMacNamara`s BandDanny Boy "Londonderry Air"Irish RhapsodyEileen: The Irish Have a Great Day To-nightSing-along medley

Irish Blessing $7.99 Irish Blessing

Stanford: Irish Rhapsody no 4, Piano Concerto no 2 / Boult $36.37 Disc 1:Irish Rhapsody no 4 in A minor, Op. 141 "Fisherman of Loch Neagh"Becket, Op. 48: Funeral marchConcerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 126Concerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 126Concerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 126

Irish Socks $9.99 Truly a cheerful treat for Irish feet?.socks with shamrocks, an Irish flag and the word Irish! Cotton and spandex.

Irish Stout Recipes Magnet $9.99 Irish Stout Recipes Magnet

Irish Blessing 4 Plate $11.99 Irish Blessing 4 Plate

Irish Blessing 8 Plate $22.99 Irish Blessing 8 Plate

Honey With Irish Cream Liqueur $7.99 Honey With Irish Cream Liqueur

Irish Tux Shirt $21.99 Irish Tux Shirt

Irish Dancer Bead $53 Irish Dancer Bead

Born Usa 100% Irish $59 Born Usa 100% Irish

Irish Cup Of Tea Bead $70 Irish Cup Of Tea Bead

Irish Mom Bead $31 Irish Mom Bead

Irish Cottage Bead $55 Irish Cottage Bead

Irish Soup Recipes Magnet $9.99 Irish Soup Recipes Magnet

Irish $10 Irish

Rhapsody Of Fire $85 Rhapsody Of Fire

Moods - Rhapsody $6.49 Moods - Rhapsody

Rhapsody In White $8.99 Rhapsody In White

Rhapsody In Blue $11.49 Rhapsody In Blue

A Celtic Rhapsody $10.49 A Celtic Rhapsody

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 9:13 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.