What's So Friggin' Great About Karaoke?
What's so fun about hearing a bunch of people sing crappy songs badly? That's what I use to ask myself each time someone invited me to participate in karaoke. Of course, now, I don't get invited anymore, but that's perfectly fine with me because I think karaoke is about as close to hell on earth as a person can get. In spite of (or perhaps because of) my blatant bias, I embarked on a quest to find something, if anything, redeeming about the "vocal entertainment pastime." The proceeding article presents my unexpected findings. Karaoke...
Builds Community
I suppose anything that brings people together for something positive can't be all THAT bad. As a matter of fact, Inoue Daisuke, the inventor of the karaoke machine, won the Ig Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for doing just that. According to the site, he is credited with "providing an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other."
Relieves Stress
So why does belting out a tune, albeit out of tune, make some people feel so good? As it turns out, it "releases endorphins, the brain's 'feel good' chemicals," says a Discovery Health article. The report also states that singing promotes deep breathing which increases oxygen in the blood, thereby enhancing circulation as well as one's mood.
Boosts Immune System
Bursting into song also increases the production of a key immune system component. A study conducted by the "University of Frankfurt in Germany, found that choral members had higher levels of immunoglobulin A" after performing Mozart's Requiem. WebMD defines immunoglobulin A as antibodies which "protect body surfaces that are exposed to outside foreign substances."
Creates Confidence
Many harvest a fear of performing in front of an audience. However, taking the time to work through this fear can do wonders in building one's confidence. The casual playful atmosphere of karaoke can ease a person's apprehensions and help them to take social risks (such as getting on a stage) that they otherwise would not attempt in a more formal setting.
Offers Escapism
Wake up, go to work, return home, go back to sleep. That pretty much sums up most people's daily life, which is, for the vast majority of humanity, unequivocally boring. Karaoke, like a good movie, allows one a respite from routine. It permits a person to imagine themselves to be somewhere or someone different, to break free from their reality and indulge their whimsical entertainment fantasies.
Hmmm, I guess karaoke doesn't suck so much after all.
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