6 Struggles Only Karaoke Enthusiasts Understand (in GIFs)

6 Struggles Only Karaoke Enthusiasts Understand (in GIFs) Suzy S. Love karaoke? And by that we mean borderline obsessed? Is it your first suggestion for a birthday get-together? Do the karaoke hosts at your local bar know you by name and get concerned when you dont show up? Are you first on stage, while your  friends hide  in the corner  slowly sipping their liquid courage? Yep, we know the feeling. Even if it takes you forever to browse the book and pick  the perfect  song to sing, its all worth it when you take the stage, grab the mic, and hear the roaring cheers of your fans (er, friends). If you know your local karaoke spots song catalog by heart, karaoke isnt just a late-night whim for you. Its a hobby that unleashes the natural performer inside you, daring you to take risks and win over crowds.  If youre a karaoke enthusiast like us, we bet you can relate to these six struggles 1. YouTube swallows your weekends whole. Most people imagine the karaoke life as a series of parties, bars, and amateur singing contests. However, you do most of your singing at home. YouTube is full of popular karaoke songs, complete with scrolling lyrics, so its easy to warm up with a few of your favorites. But before you know it, hours have passed and youre down a sing-along rabbit hole. The Internet is a great place to practice, but if youre not careful, youll lose track of real-life karaoke, with its far superior sound systems and energetic live audiences. 2. You have nightmares about losing your thumb drive. Once upon a time, people burned their favorite popular karaoke songs  onto CDs and handed them to KJs. Today, you can fit thousands of custom-edited and privately purchased karaoke songs onto one flash drive. However, if youve ever fished around for your USB drive in a dark pub, you know this convenience is a double-edged sword. If your competition has your playlist of karaoke songs, there goes the element of surprise. 3. You take notes while listening to the radio. You cant help it. When youre driving to work or school, streaming an online radio station, or listening to a friends music collection, youre constantly on the lookout for popular karaoke songs to sing. Are those lyrics fun and easy to hear? Is the beat recognizable? Do you think you can match the singers voice? Should you go scrambling for the rest of their collection, hoping to find that perfect track for the next karaoke night? Without fail, listening to music always results in karaoke brainstorms. See also: Our top picks for karaoke songs for girls, guys, groups, and more! 4. Reality show judges make you want to scream. When you watch singing shows  like  American Idol, X Factor,  or The Voice, you cant help but critique the amateur singers who somehow get a national platform for their mediocre mimicry. And its inevitable: With every new season of yet another televised singing competition, a few more talent-less wannabes are kicked out of tryouts because they belong in a karaoke bar. Ironically, the judges are usually music-industry veterans who profit every time you sing a song they recorded or produced. Why, then, do they insist on using karaoke as a punchline? 5. To alter or not to alter: That is the question. Some karaoke machines can raise or lower a songs key, to better match your own voice with the singers. Youve been around long enough to know how divisive this issue is, and you may even have a firm opinion about whether or not its a legitimate way to perform. However, theres no denying the appeal of a guaranteed harmony, digital or otherwise. 6. Practice doesnt always make perfect. Successful self-taught singers are few and far between for a very good reason: singing takes more than just talent. If you want to master the nuances of singing for a live audience, youll need to train your vocal cords with exercises that make it easier to breathe, stay on key, remember the lyrics, and sing with emotion. A private vocal coach or singing instructor  can  work with you to hone your singing talents and tweak your performance style. Karaoke Tips: Picking the Best Songs to Sing Remember picking the  best song isnt always about choosing from the most popular karaoke songs of all time. If you want to avoid embarrassing mistakes, youll want to select a song that  suits your voice (i.e. your vocal range and stylistic tendencies), your personality, and also your audience! Are you at a grungy dive bar? Might be best to save Genie in a Bottle  for another time. Also,  remember that  singing karaoke is all about having fun! If youre nervous, its much easier to pick a song your genuinely enjoy singing before breaking out the high notes and fancy riffs. For specific recommendations, check out our list of fun songs to sing at karaoke! Additional Karaoke Resources Need more karaoke tips and inspiration? Here are few other websites to check out: The Karaoke Channel This website  offers thousands of professional, re-recorded hits available for download, along with a community forum and a mobile app to take with you on the go. Karaoke Version Another great resource for finding instrumental tracks to sing along to. Sunfly Karaoke Offers more than 13,000 karaoke tracks available for download or via a personalized karaoke disc. RedKaraoke Feeling shy?  These apps work with your iPhone/iPad, Android device, or SmartTV to start the party, without ever leaving the house! Ace Karaoke Need karaoke equipment, like amps, cables, stage lighting, or mics?  Find it all here! KaraokePlayers.Info Karaoke community and articles for karaoke fans. Ultimate DJ + Karaoke Karaoke entertainment for the Kansas City area, including sales and rentals Readers, anything youd add to this list? What are your favorite karaoke songs to sing? Leave a comment below and let us know! Photo by  Richard Sunderland Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher