Whether your go-to start is “Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know” or “Here’s the thing, we started out friends,” karaoke doesn’t care if you’re a Soprano, Alto, Bass, or Tenor … or even if you can harmonize. Neither do UAT students when they’re jamming!
Did you know that karaoke, like many UAT students’ favorite media, also has roots in Japan? Back in 1967, the first karaoke-style prototype machine was created by Shigeichi Negishi, an engineer who ran a car audio system assembly business in Tokyo. But it wasn’t until 1971 that the believed inventor of karaoke, musician Daisuke Inoue, started producing karaoke equipment. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a patent and Clarion, an audio company, was the first to commercially produce karaoke machines.
Sing your heart out to “Wannabe” by Spice Girls, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers or “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey, some of the top karaoke songs of all time.
Do you have a song you’re especially good at? Show off your singing abilities with your jūhachiban. In Japan, this is in reference to Kabuki Jūhachiban, the 18 best kabuki plays.
Portland, Oregon entertains dozens of karaoke bars making it not only the U.S.’s "capital of karaoke," but "one of the most exciting music scenes in America" according to The New York Times.
Even Spotify, a popular music streaming app, has playlists dedicated to the best karaoke songs of all time. Tap into your vocals and get your groove on to your favorite song.
Discover all the places to have fun at UAT — tour our campus!