“Songs Like This”

If you do karaoke often like I do, you start to run out of songs. Well, not really run out of songs, more like you get stuck in a rut thinking that you’ve sung EVERY POSSIBLE song you could EVER want to sing. When you’ve hit that wall it can be fun to do a theme night to get the creative juices flowing. My friends and I have set a theme for the night at karaoke, and it’s usually fun and hilarious! We’ve had nights where someone else has to pick your song, or you have to sing a song from a musical or movie soundtrack. It can be fun to mix things up and do songs you wouldn’t normally do.

Karaoke themes:

• Suicide night – only do songs you’ve never done before
• 70s, 80s, 90s, etc. night – only sing songs from a particular decade (even more fun if you dress the part!)
• Guilty pleasures – come on, you know we all have ’em! Belt ’em out!
• Disney hits – if a cartoon didn’t sing it, it’s no good!
• Gender bender night – get out of your range and sing songs made famous by the opposite gender
• Cheesy love songs – the sappier, the better!

Have you done a theme night? What themes would you add to the list? Would you be game for a theme night at a #TechKaraokeSEA event?

“The New Year”

We’ve all sung a round of Auld Lang Syne (well, if anyone actually knows the words) and rung in a new year! Welcome 2011!

Now let’s take a minute to look back at the last year…in karaoke!

The top 7 karaoke songs from 2010, in random order*

*according to what I heard in the many many many nights out last year! 🙂

1. Tik Tok by Ke$ha – I must admit I’m not really a fan of Ke$ha, and I think the “$” in her name is dumb. But I just can’t help but seat dance, or even ACTUALLY dance, when someone rocks this one at karaoke. Also of note, some of the best performances of this song have been by dudes. Sing it guys!

2. F**k You by Cee Lo Green – This song certainly became an Internet phenomenon overnight and it wasn’t long before it was part of any good KJs selection as well. A performance by Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee solidified this song as a classic and one of the top songs from 2010.

3. Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus – It’s Hannah Montana! No, it’s Miley! Whatever. It’s bubble-gum pop for sure, but it is catchy and certainly a crowd-pleaser! Go America!

4. Airplanes by B.o.B. – If you know me at all, you know I am not the most in touch with hip hop music. So the first time I ever heard this song was actually at karaoke. It’s a great duet with a little something for everyone!

5. Rude Boy by Rihanna – Rihanna is always a popular choice at karaoke and 2010’s Rude Boy is no exception. Go ahead, sing it and get the crowd movin’!

6. Hey, Soul Sister by Train – This song may be a bit played out since it seems like it was everywhere in 2010, but it is still a fun song.

7. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga – Or really any Lady Gaga song! I tried to dislike her. I did. But I just couldn’t do it! Her music gets into your head and stays there… And really, she has some of the best songs for karaoke. Both guys and girls can kill on stage rockin’ the mic to Lady Gaga!

What did I miss? What songs do you think were top of the karaoke charts in 2010? Any songs from 2010 you don’t want to hear in 2011? Share your thought in the comments!

“Photographs and Memories”

Check out the photos from the Gnomedex/Seattle Geek Week TechKaraoke Seattle event at Hula Hula on 8/20. Thank you to the amazing Lawrence Leung (CuriousAngle.com) for the fantastic photos!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Photos from Seattle Geek Week TechKaraoke, posted with vodpod

“The New Dork”

I’ll admit it, I’m a geek. Pretty much all of my friends are geeks, too. We’re not ashamed. We wear our geekiness with pride! Maybe it’s an evolution over time that geeks are the new cool, or maybe it is just the tech-happy bubble in which we live. Either way, I’m happy to be in Seattle where geeks are not only welcome, but they are celebrated!

This week is the very first Seattle Geek Week. I know, I know, EVERY week is kind of geek week in Seattle… but this is another chance to attend a variety of engaging and interactive events all geared to the geek in all of us! I know I’ll be exhausted by the end, but it will be one hell of a week!

Xconomy and TechFlash did fantastic recaps of the plethora of the events in Seattle Geek Week. Read them – after you finish reading my post, of course!

My top picks for the week are:

• Tuesday, 8/17 at 6pm – SMC Seattle with The Oatmeal
• Wednesday, 8/18 at 7pm – Whrrl BBQ and viewing of “Life in Perpetual Beta”
• Thursday, 8/19 at 4:30pm – TechCafe Presents
• Thursday, 8/19 at 7pm – Gigs4Good benefit for Seattle Works featuring Alex Mercier and Bekker
• Friday, 8/20 and Saturday, 8/21 – Gnomedex

But of course, the BEST event will be the Seattle Geek Week TechKaraoke event at Hula Hula on Friday, August 20! (Of course, I might be biased!) I hope all geeks will come rock the mic with us!

So, what will you be attending during Seattle Geek Week? Let me know in the comments!

Check out the rest of the Seattle Geek Week calendar!

What Happened at Wingmasters Stays Here… Maybe.

A recap of TechKaraoke Seattle May 2010, by Jodi Kogan

It’s funny how many different social media events there are to choose from these days.  And of course the common thread is putting the social in social media.  It’s pretty important to connect face-to-face in a digital world, and events like TechKaraoke Seattle help folks do just that.

May 13th brought another TechKaraoke Seattle gathering, this time in Ballard at Wingmasters.  I’ve been to Wingmasters before on a Thursday – the $4 burgers and other specials are definitely reasons to stop in.  But for karaoke fiends like myself, what really makes it worthwhile is Thursday karaoke night with Josh (@KJLymes), who’s a great host, and there’s a huge collection of songs to choose from.

There was an amazing turnout, including some familiar faces from the last TechKaraoke Seattle event, like Karianne Stinson (@Karianne), who did an amazing job organizing the event and is also an awesome singer, Jeff Croft (@jcroft), Cassie Wallender (@firewallender), and Jim England (@woodaddy).  This was my first TechKaraoke Seattle event, and some other new folks making an appearance were Brian Crouch (@briancrouch), who tried a bit of Robert Palmer karaoke, Jay Hathaway (@strutting) and Alix Han (@alixito), who each bring amazing energy to their performances, and Robert Abiera (@robert4u), certainly no stranger to karaoke.

It was great to see so many new and familiar faces putting the social in social media!  Looking forward to June’s event, which should be announced shortly.

Until next time!

– Jodi (@jodijodijodi)

“Pictures of You”

Photos from the May TechKaraoke Seattle event at Wingmasters on 5/13/10.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about ““Pictures of You”“, posted with vodpod

Rate Wingmasters as a TechKaraoke Venue

What do you think of Wingmasters in Ballard as a venue for TechKaraoke? Let us know!

“Please, please, please”

Karianne, Kathryn, Nobu and Alix rocking some Annie!

Listen up, rockstars. I know geeks are given a bad rap in the social skills area, but we know that’s BS. However, I just read a post on karaoke etiquette and thought I would impart my thoughts on how to be a kickass karaoker!

1. Be an engaged audience– If you’re in a karaoke bar, you better be ready to hear some karaoke singing! If you aren’t up for that, move on to the next watering hole, or at least find a spot away from the stage.

2. Applaud– It’s tough to get up there, show your support and cheer on the singer! If they were the worst singer ever, applaud that it’s done! 🙂

3. No booing or heckling This goes along with the last one, and I promise you karaoke is a lot more fun if everyone is nice and supportive! (If you must heckle your friends, do it on BarStar!

4. Wait your turn– Everyone get’s their chance, so don’t jump on stage and start singing with someone unless you’re invited!

5. Don’t scream in the mic– Seriously folks, WE HEAR YOU! No need to yell INTO the mic!

6. Be kind to the equipment– Karaoke equipment ain’t cheap! Do not throw the mic, drop the mic, spill beer on the mic, hit the mic (my personal pet peeve)… you get the idea!

7. Support your KJ– Karaoke hosts are there to make your night more enjoyable, so be kind to them! You should also tip them! (hint, the more money they make, the more music they will buy!)

8. Don’t be THAT guy/girl– Hey, karaoke usually involves drinking. I get it. And I’ve certainly had a few too many once or twice in my life, as most of us have… but that drunk in the bar on karaoke night is annoying and a buzzkill. Have fun!… just not TOO MUCH fun! 😉

9. Be patient– Often karaoke night is a popular night at the bar, singer rotations can be 20-30 people or more. You may not get to sing 10 times, but you’ll have one hell of a night! Just sit back, relax and enjoy!

10. Have fun!– Seriously kids, karaoke is all about having a good time! So enjoy yourself! Sing songs you like that everyone can enjoy! Hang out with your friends, make some new friends, enjoy some beverages and keep rockin’!

What are your karaoke tips or rules? Drop us a comment and let us know!

“Livin’ la vida loca”

All over Seattle right now, folks are mixing tequila, limes, and salt for the makings of an epic night! Some are even blending in karaoke! I know familiar faces in the TechKaraoke Seattle crowd will be rockin’ the mic at Hula Hula tonight.

So the question is, do you sing specific songs for the holiday? Is it all about the Spanish songs tonight? Do you pay homage to the Irish bands on St. Paddy’s Day? On Valentine’s Day, do you make the audience swoon with sappy love songs?

I want to know what you’re singing! Drop a comment and let me know!

“At the Beginning”

We were strangers starting out on our journey
Never dreaming what we’d have to go through
Now here we are and I’m suddenly standing
At the beginning with you

TechKaraoke Seattle kicked off at Hula Hula on Thursday, February 22nd. Jeff Croft started us off on the right note with a kickass version of Alcohol by Brad Paisley. I mean, isn’t that what TechKaraoke is all about? Rockin’ the mic, meeting new folks, oh and alcohol!

Scott, Carlos, Jeff and Nobu chillin' at Hula Hula

The night was filled with fun, new friends and some rad singing! Cassie Wallender brought down the house with her rendition of The Flobots’ Handlebars! It is still being talked about on the twitters! Kenji Onozawa showed his crooner talents on Frank Sinatra’s version of Come Fly with Me. I’m pretty sure all the ladies, and maybe even a few guys, in the audience swooned! Oh, he’s so dreamy!

The sultry sounds continued with Scott Phelps‘ cover of Easy by Lionel Richie. Yep, he sure is easy like Sunday morning! Carlos del Rio got us all rocking again with the Violent Femmes’ Kiss Off, a song that teaches us to count and makes it impossible to sit still! As the night started to wrap up, Rebecca Lovell nailed Kim Carnes’ Betty Davis Eyes. That lady has some lungs!

I could go on and on listing all of the fantastic performances, but I won’t. All in all, it was a successful return of TechKaraoke Seattle! I can’t wait for the May event at Wingmasters in Ballard on Thursday May 13th!

What was your favorite part of the kick-off event? Leave a comment and let us know!