Page 12A The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, March 10, 1993 "CS sareway . = ee Don't most of us dream at one time or another of being a star? With an innovative idea, a Karaoke machine, and a shot of courage you can be a star, if only for an evening Karaoke is a concept that originated in Japan. Kara is an abbreviation of the Japanese word Karate, which means empty handed, or without a weapon, while the word Oke means music in Japanese. Thus, Karaoke involves the concept of music without a singer, and the singer which is needed to make it complete could be you. All the right ingredients are added for Karaoke, they end up with more than music and words, they end up with the magic of granting many people's dreams—the dream of becoming a star Elaine Ryder, 27, has been in the business of granting people dreams since 1989. Elaine is the disc jockey, or DJ who keeps the music playing and inspires the crowd to try their hand at Karaoke. She said there are many reasons why Karaoke become popular, but the one reason that stands out the most is the secret part inside most of us which longs to burst out in song “Karaoke appeals to the exhibitionist in all of us. There is a certain group-of people who need that show-boat type of thing.” Elaine said if a person does not fall into the category of wanting to exhibit their talents, then they usually fall in the category of helping their friend fulfill their need to show-boat ‘. e : t A typical evening of Karaoke starts with Elaine working the clientele Working the clientele GROCERY SHOPPING 3 q j J : 4 might include visiting them at their tables, and encouraging nervous would-be stars to take up. URS ’ P 4 " “ sei - names tle iri Publicly. Elaine will also demonstrate the Karaoke machine by singing 5 . : ‘ : along with it herse! Compliments of Safeway. } ee . | “2 wT put a couple of songs on to play and then I give . f ; ; out the selection book and request slips. I will usually sing the first song and.tell them how 'to play Karaoke ‘ | will usually sing one and then let one play.” healthy diet for your family? Come to . ’ 3 This routine has earned Elaine the dubious distinc- a 90 minute SAFEWAY LIFEPLAN é : E d ro : ‘ tion of knowing the words to about one third of the SHOPPING TOUR conducted by a 4 . 614 songs which are offered on the machine. “I not § ‘ ts only know about one third of the songs by memory, professional : ’ r McCain Frozen Concentrate : 5 3 but I even know veg number (in the book).” eat " ; Lifeplan tours are FREE OF 4 a ee ; 355 ml fin ‘ oe the Kootenays has a rich and untapped source of musical talent—the CHARGE. Group size is limited to . 4 ? The Doukhobors have all been raised singing in choirs since they were very young. They 8-12 people: Phone Safeway's : 3 . i ’ come out of the woodwork and just knock my socks off. Some get up and harmonize, and can they harmonize! It just blows me away. There is an abnormal amount of incredible talent in this area. But Elaine has also met with another kind of talent—no talent. But she is quick lo stress that ~ ¥ i everyone has the capacity to learn to sinj THE SAFEWAY a r F “Everybody cai sing with practice Thave heard some people, that when they first came to NUTRITION PARTNER IN ‘ ; " ; 2 sing they weren't that good. But with practice some of those people have become quite good CASTLEGAR IS: ‘3 singers.” : Jeff eger, R.D.N. ‘ F There are very few rules in Karaoke, Elaine said, but there are some rules she insists upon and will enforce if necessary Phone: 365-7711 LOCAL 356 ais os ‘ 4 “T have three rules, and everyone is informed of them. There is no burping, no screaming Do you want more nutrition information to help you choose a registered dietician or nutrition hrm Nutrition Partner today to register for this great opportunity! ment is.expensive. If someone is drunk and obnoxious I turn the mike down, or I take it away.” Elaine said Karaoke was invented for all of us who like to sing in the shower. “Karaoke gives shower-singers the chance to come out of the shower and into the bar.” Elmer Pellerine, owner of Lion's Head Pub also offers Karaoke every Wednesday night When he first received the Karaoke machine, he said everyone wanted him to sing “My wife and I practiced at home for one week. Everyone wanted us to sing.-When the big and no swearing. After a few drinks some people don’t use the best judgement, and this equip- TOMATOES Roma. Fresh. lb -Above: Eva Vara bioff combines with Cathy Mitchell (the LEGS Back Attached. Frozen. 5 kg. box. 1.72/ kg FRESH IN-STORE BAKERY KAISER BEEF RIB STEAKS BUNS Canada Grade A. Karaoke apprentice host) for one of her many songs of the night. Varabioft says she comes out for the Karaoke because “It gives me something to do and I've always liked singing.” -Middle far right: Varabioff looks through the Karaoke song list to decide which song to sing next -Right: Karaoke sometimes becomes an ener getic group activity. night came my wife froze and wouldn't show up. I had to go out and do it myself. Yes I did it once (Sing Karaoke) ooooohhhhhhh. But I did it, I did it. I just couldn’t let people,down.” Elmer said when Karaoke first came out a couple of years ago it was very popular with the col- lege crowd. But now Elmer has noticed a change in the crowd that attends Karaoke “This year it is the people from the expansion who are interested in Karaoke. This week it was so popular we even had people dancing to the Karaoke singers.” Elmer said people are enjoying Karaoke so much that he'll keep offering Karaoke nights. “As long as people enjoy it and the crowds keep coming I'll keep offering it.” Next time you find yourself singing in the shower, take a chance, chase a dream and come on down to Karaoke. SPAGHETTI KIWI FRUIT FRESH BROCCOLI or Spaghettini, 6 0 California ~ 1 ‘ *Above: Rob Pye and Andrew Barling Fresh = . give it all they have during one of the : California FOR Co , pes teamed up for during the ' Ne ee 97 / kg g ae -Left: Peter Broadbent adds a little body MasterCard, language to one of his songs. The screen in the background shows a music video with the words to the songs on the bottom of the screen. The words change color to keep the karaoke singer in time with the song ~ sd Story Karen Kerkhoff Photos John Van Putten