Karaoke Star Singing in Amsterdam
I would like to take this chance to officially announce my participation in the next series of Dutch Pop Idols. The judges have not heard me sing yet but I am sure once they do they will not be able to deny that I have a very unique and distinctive singing talent that the public will have to hear in order to believe that such a voice exists.
I came to this decision a few days ago after I got a chance to sing a few songs at a karaoke bar with a couple of friends. I’ve never been much of a public singer but it’s amazing the motivation a few alcoholic beverages and a large collection of 80s music can provide. At the same time it is also scary to realize how many of the lyrics to Right Said Fred’s ‘I’m too sexy’ I know.
The karaoke bar was situated in Amsterdam (near Leidscheplein) and had a slightly strange Chinese atmosphere which created the feeling that The Crazy 88 might suddenly attack at any moment during someone’s rendition of ‘Everybody was Kung-Fu fighting’.
In order to hide the shame and embarrassment that would be our singing we decided to hire a private karaoke booth. Hiring any kind of ‘private booth’ anywhere in Amsterdam can instantly give the wrong impression, especially when the owner hands you a laminated catalog of (karaoke) videos and a remote control covered in protective plastic as she did with us. However, the booth lacked any dance poles so our only option for entertainment was singing.
Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Queen, The Bee-Gees, The Village People and so many other well know creators of music were not safe from our murderous rampage of song mutilation and carnage. Innocent lyrics were left orphaned as the songs they belonged to were valiantly bludgeoned to death with a microphone and some very bad singing. Words were sung out of time, lyrics were mixed up and one of the microphones ended up breaking under the strain (or maybe it decided to take its own life to stop the torture).
Luckily the sound proof glass of our booth survived our attempts to see who could hit the highest note which was really more of a contest to discover who could do the best impression of a cat suffering unbearable pain while inhaling helium. At least innocent bystanders were saved from irreparable eardrum damage. It was decided that the winner of the contest should never be allowed near a microphone again in their life time but that was probably true of all of us. However, we really had a lot of fun.
In case my application to be on Dutch Pop Idols does not make it past the first stage here is a sample of our singing talent (30 seconds of torture) from Bohemian Rhapsody. You can hear me very clearly during a few lines but you will have to guess which one I am (If you can’t see the embeded sound file click here):
Disclaimer: This site is not responsible for any lose of hearing, sanity or the will to live.
Wow, it was…inspiring. Inspiring in the fact that it ispiried me to tun my own music back on. Just kidding…
Although I’ve never recored ourselves, I’m sure me and Ash singing the Spice Girls on her PERSONAL karaoke machine wern’t much better.
Shut up Lissa!!! I’m a superstar and you know it!!!!
Okay, maybe not. But that doesn’t stop me, because it’s FUN.
Private karaoke booths sound ace though, I would LOVE that. Perhaps I’ll build one in my basement.
Unfortently, I wasn’t able to listen to your recording, sincec 5 of my 8 roomies are sleeping and I don’t want to wake them up with anything that is reminiscent of Chewbaca in a blender.
I’d give anything to see the look of horror on the faces of the judges of Dutch Idols when they hear your rendition of this song!
I can imagine you had a great deal of fun with this…
Okay, that was fantastic (the recording). I just listened to it, and some of my roomies were like “WTF?!?” but it was still great.
Melissa – You have to post a recording now :p
Ash – ‘Chewbaca in a blender’ That line really made me laugh :) I think you are right. If you play it while people are sleeping you will really scare them to death.
It’s like you were singing a cappella – where’s the music? :) I’d say it all boils down to liquid courage. Glad you had fun!
The neighbourhood cats just smashed down my door and threatened me at gunpoint to turn this off or I would get it “like that tuna did”… :)
But honestly guys, a Private Booth?? You, Stu, as such an acclaimed performer of public displays of drunkenness should have demanded centre stage!!
You went to my fav hangout in A’dam! Stage for me [I’m a daredevil: used to singing in bands, half asian, I felt quite at home at this place]. The view from the other side of the glass must have been [a] spectacular: watching you lot totally flushed, moving lips, dancing [?] and no sound at all… ;)
Emiel Stòpler – I’m sure they have heard worse… well… maybe.
Ash – Cool. You and your roomies can be my groupies.
BlondebutBright – I think we completely droned out the music. We were singing quite loud.
Jodie – A few more drinks and I might have.
I’ll vote for you Stu…anyone who can destroy Bohemian Rhapsody so well that even my dog started howling deserves some recognition ;-)
Great story…I loved the bit about the orphaned microphone ;-)
He he, Stu, I think you were commenting on my blog as I was commenting on yours ;-) I like your book extract – It reminded me of a dog we had once that was inclined to view men’s legs in the same light as tree trunks..lol.
By the way, I was also writing a new post at the time you were leaving your mark;-) You get a mention in it too!
You have a cute and interesting blog. My hubby comes from a long line of dutch folks.
Its not fair. Your Dad and I sat at the computer full of anticipation(having heard you sing to Elvis at Christmas) I pressed the bar and got the message “The plug in was found but an error in the plug in has occured.” Can we have a private recording PERLEEES.
Tess – We must have looked like crazy people. What was the name of your band?
Dragon lady – I’ll email you the file
VallyP – You’re dog can be in the band :) Thanks for the mention.