2006-07-29 - 6:50 p.m. Schnack and karaoke last night--a complete program for happiness. How is it that everyone in the joint, from 20-somethings to 50-year-olds, knows "Under my Thumb" and "Surfin' USA" and all the pop canon? When and how did the learning occur? It's as if someone--aliens perhaps--came down to earth some time in the 60s or 70s, hypnotized the populace, and told them: "You're going to learn this selection of 250 pop songs. You've got 30 years--go!" Anyway, I always learn a little something from the 'oke, and last night's nuggets of wisdom: "Tempted" and "American Girl" are a little harder for me to sing than I thought--woops! Too much skill (uh, luckily I'm not in danger o' having that!) makes karaoke boring. That appealing frisson of fear and triumph and newfound confidence is utterly missing when an already polished singer chooses wedding-band material. "Life on Mars" never fails to thrill me, no matter who's singing it. "Maneater" by Hall & Oates is not a bad song at all, really. thoughts? (15 comments so far) previous - next blog archive contact