カラオケkaraoke
Quick definition:Karaoke is a form of entertainment in which people sing popular songs along with recorded backing music and on-screen lyrics, often in private rooms with friends, and it is a common scene in anime.
Meaning
Karaoke means empty orchestra, and it describes singing along to music with the vocals removed. A screen shows the lyrics in time with the song, and singers use a microphone. In Japan, karaoke is often done in private rooms rented by the hour, where groups of friends or colleagues sing, order food and drinks, and enjoy themselves.
Anime and manga use karaoke scenes for comedy, friendship and character moments. A shy character may find a voice, a group may compete for the highest score, or a serious person may reveal a surprising love for pop songs. Karaoke also appears as a place to relax after school or work, and in many series it marks a social outing.
Karaoke has spread worldwide and is popular in many countries, but the Japanese style of private booths remains distinctive. Machines include huge song libraries, including anime openings, so fans often sing the theme songs of their favourite series, either alone or as a group, and compare scores.
Origin:Karaoke is a Japanese word made from kara, meaning empty, and oke, a shortened form of okesutora, the Japanese version of the English word orchestra. It refers to music with no singer. The entertainment developed in Japan in the 1970s and then spread around the world, and the word entered English with little change.
Example:After a school festival, a group of friends crowd into a small karaoke room, take turns picking songs and cheer for each other. One of them, usually quiet, gets the microphone and surprises everyone with a powerful voice, and the scene ends with the whole group laughing and singing together.
Did you know?Many karaoke rooms in Japan let customers choose from thousands of songs on a touchscreen and offer drinks and food, so a visit can easily last for hours. Customers are normally charged for the time they spend in the room.
