KICKIN' KARAOKE

Michael Von Hasseln sang "Neon Moon" at Broussard's karaoke night.

Kim Pennington and Tracy Simpson don't mind admitting they have a problem.

"We're karaoke-aholics," they said Wednesday night, even as they listened to a performer on the stage at Broussard's, 120 N. Main St. The duo knew they were the next to sing before a lively crowd of diners and drinkers attending the restaurant's popular Karaoke Night.

"I've always loved to sing and I never had the guts to do it until about three years ago," said Simpson. "Since then I've been addicted. I love it so much I even had karaoke at my wedding reception."

Simpson convinced Pennington to try karaoke for the first time two years ago. Pennington, a singer more used to performing in her father's church choir and in music ensembles at Southeast Missouri State University, loved the experience.

The duo now work a karaoke circuit in the region that includes two nights in Cape Girardeau pubs and the occasional venture to a small restaurant in southern Illinois.

"It's all good. We're all friends here," said Pennington. "Everybody's really encouraging."

Karaoke is a popular entertainment form that originated in Kobe, Japan, some 20 years ago. It originally existed as an after-work entertainment for Japanese businessmen who frequented bars in their country, but today karaoke has been popularized around the world and is performed throughout bars in the Cape Girardeau area almost every night.

The word karaoke is a combination of two abbreviated Japanese words meaning "empty orchestra." Music tapes in which only the accompaniment of a recorded popular song is included were named "karaoke."

Legend has it karaoke started at a snack bar in Kobe City, Japan. It is said when a strolling guitarist could not come to perform at the bar, the owner prepared music-only tapes and allowed vocalists in the bar to sing to them. People enjoyed the change, and it became a trend that now has worldwide commercial appeal.

Broussard's manager Michael VonHasseln said business is generally lively when karaoke is featured. Many of those attending the weekly event are regulars who either like to perform or who enjoy listening to live music, regardless of the level of talent, he said.

"When you get down to it, it's everybody's chance to be a star," said VonHasseln. "Not everybody gets a record contract, but for 15 minutes, people get to hear what talent they do have."

Companies like River City Karaoke provide all the fixings for local would-be entertainers. Along with the accompaniment tapes, karaoke companies equip singers with microphones and monitors on which lyrics to songs are displayed while they perform.

"The No. 1 objective is to have fun," said Tammy Cotner, co-owner of River City Karaoke who said she, too, has an "addiction" to karaoke. "I wouldn't think their goal is to necessarily be a singer, but these are for the most part people who really like to sing."

Simpson said karaoke performers don't have to be good singers, but it does help. People hooked on it generally are good singers or think they are, she said.

"I don't mind if you get up there and can't sing. But people who think they can sing and really can't, and who have a really ugly attitude about it, those are the people I can't stand," she said.

There are a few things to know when preparing to karaoke. Simpson and Pennington said performers should know the words, or at the very least, have a good knowledge of the tune of the song. Don't attempt a song outside of your vocal range, they said.

Performers also should "scope the crowd" and find out what types of music they'll enjoy the most, the duo said. And, sing into the microphone so others can hear you clearly, they said.

"If they don't sing in the mic it doesn't matter how you sound because we won't hear them anyway," said Simpson.

Friends who don't karaoke but want to hear specific songs should be mindful of what is known at Broussard's as "kamikaze karaoke."

"That's when you put a song up for somebody else to sing and they don't want to sing it," Pennington said. "If they refuse to sing it, then you have to."