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Small Town Superstars.

There's a little diner down the road from our neighborhood that prides itself in their open face roast and gravy sandwiches, black bottom pie and ... karaoke.

The place is hoppin' most every night and though the food is pretty darn tasty, I think it's the open stage and free mic that keep people coming back. Husby and I love going because we get homemade chicken and dumplings with a side of more entertainment than we could ever dream. It keeps us laughing, that's for sure.

The other night we had supper there along with most of the county. It's funny to see a restaurant in this area so packed because our little town is surely classified as "the middle of nowhere" on the map. Though we are a suburb to a large city, most of "city-folk" have never heard of our little town .... even though we are just a few minutes outside of the city. Funny how that happens. Anyway, the 4th of July fireworks and this restaurant are the only things to bring people around these parts, and though we have one gas station and no grocery store, we often have to wait to be seated. Hey, people know a good time when they see one.

The only open table was the one right up next to the stage in the center of the restaurant. We sat down and had a way-too-intimate distance between us and the karaoke-ers. I felt like I had to smile and nod when they made eye contact, like I was just lost in the song and the magic of their voices. And then when they passed me to go back to their tables, I felt like I had to tell them they did good. Oh, the pressure! Husby had his back to them, so he just ate his little heart out while I head danced to each ditty and encouraged them with smiles. It was a weird situation. If I didn't look at them, I felt like I was being rude and hurting their feelings. If I did watch, I felt like I was staring and making them nervous. I kind of didn't know what to do. And I clearly overanalyzed the situation.

But it was way too close for comfort.

When something good happened (the ones who busted a move and the ones who raised their hands and closed their eyes like they were on American Idol), I kicked Husby under the table and murmured "you've GOT to see this" out of the side of my mouth so he would know to turn around and gawk. The perfect seat of the house is in the middle of the place so you can stare all you want, but be just another face in the crowd.

There were some awesome voices. There were some terrible voices. I think I shoveled my food in at warp speed during the bad ones. One lady almost made me choke on a jalapeno.

I dared Husby to sing. Who was I kidding? Not a chance. Then we played "who do we know that WOULD do it, and who would NOT". That was fun. I asked Husby what he would sing if he had to and he said he didn't know. My guess is that he wouldn't give it any thought because he knows he'd never do it. He asked me the same question and I popped off, "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (I don't know where that came from; I don't even know all the words), but then I retracted that when I thought that I might start dancing. Fast songs get me movin' - often times when I don't even realize it.

I thought long and hard (er, about 3 minutes), and ultimately decided upon "Killing Me Softly". It's easy. It's good. And I could kind of sway and groove instead of worrying about busting a move and humiliating myself. It's the perfect karaoke tune.

What about you? What is YOUR perfect karaoke song?
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. the only song I have ever kareoked to was Fionna Apple's Criminal!
    And wouldn't you know it, the first time I got up and did it (with a friend) we won a kareoke contest!

    It is a good song to sing to, bc like you mentioned w/ your pick, its good beat, but not one you have to dance or jump around to!!

    XOXO
    moo.

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  2. I'm far too nervous to sing karaoke, I'll sing on a stage with other people, I'll sing in a choir at church and I'll even do rock band in the comfort of my friend's home as long as I'm not standing up lol. But I think I'd choose either I can't make you love me by Bonnie Rait or Are you gonna be my girl?

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  3. Haha--I always do "Build Me Up Buttercup" at karaoke! Or a song from Grease. :)

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  4. Haha! You always make me laugh. I would feel obligated to do the same thing. Not sure what I would sing. I get horrible stage fright and just the thought of singing karaoke breaks me out in a cold sweat.

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  5. The one and only karaoke song is Whitney Housten's "I will always love you" If this song is on, I am singing at the top of my lungs! (This would probably be one of those where you would tell Husby to turn around and stare at the train wreck on stage :)

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  6. I would rather not sing karaoke :)

    My favorite karaoke memory was when I won a bet against my two (male) managers and made them serenade each other to Whitney Houston's "I will always love you". It was awesome.

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  7. That is too funny! I never go to the bar... just not my scene, especially in our equally tiny town! However, this weekend, my family really wanted to go out, so we went to a local karaoke bar. You wanna know what I sang? Killing Me Softly. I'm totally serious! It is the perfect Karaoke song!! LOL!

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  8. Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan (though I would sing the Adele cover).

    Funny... I play guitar and sing at home and in from of family, but I could never get up in front of people I don't know and sing. The mere thought of it makes me queasy ;)

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  9. I HATE KARAOKE!! But my boyfriend and sister are major diva's! They even participated in Toronto Idol Karaoke ocompetitions. Its horrifying lmao.

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  10. While I am a singer, I hate karaoke - at least performing it, that is. I'm too much of a perfectionist, and so in order for me to enjoy karaoke I think i would have to learn and practice the song ahead of time. Ha. OR, it is fun when I'm just with family and we break out the Disney tunes and accompany it with interpretive dance. (Like Aladdin... I can show you the world..... I have done that.)

    Mark on the other hand, LOVES karaoke. He's the person that keeps going back to the DJ and putting down yet another ridiculous song. His favorite is the Day-O. Seriously. One banana, two banana, three banana bunch... daylight come and me wan go home. He does it every time. It's ridiculous. I'm over being embarrassed. I just sit back and enjoy it now. (-:

    ~Kathryn

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  11. Being a singer I don't really like Karaoke. When people sing and if it is not good, oh how I feel so bad for them. The only song that I sing at karaoke is I'm no Angel-Gregg Allman and only because my hubby thinks it is a sexy song. Ha!

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  12. So I put "sing karaoke" on my "30 before 30" list, and found myself at a local bar a few weeks ago with a mic in my hand, ready to croon my soul out to 200 strangers. My best friend and I sang "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls. I don't recommend it! =)

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  13. I have sung Aretha Franklin's RESPECT many times on karaoke in my early 20's. At the ripe old age of 39 it's not gonna ever happen again...promise!

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  14. I'm pretty sure Love Shack or Journey's Don't Stop Believing was sang every night we did karaoke in college. Those were the days!

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  15. The only time I've ever been in front of a karaoke mic was singing "bohemian rhapsody" with 10 other people so no one actually heard my voice.

    I would probably sing a 90s alt-pop song like "save tonight" by eagle eye cherry or maybe "all star" by smash mouth because it doesn't have much singing in it.

    If I COULD sing I would definitely sing some Tina Turner probably "river deep mountain high" and you betcha I'd be dancing too!!!!

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  16. Dixieland Delight by Alabama. That's right... ridiculous yet such a crowd pleaser! HA!

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  17. Reba's Fancy....there's a lot of room for add lib in between verses. :-) Although Chris does like to duet with Summer Lovin' every now and then. Really any Queen song is fantastic for karaoke too...lots of room for a dramatic presentation.

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May the Lord bless you and keep you safe today! Thanks for the comment, friends! :)