posted
Sort of a funny event; I went to this karaoke bar one evening with a friend for some fun songs. This was for a finals, but I didn't know it at the time and I couldn't enter it. Anyway after seeing my older brother bring a E,W,& F cd and sung from it, I brought my Loverboy SIX cd and sung the cut "Big Picture" (very cool song and CD; get it while it's still in print, BTW). Anyhoo, they set up the sound so that most of the lead vocals on the cd were muted out. I did "Big Picture" and I worked the song and the crowd; the place was packed to the max, and thank goodness for wire-less mics. I moved about the crowd, the whole bit. During the musical breaks, I ad-libbed a few words and toward the end, I hit a few high notes that went over REEAALL good. The place just went nuts!!!!! At the end, I sang a note and held it for as long as I could. I mean, it was like something out of PURPLE RAIN< ya know. I was totally stoked, pacing around the hallway for almost 30 minutes after the thing. That was the meanest high, I can tell ya. Anyhoo, any of you guy ever done that? Have fun. Markster
Posts: 38 | From: Louisville, KY USA | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
Sounds like ya had lots of fun! Well, I have seen that sort of thing done in the past, (quite a while ago) but not anymore at all. I think around here, in Portland, that most of the KJ's have been made well aware that the sort of activity that you speak of is ILLEGAL! Um, you guys be nice now. I don't think Mark is aware of some of the laws out there. I do know that around 8 years ago, here in Portland, A local band caught wind of someone using their CD in a Karaoke show and made it known that if they ever caught anyone doing it, they would sue the KJ or establishment, as the case may be.
Wait a minute, this is an April Fools gag, right? lol
Diane
6:00pm Correction: Okay, so it isn't illegal. Sorry
[This message has been edited by Diane (edited April 01, 2002).]
posted
Actually, there is nothing illegal about using a store bought CD at karaoke, so long as the ASCAP/BMI/SEASAC fees are paid. It's the same as if you had a regular DJ there.
Mark's usage is perfectly legal.
[This message has been edited by l'opera voce (edited April 01, 2002).]
posted
OHHHH. well, thanks for the correction. Wonder what all the hubbub around here is about? I know there are KJ's that will not play a cd and remove the vocals, and supposedly for legal reasons. Hmmmmmm. Interesting, L'op! Posts: 1108 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Not sure about this - but, for example, if you want to produce a tune to different words (ala Weird Al Yankovic) you need a "parody license" from the composer. Not sure if there are any legal ramifications to removing the lyrics of a production and substituting a live singer - if that activity takes it out of the traditional performance fees paid to ASCAP, etc.
Anyone know for sure?
Posts: 128 | From: Ottawa, ON, Canada | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Radio DJ's do this all the time. I don't here about stations being dragged into court to pay.
Posts: 1795 | From: Fall River, Ma | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I remember how that rapper got sooooo irked at Weird Al for the parody of "Gansger's Paradise"... there was a lot of legal mumbojumbo that went on around that, and that was AFTER Al got permission... and it was made! I guess ol' Coolio didn't have as much of a sense of humor as he thought!
My buddy Tigrr doesn't like to do the original CD bit, just because he's a die-hard fan of Karaoke...
For me, that's HOW Karaoke got started, so I don't have a problem with it!
I forgot one time to remove the vocal and the singer turned to me and said, "Dude! Hit the VOCAL switch!" SO it wasn't like he wanted to ride on the coat-tails of the original singer... he just wanted to sing to the original tune!
Matt
Posts: 3332 | From: Independence, mo | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Funny that Coolio had a hard time with Weird Al remaking his song.... considering Coolio stole it from Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise. Duh! How Lame! So I wonder if Weird Al had to get rights from both Coolio and Stevie Wonder?
Matt, I do know of a bunch of DJ's that'll have nothing to do with removing lyrics from a regular cd in a show.
[This message has been edited by Diane (edited April 02, 2002).]
posted
I cannot stand it when someone wants to sing over a regular CD because then the "monkey see...monkey doo doo" metality comes into frame. I would especially dislike the practice if someone wanted to do that for a contest. I don't care how good a vocal eliminator someone has it never totally takes the vocals out of songs.
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Not to mention that the "one-touch" or whatever you want to call them, versions, sound like crap, since as has been discussed here many times, it's not just the vocals that get reduced but all the mid-range music as well.
Posts: 2367 | From: London, Canada | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by AnthonyT: I would especially dislike the practice if someone wanted to do that for a contest.
I saw that happen once, and I can't believe they allowed it! How do you know how much of the original vocal you're actually listening to? It was "Voodoo" by Godsmack (before it was released).
Not to mention the fact that some people in the audience look up at a blank screen and think "what's going on here?"
posted
Actually, I've done some other Loverboy tunes from reg. CD's, like "It's Your Life", "Notorious", "Too Hot", etc. The crowd loved it. One time I did "It's Your Life", a lady stuffed a dollar bill in the mid-section of my jeans,; I was like "WHOAAAAAAA, COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!" I must've made a pretty cool impression. Thanks for the responses, BTW.
Posts: 38 | From: Louisville, KY USA | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
In regards to parody license and "Weird Al": Al will try to get the rights from the author of a song before he releases his parody. Some artists did not release those rights, so Al performs them live in concert, and there is not much that the authors can do (he probably pays the rights to perform the music, but not to record his version)
There have been some hilarious versions of The Offspring's "Come Out And Play" Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and Alanis' "Thank You" that you can only hear in Al's concerts, or on bootleg tapes.
"Weird Al" will be performing for a solid week right here in Orange County at the OC Fairgrounds this year in July. -Woo Hoo! (Vocal masking never ever quite works right, sounds bad, and if it sounds good to you, I wonder about the state of your ears. The singers that I know who prefer to perform to their own CD's seem to have some sort of ego problem where they want full attention directed to them and not at the TV screen. Just my observation. But if the song is not available on karaoke, then I guess you have to do it then. It still sounds bad.)
Posts: 622 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: Jul 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I used to do that from time to time--the first time I sang "Brown Eyed Girl" was off a muted Van CD, and I sang Elton John's "A Word in Spanish" that way as well. I stopped doing that because too many of the things I wanted to sing wouldn't mute.
One guy took it to the level of being a pain in the ass--he wanted to do the longest, most boring songs (i.e, "Supper's Ready" by Genesis). The KJ at show ignored him and eventually he moved on to other shows.
Best,
Mark
Posts: 1595 | From: Willoughby Hills, Ohio, USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
BTW, this one guy did some Elvis Presley stuff with his CD's. He sounded dead on like the dude. Later found out he works as an Elvis impersonator. Imagine that, says I.
Posts: 38 | From: Louisville, KY USA | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I would just like to add that some singers are very nerveous about how they sound in public and they need the reinforcement of the lead vocal just to keep them sane. I don't see the problem about this pratice unless there was a contest involved. Other than that whatever.
Posts: 1795 | From: Fall River, Ma | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
It actually annoys me to watch/listen to someone singing off a regular CD since as an audience member I would prefer to be able to read the words on the screen as they sing.
No offense, Markster! LOL This is a good topic. And a topic that hasn't been beaten to death over the past 3 years.
Let's see... I guess I actually tried to sing off a cd myself once. It was the song Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai, way back when the song was brand new here in the States. No one had released it on Karaoke yet. I fear forgetting the words of a song if I have to sing by heart... I tried to read the words printed inside the CD cover but they were sooooo insanely tiny that I finally gave up and sang by heart. Amazingly I remembered the song! This was during the time the song had lots of air time on the radio. People were shocked that I just dropped the words to the floor and kept singing. LOL! That was a one time and one time only deal. I REALLY prefer to sing with the words on the screen, thank you very much! LOL
<edited to remove old link>
[This message has been edited by Diane (edited July 12, 2005).]
posted
Believe me, we are not the first to have done this, far from it, in fact. So carry on, carry on, and blah, blah, blah, ya know. Take care, all. Markster
Posts: 38 | From: Louisville, KY USA | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
The one touch usually sounds like crap as most have experienced, besides, if it were well known amongst some of my audience, all we would be listening to would be gangsta crap,uh,I mean rap. Also, sidetrack to screen issue, I only have the singer's tv on at one venue I work, the front table of singers, regulars, were overpowering the singers on stage(and off key) so much that people were leaving. Anyone else experience similar ? Posts: 219 | From: Hamilton,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
I hope I didn't offend you by saying I really prefer to have the words on the screen. LOL! I just gotta have that crutch Last time I sang live with a cover band (yeah, I did it a couple of times) I was VERY nervous about forgetting the words! So nervous and pumped up that when exiting the stage (after finishing the song) I tripped down the tiny stairs in my 3 inch clogs and did a face plant into the dance floor! LMAO! Yep, gotta have that comfort zone! hehehehehe
<edited to remove old link>
[This message has been edited by Diane (edited July 12, 2005).]
posted
OH, yeah... even better yet... the song that I sang before falling down the stairs was Stupid Girl by Garbage. Could it have been anymore appropriate? Posts: 1108 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by l'opera voce: [B]Actually, there is nothing illegal about using a store bought CD at karaoke, so long as the ASCAP/BMI/SEASAC fees are paid. It's the same as if you had a regular DJ there.
Mark's usage is perfectly legal. Actually Dianne, it possibly could be illegal. I have written a report (free to KJ's)that I market on my site www.karaokehosting.com. It is a 46 page report written mostly for newcomers who want to be a KJ. I spent several weeks with a rep from BMI discussing legalities of doing karaoke. One whole chapter is about copyrights, piracy etc. This issue is touched upon: playing other people's disks in your show. It has a 50/50 chance of being illegal to do that kind of thing. Depending upon what the barowners have agreed to with the PROs. Keep On Singin'!-Susan
Posts: 8 | From: Atlanta, GA USA | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Susan, mentioning the report over and over again is getting tiresome. Maybe if you put the whole story under a "Click HERE" HREF it might be less irritating.
I know you're new... just wanting to avoid some ugliness!
Matt
Posts: 3332 | From: Independence, mo | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Actually the link above doesn't work properly. The "." typed in after the link makes the link useless. Ooops! P.S. My name is spelled with only ONE "n". Another typo no doubt.
[This message has been edited by Diane (edited April 05, 2002).]
posted
The accuracy of the link reflects the accuracy of the report... Some good info...some wrong info... and a obvious need for spell check. Posts: 900 | From: Ottawa, ON Canada | Registered: Dec 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
My little girl Amber brings her Sonic the Hedgehog CD and Sings it live while I mask the vox off. She is the BEST.....
Posts: 57 | From: Santa Fe Springs Cal. | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sonic the Hedgehog? I am not familiar with the game. Are you kidding? Or is there actual singable music on it? LOL!!!!!!
Posts: 1108 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Quite a few years ago, I ran into a singer who only would sing off her own "real" discs and for some reason was allowed to do this (for awhile) at some contests around town. Finally, when the songs would make it to karaoke (songs from people like Alanis and Garbage) she refused to do the songs claiming the music asn't as good as the original songs by the original artists. he funny thing was, now that these songs were on karaoke, she wasn't allowed to sing them for contests anymore and she just "disappeared" from the scene all together. She told everybody she had a record deal in the works (like most karaoke Divas/3Ts)so maybe she went to work singing backup vocals on the TELETUBBIES. Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Anthony T: Did she do "You Oughta Know?" I've noticed the original vocal bleeds through very noticably during the pre-chorus.
Posts: 1153 | From: Buffalo NY | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have done a few songs ala vocal mask, Smooth, It's Been Awhile, Higher as soon as the regular disc came out. This allowed me to do songs I loved way before the karaoke version, and sometimes long before anyone heard the song.
I have stuck to the karoke versions of those songs after they have been released.
I also do Electric Eye by Judas Priest, Green Manalishi (which I will do when HB XI comes out on karaoke) and Breathe by Smartbomb (the Faith Hill song, but alt rocked) to name a few. I do it on rare occaisions when I want to do a song I like that is not on karaoke. If it ain't available on Sound Choice that is the best option. It may not sould all that great, but it is better than the cheap karaoke discs. Also, when I do vox mask, it is at a place where there is no screen for the audience, but occasionally I will do it when there are, but, yes it works best when there is no screen for the audience.
Posts: 2246 | From: Palmdale, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
Um, you guys be nice now. I don't think Mark is aware of some of the laws out there. I do know that around 8 years ago, here in Portland, A local band caught wind of someone using their CD in a Karaoke show and made it known that if they ever caught anyone doing it, they would sue the KJ or establishment, as the case may be. 
I forgot one time to remove the vocal and the singer turned to me and said, "Dude! Hit the VOCAL switch!" SO it wasn't like he wanted to ride on the coat-tails of the original singer... he just wanted to sing to the original tune!
I saw that happen once, and I can't believe they allowed it! How do you know how much of the original vocal you're actually listening to? It was "Voodoo" by Godsmack (before it was released).
-Woo Hoo!
The accuracy of the link reflects the accuracy of the report...
