In Defense of Karaoke

It may be a challenge to even consider karaoke while it's still light outside or if you're stone cold sober. But Brian Raftery thinks karaoke has to be free of its boozy closet, that it's true music appreciation.

Brian is the author of Don't Stop Believin': How Karaoke Conquered The World and Changed My Life, and he's out to convert those who find it declasse, indulgent or just plain unlistenable, now that programs like American Idol have erased the barrier between singing into a hairbrush in the bathroom mirror and making an idiot (or star) of yourself in front of millions of TV viewers.

We also hear from independent producer Scott Gurian, who never thought of karaoke as more than a novelty. Then he tagged along while his father got hooked on karaoke bars. Like our previous guest, Scott discovered that it’s much more than mouthing it. He produced his story for Prime Time Radio’s Postscript.

Brian Raftery's blog

Brian's article in Slate on "Karaoke Rage"

(Photo by Brady Carlson, NHPR)