THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605010111
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKLIN LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
SHE SANG ``I'm Sorry'' then said she was.
Jo Anne Kitchen sang like a bird - a woodpecker.
With a smile on her face and a musical lump in her throat, she went from A flat to D very flat, flitted offkey, chirped falsetto.
When Jo Anne was done there was applause - music to her ears, even though she has no ear for music.
Karaoke - where bravery is more important than talent, where in-the-shower-only singers can dry off, get out, grab a microphone and - er - entertain.
It happens every Friday in the Franklin Bowling Center lounge, its doors tightly shuttered to eliminate the noise of the bowlers and/or to protect the bowlers from karaoke.
For those unfamiliar with the basement version of the Amateur Hour, introduced several years ago in Japan, it works like this:
The performer faces a video monitor, a device called karaoke - Japanese for empty orchestra.
The singer sees a video, similar to what is on VH-1 and CMT, although, obviously, costing a lot less to produce. On the bottom are the words of the song he is attempting to sing. The instrumentals provide the background.
Choice of song comes after perusing several thick books containing the titles of songs of every genre - rock, rhythm and blues, top-40, seasonal stuff, rap, country.
The latter was the redneck favorite at the Bowling Center. Pick what you want to sing, then disc jockey, Eric Crafton, calls on you.
``It gives everybody a chance to act the fool,'' he said, ``but there are some good singers. Some people with talent do come to show what they can do.''
There are new faces all the time but, like ants at a picnic, the same people usually show up.
``We're having fun and loving everybody,'' said Carol Ellis. ``That's what karaoke is all about.''
That's what truck driver, Jimmy Long, is all about.
Seldom quiet, always happy, he encouraged every performer, egging them on to greater things. When he took his turn in the spotlight, those he egged on, egged him on, tempted to use real eggs.
Jimmy sang, Jimmy danced. Jimmy proved that as a singer he is a good dancer.
He did hit some serious notes. They were in the Elvis arrangement of ``My Way.''
He sang it twice. It worked. His wife, Buffy, jumped up from her seat, shook her bod and yelled, ``Oh, God, you give me goose bumps, baby.''
Jimmy was trying.
He wasn't the only truck drivin' performer.
His friend, Sam Simmons, offered a respectable version of ``Almost Persuaded'' and, whilst leaning against the wall, sang a 60-plus sexy version of ``Hello, Darlin'.''
``Hello, Mary Lou,'' was offered by a Franklin Bowling Center newcomer, Keith Driver.
``This,'' he said, ``is gonna be on my next album.''
Buffy has listened to many country albums. Most of the numbers she offered were performed without the help of the words on the monitor.
She handled her songs respectably, at one point looking steely-eyed around the room, then back at her husband, as she sang, ``You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man.''
Four men got together to offer a couple numbers, jumbling ``Jambalaya,'' the French phrases sounding more like pig Latin.
It is all done for the fun of it, a mix of usually bad singing and good times.
If you can read, you can do karaoke.
``I like being around people in a nice place,'' Peggy Burgess said.
The people, like most of the songs, are uptempo, carrying on with karaoke for three happy hours.
They are regular folks who transform themselves into lounge stars, feeling like stars. And, why not?
They don't have to worry about managers, agents, contracts - or talent. MEMO: Most local clubs devote a night or two to karaoke. We will visit them
all from time to time.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Jo Anne Kitchen sings karaoke at the Franklin Bowling Center
lounge.
by CNB