Karaoke World Championship

Hi all!! 

Lots and LOTS has happened over the summer musically. 

I had decided to enter into a karaoke competition! This competition is, in essence, a karaoke competition: with a large focus on performance and stage presence (which was a challenge having so many video submissions due to Covid), but if you take a look at the judging rubric, the focus on technique and singing ability was attractive for me! 

It had been a long time since I really entered into an intense musical competition, so it is safe to say that I was pretty neurotic throughout, but I had a ton of fun. 

One of my biggest 'failures' in music has been song choice - and this absolutely became an issue throughout the competition with the songs that I chose wihout the input of others. I get in my head about song choice to the point that I made some decisions that were detrimental to my performance. With that said, however, I think I began to hit my stride near the end of the competition. 

For the entrance videos, I had to submit two. I chose ro submit La Vie En Rose, as performed by Lady Gaga, as well as Still Got This Thing For You by Alannah Myles. 

I learned two major lessons here: 

1. If a song is just a really pretty song without a story or much emotional range, it may sound great but may seem boring. 

2. Choosing rock songs is a major risk. Rock relies on the instrumentals behind the vocalist for the feel that we get from listening to rock. Unless you are confident and comfortable with stage presence (which I am not .... yet!) these songs can fall flat. Especially when they have to be video submissions. 

I made it to the next round and had essential help in song choice. So I performed Foolish Games by Jewel and I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Gladys Knight and The Pips. While I felt I made some major improvements in showing emotion and bringing some grit and soul into my performance, I still had a long way to go. But I DID make it to provincial finals. 

Provincial Finals were actually held in person - on a stage and in front of an audience. This was such a great experience. 

I was to choose three songs - two of which would be performed on the one day and the third to be performed on the second day. 

My first song was Rise Up by Andra Day. Unfortunately for me, I connected TOO MUCH to this song. I walked out on stage in a real hospital gown - raw from the get-go. This meant that I was fully in tears at the beginning, with my voice cracking. Then, trying to get it together, I had to disconnect from the emotion, which took away from my performance. 

My second song was Walkashame by Meghan Trainor. This was SO MUCH FUN! I actually wore 'pants inside out', a mis-buttoned overly large men's dress shirt, with my hair a complete mess. It was an incredibly fun performance, but left a bit to be desired vocally. 

My third song was I Can Hear the Bells from Hairspray - and I had the hair and outfit to match. Another fun song, a bit better melodically, but without enough range. 

(See how much I am learning about what works and what doesn't?!) 

Luckily, I still managed to make it into the top 20 Provincially, which propelled me to Nationals!! AND I bought myself a custom wired microphone AT the Provincials event, which was just a fun purchase. (I don't know if you can tell but it's a sparkly purple!) 

Again, due to Covid, Nationals submissions had to be virtual instead of live in-person performances. We, however, had access to a professional videographer and sound technician, which gave these video submissions so much more professional. 

Nationals is where I really felt I was getting the hang of my song choices. I learned that, for me, I cannot always show sadness within my voice. I can emote it and try to tell a story, but to actually bring emotion into my vocal quality is a talent I am currently working towards. With that said, I figured out that I can bring in a flirty quality, or frustration, anger, plaintive, and a bit of gritty soul. 

I also realized that, although faster songs are better emotionally, I need my songs to have enough held notes to showcase my voice. So fast, but not too fast, is the best tempo for me, specifically. I also love having the opportunity to make a song my own and to make appropriate and respectful stylistic changes. 

My first song was Call Me by Blondie, but in the style of Postmodern Jukebox. Very 20s lounge-singer feel and a look to match. 

My second song was Mercy by Duffy. Although very repetitive, this song allowed for major stylistic changes and opportunities to show that grit, that soul, and a range! I was able to trill my way up the octave above for a nice climactic moment. This song is fun to sing and so many different ways TO sing it. Such a variation. 

My third song - by far my best performance - would only be seen in the competition if I made the top 20. 

I did!!! 

This song is one of my best and favourite songs I have EVER performed. The song was Long John Blues by Meghan Mullally. Some of you may know it from the movie Burlesque, where Kristin Bell lip-syncs... about a dentist. It is a highly flirty blues-y song that is heavy with innuendo. I paired this performance with a fitted, elegant, mermaid gown for a nice dichotomous look. A great contrast and contradiction between what the lyrics actually are and what the performance and vocal style show the lyrics to be meaning. 

I had the most fun singing this song, and I wish I had had the opportunity to sing this in front of a live audience. 

With these three songs, I managed to win FOURTH PLACE nationally! My first year! 

I am beyond thrilled for the result, the experience, and the challenge. I have learned so much about my own strengths and limitations, and I have gotten a crash course in song choice. I am hoping to enter it again next year, hopefully a touch less neurotic. You know, instead of considering over 2000 different songs, being able to know what kind of songs suit my voice and performance ability the best. 

Thank you SO much to everyone who had to put up with my panicked middle-of-the-night song choice questions and who have been so supportive throughout this months-long competition. 

Now I get to learn even more next year! 

Huge thanks to Joey and Suzanne, whose instruction and help were vital, as well as my family, friends, and my loving and ever-so patient husband. What a year to compete!