A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

KARAOKE

Program 09-05-24-B

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When he was 10-years-old, Brian Raftery realized he couldn't sing. Despite his lack of vocal prowess, Raftery is obsessed with karaoke. He's travelled around the world to trace karaoke's evolution from a cult fad to a multimillion-dollar industry. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll explore the world of karaoke. We'll experience live-band karaoke with The Gomers; it gives people the chance to be a rock star for five minutes.

SEGMENT 1:

Brian Raftery is the author of "Don't Stop Believin': How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed my Life." He reads from his book, and tells Jim Fleming about karaoke in Japan and the man who invented it. Also, TTBOOK's Doug Gordon takes us to "Rock Star Gomeroke" - a variation of karaoke where you sing along with a live band, The Gomers. They're a comedy-rock/experimental music/progressive rock band based in Madison, Wisconsin. It's quite a night! Here's a link to The Gomers' website.

SEGMENT 2:

Bjorn Turmann was born and raised in Vancouver, but has lived in Asia since 1993. Increasingly fascinated by karaoke, Turmann's written a novel called "The Karaoke World of Cortous Haire." He talks about it with Steve Paulson. Also, "Dictionaraoke" uses spoken word audio clips to create vocals that "sing" karaoke. We hear "The Snuggles Collective" in the Dictionaraoke version of Cameo's "Word Up." Here's a link to The Dictionaraoke Website.

SEGMENT 3:

Jonas Ridderstrale is the co-author (with Kjell A. Norstom) of "Karaoke Capitalism: Daring to Be Different in a Copycat World." He tells Anne Strainchamps about his premie. Also, Monique Skidmore is the author of "Karaoke Fascism: Burma and the Politics of Fear." She tells Steve Paulson that young people in Burma use karaoke as a form of political protest. And finally, a bit of celebrity karaoke: Glen Tilbrook of the British band Squeeze, performs a karaoke version of their 1981 hit, "Tempted."

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-05-24-A.

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Books & CDs:

Brian Raftery, Don't Stop Believin': How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life (Da Capo Press)
Bjorn Turmann, The Karaoke World of Cortous Haire (Konstrukt Books)
Monique Skidmore, Karaoke Fascism: Burma and the Politics of Fear (University of Pennsylvania Press)
Jonas Ridderstrale and Kjell A. Nordstrom, Karaoke Capitalism: Daring to Be Different in a Copycat World (Praeger)

Websites:

• -- Brian Raftery
  http://brianraftery.com/blog/
  
• -- Rock Star Gomeroke
  http://beeftone.com/gomers.html
  
• -- The Gomers
  http://beeftone.com/gomers-home.htm
  
• -- Bjorn Turmann/“The Karaoke World of Cortous Haire”
  http://www.cortoushaire.com/
  
• -- Dictionaraoke
  http://www.dictionaraoke.org/
  http://ia301511.us.archive.org/0/items/dictionaraoke/Cameo-word_up.mp3
  
• -- Jonas Ridderstrale/“Karaoke Capitalism”
  http://www.karaokecapitalism.com/frame.asp?page=about.asp
  
• -- Monique Skidmore/“Karaoke Fascism”
  http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14094.html
  
• -- Glenn Tilbrook
  http://www.glenntilbrook.com/

Music:

• -- “Pretty Vacant (Karaoke Version)”/Sex Pistols
  from the CD, “Easy Instrumental Hits, Vol. 94 (Karaoke Version)”/Easy Karaoke Players (E.K. Litd.)
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• -- Music used under Brian Raftery reading:
  -- “Bennie and the Jets (Karaoke Version)”/Elton John
  from the CD, “Karaoke Hits – In the Style of Elton John, Vol. 5” (Stingray Music)
  -- “Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Karaoke Version)”/Belinda Carlisle
  from the CD, “Karaoke – In the Style of Belinda Carlisle, Vol. 1” (Stingray Music)
  -- “My Heart Will Go On (Karaoke Version)”/Celine Dion
  from the CD, “Karaoke – In the Style of Celine Dion, Vol. 3” (Stingray Music)
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• -- “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding”/Elvis Costello
  from the CD, “Sound Choice Karaoke Star Series Pop/Rock: Hits of Elvis Costello, Vol. 1” (Sound Choice)
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• -- Songs featured in Gomeroke Mix:
  -- “House of the Rising Sun”/The Animals
  -- “L.A. Woman”/The Doors
  -- “Tom Sawyer”/Rush
  -- “Secret Agent Man”/Johnny River
  -- “Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)”/The Doors
  -- “Werewolves of London”/Warren Zevon
  -- “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (Karaoke Version)”/Dead or Alive
  from the CD, “Karaoke – In the Style of Dead or Alive – Vol. 1” (Stingray Music)
  -- “Don’t Stop Believin’”
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• -- “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass (Karaoke Version)”/Nick Lowe
  (Easy Karaoke.com/Doowop.com)
  -- Dictionaraoke version of “Word Up”/Cameo
  http://ia301511.us.archive.org/0/items/dictionaraoke/Cameo-word_up.mp3
  http://www.dictionaraoke.org/
  -- “Don’t You Want Me (Karaoke Version)”/Human League
  from the CD, “The Singing Machine/MTV Karaoke 80’s New Wave”
  (The Singing Machine/MTV)
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• -- Music used in Jonas Ridderstrale Mix:
  -- “Takin’ Care of Business (Karaoke Version)”/Bachman-Turner Overdrive
  from the CD, “Karaoke – In the Style of Bachman-Turner Overdrive” (Stingray Music)
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• -- Music used in Monique Skidmore Mix:
  -- “Top of the World (Karaoke Version)”/The Carpenters
  from the CD, “Karaoke – In the Style of The Carpenters – Vol. 1” (Stingray Music)
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  -- “That’s Entertainment (Karaoke Version)”/The Jam
  from the CD, “15 Karaoke Tracks in the Style of The Jam” (Sunfly Gold Series)

Distribution dates: week of 03/28/2010 - hour 2 week of 05/24/2009 - hour 2 click HERE for timings and cues

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