I grew up in a music-loving family. A long car-ride inevitably involved a great deal of singing, and we were all encouraged to play musical instruments. I learned how to play the flute in high school, and although I became quite good at it I preferred to sing. However, one cannot play the flute and sing at the same time, something that frustrated me to no end; being in the school band was cool, but what I secretly hankered for was a microphone close to my lips instead of a flute!
I sang in the church choir but that never satisfied my itch; I wanted to belt out a very different kind of music, music that wouldn’t have gone down too well with the congregation, not to mention Reverend Armstrong! I thought about studying music at university, and was dismayed to discover that I lacked the extensive musical training required. I therefore obtained a degree in English and History, discovering a few years later that a cooking course would have been a lot more beneficial! My dreams of becoming a rock star seemed forever dashed until I discovered karaoke.
Karaoke is a Japanese invention that involves taping popular tunes without the singer’s voice, allowing participants to sing a specifically chosen song with their own voices. I was introduced to this novel form of entertainment at a popular night club in Martinique, and was quite impressed. I had always had trouble remembering all the lyrics to a song, but with karaoke the words flash across a screen as the music is played, what a wonderful thing! I got up on the stage that night and sang my heart out, receiving enthusiastic claps and cheers from the bar’s patrons for my efforts. Of course, the liquored-up audience applauded loudly for everyone, but having that microphone in my hand reminded me that deep down I was REALLY a rock star, not a pizza queen!
The day arrived when Karaoke was introduced on Bequia, and I was always happy to drop what I was doing to get in front of the mic. It became a popular form of entertainment on the island, and many vied for a chance to sing their favourite songs. Some people sang very badly and were painful to listen to, but the raw talent displayed by others was downright amazing. Many Bequians I had always considered quiet and shy were transformed when they picked up the microphone, and at times the beauty of their voices brought me close to tears.
The Karaoke craze on Bequia lasted for a couple of years, then began to peter out. Business places realized they were not making any money on those nights; people were still eager to sing but were slow to dip hands in their pockets to buy drinks, and the entertainment that had been so popular began to happen less and less. One establishment near our house at Belmont continued offering Karaoke, and the music was loud enough for us to distinguish who was singing. Yes, Bequia IS that small! I would groan “Oh GAWD, it’s HIM again!” into my pillow, or “there she goes again!” as I pulled the covers over my head. It seemed that the island’s excellent singers had lost their enthusiasm for karaoke, leaving the out-of-key singers to torture us once a week.
One year someone gave me a small karaoke machine for Christmas, and we certainly had fun with friends and family in our living room! I decided to take it to the Pizzeria staff party, my employees and their families would love hearing each other sing. After we had eaten, I set the machine up in the dining room and it was an instant hit; one after the other my staff stepped up to the microphone, and although some had excellent voices I was waiting for the professional amongst them to come forward. Chester was the lead singer and drummer in the band “New Direction”, and he sang beautifully. It seemed I was waiting in vain, Chester smiled and laughed as the others sang but remained seated.
I approached Chester and asked him why he wasn’t singing. Looking me straight in the eye he said;
“Karaoke is for people who can’t sing”.
Well, that certainly burst my little bubble! I had felt like the rock star I was meant to be when I sang Karaoke but Chester knew better! In the end Chester DID sing, and his participation made the evening special. Rest in Peace Chester!
