As American Idol nears end, Karaoke along the Grand Strand alive and well

Wayland Wright can sum up the popularity of karaoke in two words – self entertainment.

The manager of Bummz Beach Café in Myrtle Beach has given local would-be singing sensations the chance to belt out their favorite songs in the presence of friends and strangers for almost 20 years.

“Some people just like to entertain, or attempt to entertain,” Wright said.

Welcome to one of the Grand Strand’s most popular forms of entertainment, one that is two parts genuine talent, three parts overcoming stage fright and four parts liquid courage.

“I think sometimes alcohol plays a part,” said Wright.

According to www.karaokescene.com, the word “karaoke” is a Japanese abbreviated compound word; “kara” comes from karappo, meaning empty, while “oke” is the abbreviation of okesutura, or orchestra.

Karaoke’s invention is credited to a man named Daisuke Inoue, who was born in a small Japanese town in 1940, according to a Dec. 13, 2013 article of “The Atlantic.”

In 1969, Inoue was playing keyboards in a bar when the president of a small company asked if the musician could tape a number of the businessman’s favorite songs onto an open-reel tape recorder in the key that would best suit his voice.

The reason? The president was meeting business clients in another town and eventually they would all end up drinking and he would be called on to sing, according to “The Atlantic” article.

“Daisuke, your keyboard playing is the only music that I can sing to!” the company president was quoted in the article as saying. This fateful meeting led to the invention of the Juke 8, which allowed wannabe warblers to put money into a machine with a microphone, speaker and amplifier and then sing along to the song of their choice.

The machine eventually entered the Japanese market in 1971. And as anyone who has ever spent a hazy night in a Myrtle Beach area bar can attest, that concept eventually spread west and continues to surge to this day.

It seemed to reach its zenith with the 2002 premier of FOX’s former ratings juggernaut “American Idol,” which essentially boiled down to a karaoke competition that millions tuned in for.

Kacey Wagner hoped to be one of those who got to sing for the masses.

The Myrtle Beach resident got in line at 8 a.m. along Ocean Boulevard in July 2014 when the “American Idol” audition bus rolled into town ahead of the show’s 14th season.

After listening to the same three songs over and over again, Wagner finally settled on Etta James’ “At Last” as the one she would perform for the four producers when it came her turn.

That was almost seven hours later. At 2:45 p.m., Wagner had 30 seconds to make an impression.

“It was very nerve-racking,” she said.

Wagner ultimately didn’t get past that Myrtle Beach audition phase, but was thrilled to have the opportunity. The thoughts going through her mind, she said, was that three or four years ago, she wouldn’t sing in front of anyone. Then, there she was, belting out a classic in front of producers for an internationally renowned talent competition, with 2,000 other hopefuls standing behind her.

“I overcame that fear of, ‘I’m not good enough. I’m not good enough,’” Wagner said.

She has karaoke to thank for that.

Wagner has been signing since she was a little girl, albeit not in front of crowds. Stage fright took over. Still, she found her courage and performed her first karaoke number – a cover of Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy” – three years ago at Longbeard’s Bar and Grill in Carolina Forest.

It was love at first song.

“It was nerve-racking, but by the time I was done and sat down, I was like, ‘Can I go again?’” Wagner said.

She’s been hooked ever since.

“It just makes you feel alive, getting up and singing,” Wagner said.

Nary Chounlamany likes the power karaoke has to make people connect, whether through the strengthening or relationships or the building of new ones.

“It’s actually the coolest thing,” she said.

Chounlamany credits karaoke with helping her become closer to her brother, Timothy. Previously, they didn’t hang out that much, she said. Then, when tboth discovered a mutual love for karaoke, they had something new to bond over.

“He literally has become a more social person,” Chounlamany said of her brother.

The two will often bring that sibling connection to the stage and duet on Bon Jovi’s immortal “Livin’ On A Prayer,” she added.

“I absolutely love karaoke. It’s brought me and my friends closer, my family closer,” Chounlamany said.

Jimmy Forbes, manager at Murphy’s Law in Carolina Forest, said their Wednesday and Saturday karaoke nights will generally attract between 30 and 40 people each.

He sees a mixture of those who are serious about it and will sing the same song week in and week out, and those who are just out with friends and family looking to have a good time.

“People have fun doing it, whether they’re serious or just want to have fun,” Forbes said.

Chounlamany said those who maybe aren’t as inclined to get up and sing can still have fun by simply sitting back and watching the good and the not-so-good wailers up on stage.

And while “Idol,” the nation’s most famous karaoke competition, begins its swan song on Jan. 6, the curtain is not going to fall on the Myrtle Beach karaoke scene anytime soon.

Wagner even has a simple piece of advice for those who may be a little hesitant to get up and give it a shot; treat it as though you are back in your car and singing along to your favorite song without a care in the world.

“It’s a carefree activity. It’s a fun activity. It’s not meant to be so serious,” she said.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 11:47 AM with the headline "As American Idol nears end, Karaoke along the Grand Strand alive and well."