Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 12 text:

Belting out his chosen tune, John Hill, senior in psychology, sings to the crowd. Bombers offered karaoke to attract more students. (Photo by Todd Feeback) 10 karaoke

Page 11 text:

LeDoux performs one of his songs during the beginning of his act at the Tuttle Creek River Pond Area. LeDoux sang such crowd favorites as Call of the Wild and Cadillac Ranch. Above: Dan Trevithick, senior in construction science and management, and Russel Redenbaugh, St. George resident, work security for the LeDoux concert on horseback. (Photos by Cary Conover) ledoux 9

Page 13 text:

flirting with fame by Lesley Moss While singing, Valerie Michaelis, sophomore in kinesiology, and Scott Walker, graduate student in accounting, receive help from a zealot member of audience. Above: Chris and Suzanne Hartson, Fort Riley residents, discuss which song to sing. (Photo by Todd Feeback) Michaelis and Adriene McGuire, KQLA-FM 103.9 substitute disc jockey, dance at Bombers while waiting for their next lines to be cued up on the TV monitor. (Photo by Darren Whitley) taking advantage of a moment in the spotlight, students flocked to karaoke stages at local bars. Through singing and mimicking popular songs from recent decades, students alleviated stress and flirted with fame. Although some who did karaoke were talented singers, the nature of karaoke gave others the chance to shine. I ' m terrible, but no one expects you to do well, especially in a bar, said Robin Hartman, junior in human development and family studies and pre-law. Valerie Michaelis, sophomore in kinesiology, did karaoke just to have fun. Half the time, the fun part is not being a good singer, she said. On occasion, it took a little prodding to get singers on stage, Hartman said. Some people will do it only if they get dared — others just live it up, she said. Some students preferred to sing in groups. I ' d never sing by myself, nor would I do it to impress a girl, Jarrod Fish, senior in finance and management, said. Although karaoke was a game for some, it was a business for others. Four students, who called themselves Grand Central Station, became regulars at karaoke events during the past three years. Doug Walsh, junior in agricultural economics, said Grand Central Station formed when the four were freshmen in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. The biggest attraction to karaoke, Walsh said, was being the center of attention and getting to perform. A friend of ours asked us to sing for a bachelorette party, and we took her up on her offer. Ever since, the word has been out, Casey Niemann, junior in agricultural business and milling science, said. They said they stayed away from slow songs and believed dance moves and costumes also improved their performances. One of our craziest performances was when we came out on the stage as the Jackson Five and stripped down to the Bee Gees gear to the music we had dubbed, Chris Mullinix, junior in animal sciences and industry, said. Doug Roney, junior in mechanical engineering and milling science and management, said the group did not do karaoke just to win prizes. We just like to have fun, and we ' re not afraid to take the limelight, he said. Even though the group members were outgoing, Roney said, they still got nervous. I get nervous when we don ' t have as much practice or if we are performing for an older crowd, he said. Hartman said she believed karaoke would continue to be a popular form of entertainment for college students. The first time I saw karaoke was when we got to college, she said, and I think it has evolved from a formal thing to a more casual, social thing. One of our craziest performances was when we came out on the stage as the Jackson Five and stripped down to the Bee Gees gear to the music we had dubbed. — Chris Mullinix, junior in animal sciences and industry karaoke 11