Medicated by Karaoke

cease2exist

I have an anxiety disorder. It has two faces. On the one side, it's the social component. It's adorable. I have trouble talking to attractive women. I worry about bothering people or that people secretly don't like me. Very radio-friendly. The other side, not so much. That's the part where I feel overwhelmed, I get super profane, punch walls, slam doors, throw things, etc. I've been medicated for that scary side since the spring, and some 90-odd percent of the time, it's been helpful. It's a mild medication I'm on, as I don't want to be zombified or anything.

Naturally, cuddling is far more powerful for me. Alas, the pro I was using can no longer host, all the other pros are out of my price range, and enthusiasts consistently do not get back to me. Now, of course, complaining about that lacking won't do an ounce to fix it. I need to keep rolling forward, make progress when and where I can.

On the tail-end of another long story about my marriage falling apart and losing several friends shortly thereafter, I've been using the MeetUp app to make new friends, get out and involved in activities that aren't focused solely on alcohol (as I don't drink at all). Through that, I came upon a drug ALMOST as powerful as cuddling: karaoke.

Now, I've done karaoke before at friends' houses, with the dinky little machine and the Top 40 CDs, and I sang my heart out to some Kelly Clarkson when I did, but going to the actual venue I got to go to (three times now) was a whole new ball game. They had some stuff with a little grit to it that I actually like, like Rise Against, A Day To Remember, Disturbed, Evanescence; stuff I could really, and really do, get into the zone with.

I've wanted to have a band for half my life. It's probably never going to happen, pending a miracle. In the mean time, I get all the feeling of performing by doing karaoke. I get to pick these amazing rock songs and put my heart into them, I always get a good crowd that is super into my atypical song choices, usually leading to some wonderful singalongs, and I always meet at least one person that wants to stay in touch afterwards.

It is such a wonderful thing to just get out there and freely be my real self and get such a positive response to it. I always leave karaoke nights feeling absolutely on fire in the best possible way.

I love singing, but I've only done karaoke a couple of times. Generally I sing with my family. I'm pretty sure that singing full out for a good hour or so counts as aerobic exercise—I always feel a bit dizzy by the end, but really pumped. It's not the same as cuddling, but it definitely has some great effects.

When you sing Evanescence, do you pitch it an octave low? Her voice can get pretty high.

cease2exist

I go like mid-high. I'm no Any Lee by any possible metric, haha.

PaulaDahla

My karoake experience almost exactly! I was so anxious the first time I sang and for quite a while after.
But know I belt it out and find that yes, standing there leaving it all behind is so theraputic. I do Grace Slick, Peggy Lee, Janis Joplin... but belting White Rabbit well is a workout. The one thing that still throws me though is when I'm singing so well that the bar pauses for a moment and looks at me? Freaks me out everytime! The best part is that no one really cares, I can't stress myself out but then it's over no one remembers and we all move on. Karaoke is the perfect way to remind me that I'm not under a microscope and that no is watching!

But yes, you can get anything to sing. Marilyn Manson's version of Zombie, Bodies by Drowning Pool, I have a friend who sings that so amazingly the whole joint gets into it! But he can't sing it every time because he can't always scream. But when he sings Bodies he nails it.

My main DJ is looking for Greta Van Fleet right now. I can't wait.

cease2exist

I was super nervous at first. I knew I could sing the song, but I didn't know how people would feel about it. I chose "Savior" by Rise Against. I wasn't sure if that was too niche for everyone. It was not. Everyone got so excited and sang along with me, it was beautiful.

SnugglewithSam

Karaoke is one of my favorite pastimes a close friend of mine with acute anxiety has been addicted to it for nearlya year and a half, and it's done wonders on his outlook.

New idea: rent a karaoke room for karaoke cuddles?

cease2exist

That would be killer for when I cover My Immortal and Sound Of Silence, haha.

DeathbyChocolat

I definitely agree with you people don't realize it's like a stress reliever they think that you'll be more nervous but once you sing the song out and then people like it and you like it and everybody's feeling it it's a good feeling i sing karaoke at least once a week

Kempist

No thanks. I prefer singing in private. If a cuddler liked the same music as I do it would be great cuddling, listening to music and singing along. There was one who had similar music tastes but other than that there wasn't much connection so it never got to the point where we sang together.

cease2exist

I forgot to mention, I did have a nice cuddle moment the last time I went. This one adorable young lady was super into my song choices and we hung around each other most of the night, despite her clearly having a boyfriend present. When it was time to leave, she gave me such a long, close hug and kept telling me I was amazing. She was tipsy as hell by this point, but it was still very sweet.

Mark007

I am a Filipino-Canadian so just I imagine what a Karaoke/Videoke Party we throw out every month. It helps to manage your social skills and social awareness, indeed. You need to have good tone and skillful. You have to select the songs that you know to sing well-enough to finish.

Suede

Have you seen Aggretsuko on Netflix? She is my spirit animal. If you haven't seen it yet, she's a Sanrio looking character like Hello Kitty except she's a red panda who hates her office job and shitty, chauvinistic boss. To get it all out, she goes to karaoke and sings death metal but it's her little secret.
I have dealt with social anxiety and general anxiety all my life but something about karaoke helps me to work past it

cease2exist

@Suede, would you believe me if I told you that you were the fourth person so far to mention Aggretsuko to me? Hahaha. I haven't seen it, but I just might have to, at some point, now. I do not to find a karaoke place where I can scream more.....hahaha.

UKGuy

It must be great to be able to sing. Both my daughters have beautiful voices, but they inherited it from my ex-wife who had a fantastic singing voice. She in turn inherited it from her mother. Neither of my daughters would ever dream of singing in public. I keep trying to get them to record a duet on Youtube but so far have been unsuccessful.

cease2exist

Going again tonight. Anyone that wants to join, shoot me a message! Philly area.