Karaoke Nights: An Ethnographic Rhapsody (Ethnographic Alternatives) (Paperback)

by Rob Drew (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Karaoke. The word conjures all kinds of visions-possible stardom, abject performance terror, or just head shaking bewilderment. Ten years ago when the Japanese craze had only recently arrived in the U.S., Rob Drew was drawn to the phenomenon as subject of research. What he discovered will fascinate and surprise you, whether you're a student of popular culture or just curious what's going to happen next Saturday when you get up to sing your first song at the corner bar. "Karaoke NIghts" is both a keen observation on the external behavior of deejays, performers, and audience and an intimate portrait of the emotional roller coaster that is the internal life of a karaoke singer. Drew lets you feel just what it's like to be the performer-agonizing over the song, feeling the nervous anticipation, analyzing your performance. At the same time he provides a probing analysis of the varied roles karaoke plays in popular culture and how it can guide an understanding of "local music" and the relationship of ordinary people to stardom.

About the Author
Rob Drew teaches communication at Saginaw Valley State University. His research interests include ethnography, popular music, and media audiences.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: AltaMira Press (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759100470
• ISBN-13: 978-0759100473
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,016,079 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Karaoke Scholarship, June 1, 2005

By	Z. Stiegler "stiegler_z" (Iowa City, IA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's been a while since I read the book, so my review may not be as informed as one would hope. However, Drew presents here a fun, interesting and unique application of media ethnography that is more familiar than foreign.

I cannot tell a lie. I picked this up due to my own obsession with karaoke. Drew's own interests clearly motivated the project, which he makes no efforts to conceal. While some argue such a position aversely affects ethnographic research, at least in this case, I think Drew's own interest and passion in the topic greatly enhance the book.

Drew explores a variety of aspects of karaoke culture - karaoke abroad, performing, deejaying, industry, audience, etc. While this provides a multifaceted and interesting read, I for one would have appreciated a slightly deeper analysis (the book clocks in at around 120 pages). While the information he does provide is intriguing, there is more to be examined/said, and I think he held back a bit on that front.

Karaoke regulars will find themselves nodding in agreement throughout the book, particularly in regards to audience and performer behavior. While the raw information may not be new to karaoke enthusiasts, it is Drew's analysis which drives it all home. The theoretical framework Drew works within draws heavily on communication and social-psych studies regarding interpersonal interaction (lots of Goffman here), and he pulls it together very well.

The book need not be only for the karaoke initiated nor for a purely academic audience. Drew's book is written very lucidly, is not oppressively academic in tone. Readers who aren't going to karaoke bars on a weekly basis should also find the book an interesting read from an observational perspective in terms of behavior and popular culture. Beyond that, it's one more statement about the central role popular music plays in our lives.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Drew's the Man!, April 27, 2002

By	Michael H McGinnis (Saginaw, Mi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karaoke Nights: An Ethnographic Rhapsody (Ethnographic Alternatives) (Hardcover)

Dr Drew is a man with an amazing gift. He has a great sense of knowledge, and it show in both the way he teaches, and the way he writes. He has the power to move students, and help them to pursue achieving their goals.

Bringing a love of karaoke and music to life in his book, Dr. Drew takes you on a ride through the life of the Karaoke World.

If your a fan of any type of music, you'll love the book, and just imagine the writer of the book performing one of his favorite toons, the Scorpions "Rock You Like a Hurricane!"