Creepy!

There are literally thousands of karaoke songs from which to choose.  When I first started singing karaoke, I remember sitting with the songbook and scanning page after page looking for songs I might be able to sing. The selection is daunting.  I've seen people spend well over an hour looking for a song before choosing Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," one of the most requested karaoke songs of all-time.  It's cute when the person handing me the request slip, adds: "You're gonna love it!"

As the DJ, you can learn a lot about people based on the songs they choose to sing.  Of course, the primary thing you learn is a person's musical tastes, which sometimes can be quite revealing about who they are.  Do they pick happy songs all the time?  Dark, brooding ballads?  Love songs?  Sad love songs? Some people are adventurous with their selections, some play it safe. Some like whatever is popular on Top 40.  In general, though, people pick songs with which they are familiar from high school or college. Therefore, the more diverse the crowd, the greater the variety of songs you'll hear. Personal taste aside, everyone (and their musical taste) is welcome at my show except for Neo-Nazis.  I really can't stand Nazis or anyone else on the radar of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

However, there is one song which always leaves me scratching my head - "Creep" by Radiohead. Let me say this first.  It's a great song.  It's also very hard to sing.  There is an extremely high part which only very good singers should attempt.  That being said, I don't really care which song a person chooses.  Karaoke is not necessarily about great singing.  It's something to do at a bar for fun, even if some people take their singing way too seriously.  Some people play pool, some shoot darts, some sing.  As long as everyone is having a good time, I am happy.

What makes we wonder about "Creep" is why so many people identify with it.  And to be truthful, I love the song too. But why do people seemingly identify with the lyrics - "I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here?"  When someone sings it, people sing along - with fervor.  Are we really that dysfunctional as a society? Are we all so lonely and feeling weird?

Another great thing about karaoke is that it allows people to work through their emotions.  Did you just go through a break up?  Sing a sad love song.  Get a new job?  Sing something happy.  But what are you feeling when you sing "Creep?"

Here are some possibilities: 1) You just like the song for its own sake, you're a great singer and you can nail it; 2) you are down in the dumps for whatever reason and feeling lonely; 3) you're a creep; 4) you're a weirdo, or; 5) you're a serial killer.

I've actually had some marginally creepy people sing this song over the years.  Creeped me out, anyway. So if you're creepy and asking what the hell you're doing in public, maybe you should leave and get some serious help.   Just saying.