“Empty orchestra”: a brief history of karaoke
When we talk about music as a connective art form, we usually mean on a deep and spiritual level. For instance, when you go and watch one of your favourite singers perform a song that has particularly moved you, there is something incredibly beautiful about knowing that the room full of strangers also watching has felt a similar experience, and you are all spiritually connected through that feeling. However, music doesn’t always have to be so profound.
I would argue that the reason music is probably the most consumed art form is because of its versatility and accessibility. To listen to a song requires three minutes of your time, as opposed to when you watch a series or film, and to experience a wide range of music, you need only queue for a few different songs as opposed to walking around a gallery and reading a great detail of subtext to art. It’s this versatility that also means the way music can connect isn’t as black and white as the emotional, spiritual connection referenced above.
A lot of the time, music is just fun. There is nothing to read into, nothing to have explained to you, it’s just fun to listen to songs, dance to them and, of course, singalong to them. That’s where the karaoke machine comes into play. The cornerstone of any good work night out, birthday party or pub outing, the karaoke machine takes on significant importance in different countries and cultures worldwide. It is just as important to musical consumption as live shows and record players. So, where did it all start?
While it may be a global phenomenon now, karaoke started in the 1970s around Kobe, Japan. In fact, the word karaoke has Japanese origin, as it translates to “empty orchestra.” The first half of the word comes from the term “karappo,” which means empty, and the second half comes from “okesutora,” which means orchestra.
While we know it came from Japan, the original inventor of karaoke remains up for contention. A number of people had the idea, but many struggled to get it off the ground thanks to licensing and logistical issues. Then, other people made developments to the karaoke machine, which helped it become what we know today, but they couldn’t be called the original inventors of it. The origin of this party-centric machine is found within three particular individuals.
This first is Chigeichi Negishi, who had the idea for the karaoke machine because he loved to sing while doing his job. He spoke to one of the head engineers at his work and asked them to put a microphone amp and mixing circuit onto one of the 8-tape decks that his factory produced. This made it so that when Negishi sang while working, he could hear himself over his favourite tracks. The two liked the idea to the point they were keen on selling more but decided against doing so because of distribution issues.
Next is Kobe musician Daisuke Inoue. He invented a karaoke machine where the songs on the machine were instrumentals he recorded himself but done at a different key, making it easier for people to singalong. He eventually created a coin-operated design, which he put in some bars and saw success with. This is most likely the trigger that started the karaoke trend we all know and love today.
However, the only person to own a patent for the karaoke machine was Roberto del Rosario, a Filipino inventor. Karaoke is incredibly popular in the Philippines today due to the influence of del Rosario. In fact, the activity is so popular that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the public was asked to report late-night karaoke singers to the correct authorities, as some people couldn’t bear to be away from it.
Who would have thought that what seemed like such a small and comical invention at the time would end up shaping a massive part of musical culture? An empty orchestra that has been steadily filling up for decades now.
