How karaoke can be the pick-me-up you need

Drop your books and pick up a microphone!

Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel like life is weighing you down? You might have a paper due soon that you haven’t started or a test you aren’t prepared for. You have so much to do with so little time.

We all have days when life gets a bit hectic. At times, we can feel overwhelmed juggling all the responsibilities we have. Trying to balance all our priorities can lead to a high level of stress.

Stress may not appear to be overly concerning — after all, who doesn’t experience stress in life? But high levels of stress over a prolonged period of time can have a real impact on students.

That said, there are plenty of healthy ways to learn to cope with it. Blowing off steam doing something fun is a great (and enjoyable) way to combat feelings of anxiety and stress in general.

Make time for fun

An animated image of a man with slicked back grey hair and blue eyes motioning the phrase "Just have fun out there," which is also spelled out in letters at the bottom of the image. — *Via GIPHY*

Instead of throwing your hands in the air in frustration, take a moment to pause and reflect on what’s important in life. We all have things that we need to get accomplished, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of our mental health. Having fun is a great way to combat mental health issues!

With that in mind, casual hangouts with friends can certainly be a good time, but pairing it with an activity like karaoke can take your hangout to the next level.

If you’re looking for something different, as opposed to just hanging out casually, then this is it.

So why not gather your friends and make tonight a karaoke night?

What even is karaoke?

A man with a red velvet jacket dramatically singing into a microphone. The lyrics below him spell "Hold me closer, tiny dancer." — *Via GIPHY*

Karaoke originated in Japan. In Japanese, it means “empty orchestra.” Pretty cool, right?

Put simply, it’s a form of singing along to a pre-recorded instrumental piece of music with lyrics displayed on a screen. You are given a microphone and are able to sing along to the lyrics like you’re the second coming of Taylor Swift or Bruno Mars.

Depending on the genre you choose, you can step into the shoes of any artist that you enjoy listening to or admire.

Even if you don’t know the lyrics of a song by heart, you can easily follow along and sing like the star we know you are!

There are even dedicated karaoke lounges and bars that offer food, drinks and more importantly, an unforgettable night out with friends.

How did karaoke end up becoming a worldwide phenomenon?

An animated picture of pair of birds in costumes whistling and schouting with the background spelling "Karaoke night!" — *Via GIPHY*

Let’s take a step back. How did karaoke spread from a fairly local custom in Japan to the go-to form of entertainment for millions all over the world?

The first karaoke machines were created by Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue and used simple cassette tapes for background music. Eventually, those were replaced with CDs and DVDs, and now we have the advent of touch screens, streaming and high-end sound systems.

In the 2000s, thanks to TV musical talent shows, like America’s Got Talent, and the popularity of musical programs (think Glee), amateur singing exploded on the scene and its popularity grew almost overnight.

Everyone wanted to be a singer, and karaoke made it possible to sing to a crowd and have fun doing it.

Karaoke and mental health

An animated pink blog like character with headphones on bobbing it's head with a phrase in the background spelling "Take a Beat." — *Via GIPHY*

So how exactly do karaoke and mental health intersect? Let’s start at a base level; karaoke is, in essence, the act of singing (which is a form of self-care). Singing can be beneficial to your overall health in a number of ways:

It releases endorphins (happy hormones).
It lowers cortisol (stress hormone).
It stimulates memory and cognitive function.
It improves breathing and posture.
It boosts confidence and self-esteem.

It even helps increase lung function, as well as engaging the muscles around the ribcage.

When you sing, it can be a form of mindfulness as you’re focused on melody, lyrics and emotion. You are present and in the moment, which allows you to forget your worries and think about nothing else outside of the lyrics on the screen and your voice.

This is deeply therapeutic, and even if you don’t like to sing or don’t want to sing in front of a crowd, watching people sing is almost like being at a concert — except it’s your friends who are performing!

Who knows, you might even befriend someone new!

Igniting your love for music

A picture of a woman in a pink undershirt and light jacket with a beaded neckless moving her mouth with the words "I went out and I did karaoke" right below. — *Via GIPHY*

So, are you sold? Excited to throw yourself into the world of karaoke?

Why not attend Humber Polytechnic’s Black Student Support and Engagement (BSSE) next open mic night! Rhythm and Roots will happen at the North campus on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and at the Lakeshore campus on Thursday, Nov. 27.

It will include a celebration of music, poetry, spoken word, storytelling, and maybe even some karaoke if you’re lucky! This is a great opportunity to get on the stage and perform for your friends and peers! Share your voice, and be sure to bring along some friends and make new ones. BSSE also has a number of other events worth checking out.

Plus, be sure to follow our Instagram and look out for our spontaneous karaoke pop-ups hosted by your very own IGNITE brand ambassadors! You never know when one is about to show up, but be ready to sing your heart out when it does! Join us for good music, loud laughs and relaxation.

Whether you’re singing or just along for the ride to support your friends, karaoke might just be the stress reliever that you’ve been looking for.

Karaoke lounges can provide the experience of a lifetime. No matter the genre or language, there is something for everyone.

You only have one life to live, so why not sing until the music stops?

Feature image courtesy of Singa Karaoke via Unsplash.

Do you want to find other ways to express yourself? Check out how to level up your creative skills!