It's the quickest and most efficient way of making a fool of yourself. Talent is unnecessary - but helpful - and courage is absolutely required. It is the phenomenon that is winning over more drunken people everyday: Karaoke.
On any given night in the Buffalo area, there are numerous places in which to indulge this guilty pleasure, including The Garden Park Caf?(c), The Tudor Lounge, AJ's Lounge, Xpressions and Roxy's Green Room.
Crocodile Bar, located at 88 West Chippewa St. in downtown Buffalo, features karaoke every Tuesday night starting at 9 p.m. Depending on the crowd, the madness lasts until approximately 12:30 a.m., and sometimes goes through the early morning.
Tuesday might not be the ideal night to go out and sing, but if the urge is nagging, and the lure of karaoke is strong, Crocodile Bar's weeknight karaoke will suit anyone's needs.
The music starts, and if it's something clich?(c) like Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" or anything by Britney Spears, smiles will spread across the onlookers' face; ones that cannot be withheld. As for looking like a complete idiot when their turn arrives, karaoke veterans are quick to lend out reassurance.
"You're not supposed to sound good when you're doing it," said Liz Yolin, a Washington, D.C. resident spending time in Buffalo.
Appearances aside, nerves can be overwhelming.
"You enter the karaoke zone, all the nerves go away, and you enter the zone," says Jason Metnick, also from the District, "You just gotta go up and do it."
"It's lame, but it offers good opportunity," says Yolin.
Enthusiasm and friendliness is an asset in karaoke, especially when it comes to luring an unsuspecting journalist onstage to sing "Like a Virgin" by Madonna.
Creative with their karaoke night, Yolin and Metnick's group splits up - girls against guys - and takes turns choosing songs for each other. Each group is oblivious to the song being chosen for them until being called onstage. That night, the girls were made to sing George Michael's "I Want Your Sex," while the guys were forced into Britney Spears' "Oops ... I Did It Again."
The local crowd is somewhat older, watching whatever game happens to be on TV, but always stopping to clap at the completion of a song. Obviously regulars, a group of men in suits appear to show up to watch Marianne, the "singing bartender extraordinaire."
A highlight of this karaoke night at Crocodile is watching Marianne and one of the suited men sing a duet of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," a sappy 1970s ballad featuring Barbara Streisand and Diamond. It was a pleasing performance, and the pair seemed to take their singing seriously.
Underground, located at 274 Delaware Ave., features karaoke on Monday nights at 10 p.m. with "Rockin' Robin." A crowd of mostly men out to have a good time; karaoke night is very lively there.
"I'm a big karaoke fan," said Molly Faithe, a 25-year-old singer/actress and graduate of UB. Faithe made a karaoke pit stop during her visit from Chicago, where she pursues a professional singing career.
"A lot of professional singers and actors go out to do karaoke ... it's extremely competitive," said Faithe, comparing Chicago-style karaoke bars to those in Buffalo.
As for nerves, that is one thing Faithe does not really worry about.
"I am totally used to it," said Faithe. Citing "when someone important to me is in the audience" as the only time her karaoke jitters are present, Faithe is a phenomenal singer with great stage energy.
"Karaoke is generally more fun to watch, unless you're drunk," said Steve Adams, a senior English major at Buffalo State College.
"No one cares if you mess up," said Adams. "Everyone does."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
