Review of Homestar Karaoke DVD+G Hits Volume 1

Introduction

Karaoke`s a weird phenomenon isn`t it? I suppose for kids it`s the natural hi-tech extension of singing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush. It`s the fully grown adults thing that`s hardest to get.
Transported wholesale from the bars of Tokyo, and enabled in the home through reasonably cheap technology, very few suburban parties would be complete without cranking it up to 11 and letting it all hang loose. And let`s face it - it`s all just a bit of a laugh. Or is it? There`s always someone in the crowd that fancies their chances and there`s nothing more tedious than having to endure a toe-curlingly earnest version of `Angels` not sung by yourself. (Other people`s Karaoke is a lot like hearing about other people`s dreams). There was a time (not so long ago) that the seriously musical amongst us learnt to play instruments and write our own songs. These days, in the world of instant stardom ala Pop Idol, Karaoke is king. You can have a number one hit doing nothing more. From my own jaded point of view I`d probably embrace Karaoke wholeheartedly if I could get the chance to croak along to a set of Tom Waits songs, or maybe yelp and growl my way through a Karaoke version of Captain Beefheart`s `Trout Mask Replica` but it`s not going to happen. Karaoke discs are generally full of the most predictable, anodyne duds - and to a degree this disc is no exception. But maybe it`s what the people want. It seems to be what my daughters want at any rate as they`ve made their way through most the songs on this disc - without a drop of alcohol passing their lips!

To my mind, DVD Karaoke discs are infinitely preferable from the `too clever by half` CDG`s that use irritating noise-gate technology to bring in the original vocal every time you pause for breath. If Karaoke`s your thing, then this disc offer reasonable value with 20 songs included.
Songs include: All Rise (Blue), Angels (Robbie Williams, Flying without wings (Westlife).

Video

These aren`t music videos with on screen lyrics. These are music CD`s with on-screen lyrics only, and these are very basic computer generated graphics. But this is Karaoke after all, and it`s all about performing yourself so no surprises with this approach. It is what it is.

Audio

Reasonable Sound, but the usual session keyboard player `cover version` feel to the songs. Serviceable enough though.

Features

None

Conclusion

If you want to extend your Karaoke song library then, as long as these are the songs you want, this disc represents reasonable value - especially when compared to overpriced CD-G alternatives. You get 20 songs - a full hour of personal Karaoke heaven … and party hell! You`d have to go to some considerable effort to generate cheesier looking text on DVD but then this isn`t about the on-screen beauty of the product. Which is just as well.

All my ratings below are to be seen in context please! This is not a standard DVD.