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2 Couples Singing In A Karaoke Room

Celebrate World Singing Day!

Did you know that World Singing Day is a global annual sing-along held on the 3rd Saturday in October? It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate through the international language of music. World Singing Day was founded in 2012 by the Colorado-based musician, Scott Johnson. The principal of the idea was that everyone, regardless of their background and singing ability, could join in.

This year's World Singing Day Song-of-the-Year is “Lean On Me”, which is very fitting as this year’s focus is to highlight the importance of mental health. So, everyone can come together and connect by singing in their community.

World Singing Day Giveaway

So, let's all get hot footing it to your nearest Tenpin karaoke rooms! Plus, the good news is we have just the competition to get you into the singing spirit. What is the prize I hear you ask? Well, you can win a karaoke party for 10 people!

All you need to do to enter is simply head to our competition page, fill out your details and you’ll be entered into the draw.

Even if you aren’t one of the lucky winners! We have private karaoke rooms at the following Tenpin entertainment centres. So why not get together with friends, family, and colleagues on World Singing Day and begin to showcase your singing talent?

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Cambridge
  • Castleford
  • Cheshire Oaks
  • Colchester
  • Coventry
  • Croydon
  • Doncaster
  • Dudley
  • Dundee
  • Gloucester
  • Harlow
  • Manchester Printworks
  • Milton Keynes
  • Northampton
  • Nottingham
  • Plymouth Barbican
  • Swindon
  • Stafford
  • Telford
  • Walsall

Why should we sing?

There are several benefits to having a singsong so let’s explore some of these in a little more detail.

Singing strengthens the immune system

According to research conducted at the University of Frankfurt, singing boosts the immune system. The study included testing professional choir members’ blood before and after an hour-long rehearsal singing Mozart’s ‘Requiem’.

Researchers noted that in most cases, the number of proteins in the immune system that function as antibodies was significantly higher immediately after the rehearsal. Interestingly the same increases were not observed after people from the choir listened to music without joining in!

Singing is a workout

Sounds surprising but for the elderly, disabled, and injured, singing can be a fab form of exercise!

Impressively, even if you’re healthy, your lungs will get a workout as you employ proper singing techniques and vocal projections. I mean we’re obviously not all this professional but still!

Other related health benefits of singing include a stronger diaphragm and stimulated overall circulation. While you’re singing you pull in a greater amount of oxygen than when doing many other types of exercise. Some even believe that singing can increase your aerobic capacity and stamina. So even if you’re not the next Beyonce maybe it is worth giving it a whirl!

Singing improves your posture

Standing up straight is part of the correct technique as you’re singing, so with time, good posture will become a habit! So as your chest cavity expands and your shoulders and back align, you’re improving your posture overall. Happy days!

Singing helps with sleep

According to a health article in Daily Mail Online, experts believe singing can help strengthen throat and palate muscles, which helps stop snoring and sleep apnoea. If you’re familiar with any of these, you’ll know how difficult it can be to get a good night’s sleep!

Singing is a natural anti-depressant

Singing releases endorphins, the feel-good brain chemical that makes you feel uplifted and happy. As if that’s not enough, scientists have identified a tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus, which responds to frequencies created by singing. This response creates an immediate sense of pleasure, regardless of what the singing sounds like. Not only that but singing can simply take your mind off the day’s troubles to boost your mood. Now that is a winner in my book!

Singing lowers stress levels

Making music in any form is relaxing. Singing releases stored muscle tension and decreases the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol in your bloodstream.

Singing improves mental alertness

Improved blood circulation and an oxygenated blood stream allow more oxygen to reach the brain. This improves mental alertness, concentration, and memory. The Alzheimer’s Society has even established a ‘Singing for the Brain’ service to help people with dementia and Alzheimer’s maintain their memories. How great is that!

Singing can widen your circle of friends

Whether you’re in a choir or simply enjoy singing karaoke with your friends, one of the unexpected health benefits of singing is that it can improve your social life. The bonds you form from singing with others can be profound since there’s a level of intimacy naturally involved. So, get your friends together and let loose.

Singing boosts your confidence

Stage fright is a common feeling for new singers. But performing well and receiving praise from your friends and family may be the key to eventually overcoming your fears and boosting your self-confidence. With time, you may even find it easier to present any type of material in front of a group with poise and good presentation skills. Why not start off small with a karaoke session in one of our private karaoke rooms?

Singing broadens communication skills

According to an article in The Guardian, singing to babies helps prepare their brains for language. Music is just as important as teaching reading and writing at a young age to prevent language problems later in life. Plus, if you enjoy writing your own lyrics, honing this talent can improve your ability to communicate in different ways.

Singing increases your ability to appreciate accomplished singers

As you get better, you’ll be looking at the ‘stars’ for inspiration. You might even find a new style of music to appreciate that you wouldn’t normally listen to!

All these health benefits of singing may make you want to have a karaoke session or start taking singing lessons. Watch out, Taylor Swift! But it doesn’t matter whether you become a world-class singer or not, have fun with it!

The history of Karaoke

Of course, you don’t need the excuse of World Singing Day to jump into one of our karaoke rooms, you’re welcome any time. So, let’s talk about the history of karaoke! I’m sure you know but just in case what is Karaoke? Karaoke is a fun-filled source of entertainment where you can sing along to your favourite songs with backing music and the words appearing on a screen to help you along.

To begin with, it was very popular in karaoke bars, and here at Tenpin, we have private rooms so both adults and children can enjoy the experience in a family-friendly setting. Karaoke is well-known today, but it started in Kobe, Japan around 1971. Bars would lease the machines, and their customers would sing into the mic well into the night. In 1971, nightclub musician Daisuke invented his own karaoke machine in the city of Kobe. He appreciated the difficulty amateurs had in singing pop songs, recording his own versions of popular songs in keys that made them easier for casual singers.

The word karaoke is a blended word combining the Japanese terms “kara” (empty) and “okesutora” (orchestra) to get “empty orchestra”. Very quickly, Inoue's idea spread throughout the country and then abroad. The rest is history!

The best karaoke songs

What are your favourite karaoke songs of all time? We have a few up our sleeve depending on the occasion and Timeout compiled their list of the best 50 karaoke songs ever. We must admit there are some real karaoke classics right there!

If we had to pick my Top 10, I’d go with:

  1. ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor.
  2. ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams.
  3. ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ by Journey.
  4. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen.
  5. ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ by Wham!
  6. 'Like a Prayer' by Madonna.
  7. ‘Summer Nights’ Grease.
  8. ‘Dancing Queen’ by Abba.
  9. ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis.
  10. ‘Wannabe’ by Spice Girls.

Karaoke for Halloween

Why not extend your World Singing Day beyond the day itself - after all we can’t forget the benefits of singing can we?

Tailor your karaoke session and make it themed. Maybe you want to take your fancy dress party to one of our private karaoke rooms. You could rock up in your Halloween costumes and sing some Halloween songs. After all, it’s nearly that time again! So, take some treats into one of our karaoke rooms and get singing! Who needs the tricks?

Here are some of the best Halloween songs to think about:

  1. ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson.
  2. ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby Pickett.
  3. ‘Haunted’ by Beyonce.
  4. ‘Creep’ by Radiohead.
  5. ‘I put a spell on you’ by Bette Midler.
  6. ‘Ghostbusters’ by Ray Parker Jr.
  7. ‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder.
  8. ‘Time Warp’ by Little Nell, Patricia Quinn, & Richard O'Brien.
  9. ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries.
  10. ‘Monster’ by Lady Gaga.
  11. ‘Disturbia’ by Rhianna.
  12. ‘Hungry like the Wolf’ by Duran Duran.
  13. ‘Ghost’ by Ella Henderson.
  14. ‘Demons’ by Imagine Dragons.
  15. ‘Spooky’ by Dusty Springfield.

Karaoke for Christmas

Once you’ve had your Halloween ‘freak on’ you can then start thinking about your Christmas songs to showcase in our karaoke rooms. My motto is it’s never too early for a Christmas tune!

I would have to agree with Good Housekeeping here with their no 1 choice! You can never go wrong with good ‘ole Mariah Carey's ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’.

Getting the perfect Christmas playlist is right up there with baking cookies and mince pies for Santa! Here are my Top 15 best Christmas songs to give you some ideas. So here goes.

  1. ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ by Mariah Carey.
  2. ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham.
  3. ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee.
  4. ‘Step into Christmas’ by Elton John.
  5. ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.
  6. ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea.
  7. ‘Santa Claus is coming to town’ by the Jackson 5.
  8. ‘I wish it could be Christmas Everyday’ by Wizard.
  9. ‘Blue Christmas’ by Elvis Presley.
  10. ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ by Shakin’ Stevens.
  11. ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’ by Band Aid.
  12. ‘One More Sleep’ by Leona Lewis.
  13. ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ by Andy Williams.
  14. ‘Sleigh Ride’ by Ronettes.
  15. ‘Underneath the tree’ by Kelly Clarkson.

Make the joy of World Singing Day last more than a day!

Now we know the benefits that singing brings, there’s no reason why we can’t extend the joy and positives that singing brings. There’s a song for every occasion and we even offer karaoke party packages for both the kids and adults, so no one misses out on the fun. The adults will love showing off their singing prowess with our Rockstar Package which includes pizza, prosecco, and nachos to enjoy as you sing the place down. What a combination! For the kids, they can grab their mics with our Popstar karaoke party package.

So if you haven’t already, enter our giveaway for a free karaoke party and get singing!