Amidst the popularity of Karaoke singing in this nation, it is time we analyze some possible pitfalls which may affect our Christian standards if we are not careful.

Karaoke singing is perhaps the most popular form of musical entertainment in this country today. Some homes now have their own units or equivalent systems. To be at par and competitive, most bars, entertainment venues, and night clubs from remote barrios to the big cities have at least a unit. Many upper-class venues even have private rooms each equipped with a KTV (Karaoke TV) for paying customers.

What is Karaoke?

The central device behind this popular entertainment form is the Karaoke (also called Videoke) machine. “Karaoke” is from the Japanese word kara (meaning empty or void), and ōkesutora, (meaning orchestra); [pronounced kæri-o-ki or kə-ro-ki]. It is a form of entertainment in which the singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and a PA system. The music is usually a well-known song in which the voice of the original singer is removed or reduced in volume. Lyrics are displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol or changing color, to guide the singer. The type of music made available usually caters to a wide range of audience and age groups. It may include “oldies” music to contemporary ones, and from various folk songs to OPMs (Original Pilipino Music) by modern composers.

How did it start?

The Karaoke device was invented by the Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue in Kobe, Japan, in the early 1970s. After becoming popular in Japan, karaoke spread to East and Southeast Asia during the 1980s and subsequently to other parts of the world in its modern form.

As background information, Inoue never bothered to patent his invention, losing his chance to become one of Japan’s richest men. Roberto del Rosario, a Filipino who later called his sing-along system Minus-One, now holds the patent for the device now commonly known as the karaoke, obtaining his patents more than a decade after Inoue’s original unpatented invention.

Much development has gone through the years. Now, some CD players have a built-in Karaoke feature. There is now also the “Magic Sing” microphone embedded with hundreds of songs. The flashing lights in some venues are reminiscent of the Disco Bars in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

It seems that today no party or celebration is complete without Karaoke singing. However, it is also so abused in this country such that in some cases even drunken, out-of-tune persons (or some addict “high” on drugs) insist on singing, disturbing the peace of the neighborhood all night. Violence is also quite common when some get offended by someone else’s remarks, or someone monopolizing the use of the mike, especially under the atmosphere of a smoke-filled venue and the influence of too much alcohol.

Sadly for years, it has also become a “legitimized” excuse for some to freely and publicly ogle or view scantily clad women in seductive poses amidst beautiful sceneries on the video screen, in the guise of either listening to, or belting out a tune on their own, while imbibing alcohol. On the part of the establishment owners, all these translate to good added income nevertheless.

How does this practice conform with God’s Word?

Since Karaoke singing is very popular in this country, we need to consider what the Bible has to say on this matter. God commands us to walk “circumspectly” (or “be very careful,” NIV) on how we live our life in our society.

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:15-19, NKJV, emphasis added).

Karaoke venues can be places of great moral temptation. Often, people spend very long hours into the night or until dawn in such dimly lighted places. While Karaoke singing as a modern invention is not a sin by itself, the modern lifestyle associated with it tends to violate long-established biblical principles such as immorality, waste of time, and abuse of wine, among others.

Other biblical standards to consider:

1. Problem with the environment and companions. God’s people should not be found participating in such singing environment among those who are smoking and imbibing alcoholic drinks, and who are not of like-mind as we are. The Bible commands us to be a separate and a holy people. The prohibition principle against not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers applies in this type of close fellowship with outsiders as well, and not just applicable in a marriage relationship (2 Cor. 6:14-18). Also, there is a tendency for the corrupting influence of this world affecting and infecting us. The NIV puts it this way: Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33, NIV).

2. Problem with the words in many songs being sung. Our character is what we are, and what we are is what we think, do, and say. Therefore, if our words are to be believed and honored, let nothing which we do not mean in our heart and in our mind ever come out of our lips. Many song lyrics can be directly opposed to the Word of God. Let us therefore be careful about being carried away by the words of certain popular songs which we will not, and cannot in good conscience say under normal conditions of sanity and sobriety. Christ warned us when He said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt.12:36-37).

For example, can you imagine a converted Christian husband (or wife) singing out the words from Engelbert Humperdinck’s popular song, “Please Release Me, Let Me Go” and belting it out with his or her full emotion, saying:

Please release me, let me go
For I don’t love you anymore
To waste our lives would be a sin
Release me and let me love again

I have found a new love, dear
And I will always want her near
Her lips are warm while yours are cold
Release me, my darling, let me go …

Please release me, can’t you see
You’d be a fool to cling to me
To live a lie would bring us pain
So release me and let me love again…

Can you likewise imagine a Christian singing his or her heart out the song popularized by Frank Sinatra, titled, “Strangers in the Night” in part saying with full emotion the following words:

Strangers in the night exchanging glances
Wondering in the night
What were the chances we’d be sharing love [fornicating]
Before the night was through…

If you are like me, it would be most shameful (and sinful) to even think about such words, and so much more embarrassing to sing it out in public for all to hear! I just can’t do it! I hope you get my point. Many of today’s popular songs have themes of betrayal, broken relationships, lust and illicit sex, and unfaithfulness­—all of which are not approved of God, and are the results of curses due to sin and violation of God’s laws. We certainly do not want to devote precious time to sing out these lies, and curses, with our heart and mind through our mouth.

So, what does the Bible teach us concerning words coming from our mouth?

God inspired the Apostle Paul to record for us His standard: “… speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). This standard is not old fashioned or out-of-date, but gives us God’s perspective on what is good and acceptable when it comes to our words and singing.

There is another important guideline we see in Scripture, found in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

These biblical standards should be among the guidelines when selecting songs for Church socials, sing-a-longs, programs, and presentations. In the same way that not all food available and popular in today’s society is suitable for God’s people, it is also true of many songs offered in today’s world.

Satanic Influence

Let us be fully reminded, and not be surprised if our greatest enemy, Satan, will do his level best to make anything that is not good for us, and that which can easily destroy us, appear as popular, desirable, and attractive as much as possible!

Music is a very rich and rewarding gift from God!

There are many great and majestic songs, compositions, and renditions, which can lift our emotions and spirit to a high level of inspiration and sense of well-being. (Music is a very broad and deep subject which goes beyond the scope of this particular article for now.)

Let us then strive to use care and wisdom in choosing from the thousands of songs and melodies those which we can benefit from and richly enjoy. Music is indeed one of God’s greatest gifts to man. So let us be sure not to pollute it to our destruction, but rather that we use that wonderful gift properly by also being careful where and what we sing!

© 2008 United Church of God, AIA - Pilipinas