Ok, I have to admit it, I really love karaoke.  My good friend Jay turned me onto it when we were visiting him one time and he had a machine at home.  He and his wife had collected a ton of CD+G karaoke cds that played on his machine.  He hooked it up to his TV and we were off and running. We had some really great times.  His son has even taken to singing karaoke – a new generation is born!

So, of course, without much delay, I rushed to buy my own soon after visting Jay.  Over the years I have amassed a fair collection of really good and really not-so-good songs.  I even bought a Neil Diamond cd, to coax my friend Lauree into singing.  It took me forcefully singing Neil really badly to get her to pry the mic out of my hands.  She just couldn’t stand to have Neil desecrated like that – intentional or not.  Even a karaoke-phobe will get up there and sing a tune when in the right company.

I still pull the machine out for my college a cappella summer reunions, but have found that keeping up with the latest music is growing difficult and somewhat expensive.  A lot of times all I want is a song or two, not an entire album.  I was poking around the Internet a bit and came across TheKaraokeChannel.com.  It’s essentially the online version of what I have at home, only I don’t need to purchase any more equipment or music.

If singing to your computer monitor isn’t your thing, you can also download songs to your computer, iPod or other media device.  Also, if your local cable company is in the list of participants, you may even have a karaoke channel on TV and you don’t even know it!

Here’s how it all works …

Karaoke Channel Online

It’s really simple.  Go to www.TheKaraokeChannel.com and click ‘Launch It Now’.  From here you will be directed to sample a bunch of songs.  If you like it, you can sign up for a monthly subscription at $9.95; you can just get 24 hour access for $14.95; or go for gold and get a year’s subscription for $99.95.  You’ll have your pick of whatever songs you want, and let me tell you, it’s a heck of a lot more than what I have – which is a lot.

For those that are brave enough, you can even record yourself singing along and post it to the site!  I’m all for singing in public, but to have it preserved for the world to see is something of a different nature.  But, hey, the option is there if you are so inclined.  Who knows, the next best singer could come from TheKaraokeChannel.com instead of YouTube – you just never know.

There is also a huge social component to the site as well.  You can join the karaoke community and chat with other Fanilows at any time.  There are folks out there of all ages, so don’t be shy.  Jump online and join in the karaoke fun.
Oh … and check out the Hall of Fame section under community as well.  It’s a real kick!

Karaoke Channel TV

Very similar to its online sister, the Karaoke Channel streaming over your cable, you can choose from whatever songs you want to sing.  And, since our living rooms are usually much larger than our desks, family and friends can all join in and throw tomatoes!  It’s really cool because you don’t need to keep changing discs or buy them for that matter.  Just choose the song and you’re off and rockin’.

Karaoke Channel Products – Coming Soon!

For those that like to sing it old school, you can also purchase karaoke music from the site as well.  You will be able to download music and compilations to your PC and sync up your iPod for on the road karaoke.  So, the next time you see the guy in the car next to you, don’t be so sure he’s on the phone – he may be rocking it out to some Barry Manilow (Ohhhh Mandy!)

In summary, TheKaraokeChannel.com is a great way to have fun if you like singing, or simply if you like to hear other people singing too!  It gives us all a little chance to live the dream and be something different even for a few minutes.  Log on, have fun and maybe we can all take a listen.

Visit TheKaraokeChannel.com for more information.

Check out all of our reviews that are part Qwowi’s 2008 Tech Gift Guide.