What's in a (Karaoke) Song?

If you are a keen observer it would take precious little for you to realise there is more than meets the eye when a couple karaokes together.

Whether the couple is lawfully wedded or their association scandalously illicit, one could gauge the state of their relationship through their choice of songs during a karaoke session.

They tend to convey specific messages through the songs they render, together or singly. They may not even realise it themselves; it's the others listening in who do.

A guy I know stuck to his staple of Tom Jones' "Release Me" and Lobo's "How Can I Tell Her" during his troubled marriage. The wife retaliated with Abba's "The Winner Takes It All". She must have realised she was getting the short end of the shrift.

After splitting and upon acquiring a new spouse, the guy's repertoire changed to more cheerful, upbeat songs overloaded with messages of love. The air crackled with good vibes when the loving duo were around.

Last night, however, he got me off-kilter by singing that old disturbing standby "Release Me" again. What gives? I stole a glance at the wife; she looked pretty grim. I knew she didn't approve.

I'm clueless as to what's going on. I hope it's just a poor choice of songs. All along, they seemed quite happy together. Then again one can never be sure what goes on in the mind of a man. A worldly married man too, at that.

My personal dislike among karaoke hits are Willie Nelson's "To All The Girls I've Loved Before", Mary McGregor's "Torn Between Two Lovers" and Roberta Flack's "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You." While the melodies are great, the lyrics have scant respect for the sanctity of marriage.

Perhaps it's my kampung upbringing. Or maybe I'm just too much of a hick. Songs that blatantly promote promiscuity or glorify adultery don't wash with old-fashioned me. So I'm a stick in the mud, but I'm alright with the label.

That's why as much as I love Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You", I balk at singing it in public, not when the lyrics express the sentiment of a woman waiting for the arrival of her married lover for a promised all-night romp.

Years ago during the time we were frequenting the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) karaoke lounge, one of my favourite pastimes was to observe the antics of many dating couples, especially those cheating spouses with their respective 'flavours of the month.'

These husbands and fathers, almost always middle-aged or old and balding (but with deep pockets) would turn up with sexily dressed young women in tow, many of whom younger than their own daughters.

Over wine (and other intoxicants), these lovey-dovey odd couples would smooch shamelessly, and would duet mushy songs that would make a teenager wince. Pathetic couldn't even begin to describe the scene.

While not exactly in the rush (nor keen) to remarry during my post-divorce years, one of my favourite songs was Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make it Through The Night."

Outwardly, that song is a yearn for intimacy of the sexual kind. However, to me it carried an entirely different meaning; it was an expression of loneliness more than anything else.

The lyrics somehow translated into a longing for companionship, for someone to talk to and confide in. In other words, the need for a soulmate who need not necessarily be a bedmate.

Now, who says karaoke is just plain old singing? It's a great way to de-stress, to observe the wiles of ageing Lotharios, not to mention a training ground for psychoanalyst wannabes. I'd say, it's karaoke or bust!