I'd be lying if I said I didn't (very) occasionally enjoy the karaoke. This weekend, for example, an old friend of mine is having his regularly scheduled birthday trek to Genji for sake and heartless butchering of various Pogues and Bee Gees classics. In my capacity as a writer for Hair Balls, however, I sometimes have to be more of an asshole, as was the case here.
If Buddha, Mohammed, and Jesus Christ joined hands and strolled down Westheimer turning automobiles into unicorns while singing "Blasphemous Rumors" I don't think it would get as much coverage as that infernal karaoke machine at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (including right here at Hair Balls). And so, to commemorate this latest attempt to put Houston on the cultural map, here are some memorable karaoke scenes from the movies.
5. Duets (20000I just returned from a meeting with Paul Krugman, Alan Greenspan, and the ghost of John Maynard Keynes, and they all assured me America's current economic crisis is divine retribution for resurrecting Huey Lewis' career.
And so on.
Considering that “Duets” only grossed $4 million during its theatrical run, and wasn’t much noticed afterward on DVD, it didn’t do wonders for Huey Lewis’ career. He’s likely to get more notice now for the song “Pineapple Express” on the eponymous film’s soundtrack.
I admit though that I own the “Duets” soundtrack, only for Gwyneth Paltrow’s rendition of “Bette Davis Eyes,” Maria Bello’s version of “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” and John Pinette’s energetic attempt at Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana,” which is actually better than Manilow’s.
Ever heard of The Piranha Man From Pakistan? He was a Pakistani cabbie from Chicago who became infamous for his ear-bleed-inducing karaoke stylings. The guy made the collective Mrs. Miller, William Hung, and William Shatner sound like The Three Tenors of cover bands.
I just so happen to have a copy of his uber-rare cd—titled Blowing Goats—if you want to hear his unhinged karaoke majesty.