The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly)
By The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly)
Every episode, hosts Adam Wainwright and Ed Cunard discuss an aspect of karaoke or music and play a short round of trivia on that topic, where one of them challenges the other with five questions related to the topic, along with an Impossible Bonus question.
Then, they're joined by someone (karaoke hosts and singers, musicians, actors, comedians, authors) with a connection to that topic—and feature that guest singing karaoke when possible.
The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly)Jun 29, 2022
Like Ursula for Good: Vocal Health and Karaoke Singing Tips with Vocal Coach Katherine Werbiansky from Voice Revolution
Today, the show might as well be called “The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Slightly Better Than Before),” which is far less catchy, but it captures the theme: it’s all about taking care of your vocal instrument and sounding better at karaoke. Adam and Ed did their research, as they aren’t vocal care professionals, and they share what you should and shouldn’t do if you want to make sure your pipes stay as golden as they can through your karaoke shenanigan sing-a-longs.
They didn’t want to do you a disservice, though, so they brought in an actual expert: Katherine Werbiansky from Voice Revolution–as she helps people find and take back their voices, she’s the self-described “Ursula for Good” in this episode, and talks not just about taking care of your vocal health, but your emotional health as well, and why she loves finding out about what a place is like by the song choices in their local karaoke spots.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store. And our brand-new Patreon also has things! www.patreon.com/sungpoorly
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Katherine is a Chicago based singer and voice coach. She teaches singing, songwriting, and gender-affirming speech. She has training as a vocal pedagogue, Internal Family Systems coaching, and Somatic nervous system regulation. Her style of coaching has been described as " if Jack Black, a music therapist, and a queer witch had a baby". She is a self-described "musical Spiritual hype human". Her absolute passion in life is helping folks liberate their voices and life stories through singing and songwriting. Find more at Voice Revolution or on Instagram.
We Have a Karaoke Podcast: Karaoke Personas and Branding with Vinnie Potestivo from "I Have a Podcast"
In their 1978 song “Who Are You,” The Who asked “who are you? Who, who, who, who,” and in this episode, Adam and Ed ask the same question: who are you… at karaoke? Are you the same person on and off stage? Do you change who you are for different venues, different crowds? The trivia focuses on the same, sort of: artists who have crafted and released music under other personas (the trivia intro songs just keep getting worse and worse). It’s all about personal brands and identity in this hour or so.
Why the focus on making your mark as a brand or a talent, you ask? Today, the guys talk to Vinnie Potestivo, a man who credits the success in his career as a casting director and brand developer to karaoke–MTV’s “Say What Karaoke,” in particular, which kicked off his incredible journey. He shares his experiences there, as well as some great behind-the-scenes karaoke stories from that show and others.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store. And our brand-new Patreon also has things! www.patreon.com/sungpoorly
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Vinnie Potestivo is an industry-leading media and talent innovator who is widely known for his inclusive and impactful approach to brand building and personal brand development. With over 25 years of experience, he and his teams have become well-trusted connectors who sell, develop, produce, launch, distribute, and amplify some of the most talked-about original series & talent brands in modern pop culture.
Personal brands Vinnie has helped elevate through the use of original content include Mandy Moore, Ashton Kutc/her, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Tyrese Gibson, Lauren Conrad, Diane von Furstenberg, Rob Lowe, Danielle Fishel, Peter Thomas Roth, Kelly Osbourne, Kristin Cavallari, Nasir “Nas” Jones, Molly Sims, Vanessa Lachey, Susie Castillo, Damien Fahey, Quddus, Suchin Pak, Gideon Yago, Will.i.am, Ebro, DJ Clue, LaLa Anthony, Hilary Duff, and Leah McSweeney among others.
Corporate brands VPE: Vinnie Potestivo Entertainment, Inc. (vpetalent.com) has worked closely with include Macy’s, Samsung, Nikon, MLB, Peter Thomas Roth, June Jacobs Spa, Naturally Serious Skin, Kiehl’s, Hope Fragrances, Ciroc, Dow, Lady Foot Locker, AARP, Prudential & Allstate.
I Have A Podcast with Vinnie Potestivo, a collection of conversations with celebrities and creatives who aim to inspire us in our everyday lives, can be found on Apple Podcasts and anywhere else you listen to yours. IHAP’s companion video series I Have A Podcast on Television can be seen Thursdays on DirectTV, Distro TV, and Channel 285 on STIRR via bspoketv. For more information on viewing times, current episodes, and guest recommendations please visit ihaveapodcast.com.
Vinnie can be seen on linkedin.com/in/vinniepotestivo where he shares business and brand strategies for people looking to inspire and impact with media. You can also find him at instagram.com/vinniepotestivo where he over-shares photos of his two mini-schnauzers @BeauWellington and @DudleyGreenfield.
Kind of Creative, But Mainly Just a Mess: Answering the question "is karaoke punk?" with Johnny Marriott of Pet Needs
While their tastes in punk rock are a little different, punk is a genre that Adam and Ed both adore. This week, The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) tackles a weighty question: is karaoke, in a way, kind of punk? The Karaoke Trivia Bullpen focuses on punk music, as does Adam and Ed’s conversation on that heady question, as well as their favorite punk songs to do at karaoke, and suggestions for those who want to bring that punk rock energy to their own karaoke performances.
Why this genre-heavy topic? Well, during Frank Turner’s tour this summer, Ed got introduced to the music of Pet Needs, one of the tour’s opening acts, and instantly became a fan of the band’s pulse-pounding performance style and witty lyrics. He got to talking with Johnny Marriott, lead singer and musician from the band, and it turns out he has a lot of karaoke experience, ranging from doing it at home with family to wild stag parties and questing for extra drink tokens. They talk about the similarities of punk ideology and karaoke, his new album, Primetime Entertainment, and the fascination with America’s yellow school buses.
Do Adam and Ed sometimes just use the show for a chance to talk to musicians whose work they like? Yes, but only if they’ve got some love of and appreciation for karaoke.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store. And our brand-new Patreon also has things! www.patreon.com/sungpoorly
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo for I’m a Sophisticate and So Can You.
Formed by brothers George and Johnny Marriott, PET NEEDS are a punk-fuelled melodic rock four-piece from Colchester, UK. Their debut album ‘Fractured Party Music’ out now on Xtra Mile Recordings was produced by Tom Donovan and mixed and mastered by friend and fan Frank Turner. Their next album, “Primetime Entertainment,” releases 9 September 2022, and can be pre-ordered or purchased at this link. Web site: Pet Needs | The Official Website (petneedsband.com) • Instagram: @wearepetneeds • Facebook: wearepetneeds • Twitter: @wearepetneeds
That Struts and Frets Their Hour Upon the Stage: Live Band Karaoke with Tom Medvitz of Lead Singer Wanted
Listen. There’s really nothing Adam and Ed love more than karaoke–that should be obvious nearly two years into this podcast. But as much as they love regular karaoke, they recognize that there’s something special about one of the varieties of it–that’s live band karaoke, the closest they’ll ever feel to being rockstars. And they want you to be rockstars, too, which is why they talk about some of the bands and places around the country you can hit to get that rock star experience: Punk Rock Karaoke in CA (and the high seas!); Rising Star in Orlando, FL; Karaoke from Hell in Portland, Oregon; Live Band Karaoke (that’s the name of the band) in Chicago, IL; and Casual Encounters in Los Angeles, CA.
Check out that proper semicolon use.
One of the ways the fellas celebrated Adam’s bachelor party was by attending a gig done by Pittsburgh’s premiere live band karaoke acts, Lead Singer Wanted, which prompted the whole idea for this episode. They talk to Tom Medvitz, founder and guitarist for the band, on what the differences are between hosting a regular karaoke gig and doing a live band karaoke gig, the way that song lists are decided, and what the karaoke scenes in Portland, OR and Pittsburgh, PA are like.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo for Good People, Cool Things
Tom Medvitz is the guitar player (and software developer) for the Pittsburgh-based live karaoke band Lead Singer Wanted. They play shows about once per month and always have a blast getting their crowd on stage to experience Rock Stardom! Web site: https://leadsingerwanted.com • Facebook Page: Lead Singer Wanted • Instagram: @leadsingerwanted
The Games Karaoke People Play: Adding Fun to Karaoke, Work, and Life with Mike Montague
If there’s one thing folks lose over time–even in a pursuit as wild and zany as karaoke–it’s the fun, the joie de vivre that makes everything that much better. While Adam and Ed have always tried to carpe de karaoke and make nights more fun, adding some structure and formats to that has really amped up their karaoke nights just the way that the Karaoke Trivia Bullpen has amped up this podcast. They cover everything from the low tech pulling-songs-out-of-hats, to more app-based things, to games like Kulture Karaoke that you can purchase at Target if you’re big into ‘90s R&B and hip hop.
Why all this talk of games? Glad you asked! The fellas bring on an expert on play in this episode–Mike Montague, the mind behind the “Playful Humans” podcast, who has hosted karaoke and game shows, provided opening act support for acts as varied as Frankie Valli and Billy Idol, and whose mission is to make people’s work and play time more fun and engaging.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo for Good People, Cool Things
Mike Montague is a game show host, public speaker, podcaster, and writer at Playful Humans. He has been a radio DJ, karaoke host, MC, and DJ for live events including opening for Billy Idol, Frankie Valli, and MC-ed at Toby Keith's Bar & Grill. He has done over 2,000 karaoke shows and hosted Harrah's Lucky Break karaoke contest on TV! Find more info at https://playfulhumans.com. E-mail: michaeldavidmontague@gmail.com. Twitter • LinkedIn • Facebook • YouTube
Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Heart of Karaoke Singers: The Villains of Karaoke with Tiana Hennings (Next Door Villain)
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows at “The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly)” this episode, just like it isn’t all raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens at your average karaoke night. No, sometimes villainy creeps in, and puts a slight stain on an otherwise awesome night of songs and drinks and friends and strangers. Adam and Ed dive into the villains of a karaoke night: the mic droppers, the stage hoppers, the fake-namers, the line hoppers, the sneaky drinkies, and the showstoppers. Who are they, you ask? The names are pretty explanatory but listen to find out the full details!
After talking about the villains of karaoke, Adam and Ed talk to someone who knows a bit about villainy–Tiana Hennings of the “Next Door Villain” podcast. She has her own karaoke villain up her sleeve, but also some great stories about singing karaoke in China while studying abroad, what karaoke is like for the more casual karaoke fan, and how it’s a great way to get out into a new place you’re living and meet people.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even TikTok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo for Good People, Cool Things
Tiana Hennings is one of the hosts of Next Door Villain. When she's not rehabilitating the images of pop culture villains on her podcast with empathy, she enjoys global learning and hanging out with her cat, Gary. You can find her on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Or, heck, the whole LinkTree.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Karaoke People: Talking with Brenden Kumarasamy on how karaoke can improve your public speaking skills
If there’s one thing that podcasting lacks, it’s people giving you lists of ways to improve something in your life. Since Adam and Ed noticed this – this absolute dearth of self-improvement out there in the podcast-o-sphere – they decided they’d provide a corrective and give direct, actionable advice. They are pleased to provide you, the loyal listener who loves karaoke, with the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Karaoke People. Just don’t get too inflated of an ego when you master it, or you may end up in the Karaoke Trivia Bullpen the next time the quiz topic is Musician Egos.
Speaking of highly effective karaoke people and communicators, the guys talk to Brenden Kumarasamy, the creator of the MasterTalk Youtube channel, where he trains people to become better public speakers and communicators. And he does attribute karaoke as one of the places he learned to feel confident communicating with other people (and has a specific video on that very topic on his channel). Brenden can speak three languages, but can sing karaoke in eight! In comparison, Adam and Ed can barely sing in one language. He gives great tips for both karaoke and public speaking excellence, and asks Adam and Ed a tough, introspective question when he fires away after the quickfire game.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo by Let's Talk: Marvel Fan Theories.
Brenden Kumarasamy is the founder of MasterTalk, he coaches ambitious executives & entrepreneurs to become top 1% communicators in their industry. He also has a popular YouTube channel called MasterTalk, with the goal of providing free access to communication tools for everyone in the world. You can also join his free 90 minute training on effective communication over Zoom every few weeks: https://www.rockstarcommunicator.com/
Is There Any Better or Equal Hope in the Karaoke World?: Karaoke in Fictional Settings with Brad Williams ("Once Upon a Wasteland")
Before anything else, this episode starts with a pre-roll on the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. For more information on what a staggering amount of the podcast community is doing, please visit podvoices.help, and for more information about abortion support systems, please click this link: Abortion Advocacy Links — podvoices.help.
With everything happening around us right now, stepping into a fictional world for karaoke sounds like a great escape, doesn't it?
And that’s what Adam and Ed do--they crawl out through the fallout and investigate the possibilities for karaoke in worlds that aren't the real world. What’s karaoke like in the Star Trek universe? Does the Mos Eisley Cantina have a karaoke night, and is it safe to attend? What about the Yakuza video game series? And what about Fallout? The music of the Fallout franchise is the focus of this episode’s Karaoke Bullpen Trivia (preceded by perhaps the most obnoxious karaoke parody intro to date). There’s also a callout–shoot us a twitter DM or email for a chance to win a Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) t-shirt just for telling us what you think karaoke in your favorite fictional universe looks like.
There’s so much of an emphasis on Fallout because the guys had a chance to talk to Brad Williams, the creator behind Once Upon a Wasteland, a queer love story set in the Fallout 76 world. Brad talks about his long history of karaoke, including why he got into it in the first place, singing Frank Sinatra songs to a strip club at closing time, and so much more (including his rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel.”
As always, you can find get all that karaoke podcast goodness on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo for The MODUS Files.
Brad Williams' karaoke career began in Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s, when he was belting out (mostly) Frank Sinatra tunes to patrons with varying levels of interest in a variety of bars and clubs. Though he mostly traded in the karaoke stage for choral work and the occasional musical several years ago, he still dusts off the songbook when peer pressure gets too powerful to resist.
More recently, Brad has been a voice actor for several video game podcasts, including CHAD: A Fallout 76 Podcast, The MODUS Files, and True Vault Escapades. Last October, he launched his own audio drama podcast, Once Upon a Wasteland, with his partner, Vitriol from the Vitriol Plays Twitch channel. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReticentDuet Show Twitter: https://twitter.com/onceupon76pod Twitch: https://twitch.tv/ReticentDuet IMDB: https://imdb.me/reticentduet
Life, Love, and the (Karaoke) Blues: Deceptive Lyrics, Murder Ballads, and Women in Music and Karaoke with Courtney E. Smith
What’s creepier than being misunderstood? Adam and Ed kick off with a “women of the blues” Karaoke Trivia Bullpen challenge before diving into the karaoke songs that are often sung without really contemplating the meaning behind those lyrics. Which boy band from the ‘90s is like “if bubble gum pop and Jean-Paul Sartre had a baby?” Which dance pop hit would chart on a “nice guys” forum in addition to the Billboard charts? Why is the song that was #1 on the charts the week Ed was born creepy as hell?
The guys deviate from the main topic of the interview because let’s face it–no one wants to hear two middle-aged white males talk about the experiences of women in music (and karaoke), so who better to bring on than Courtney E. Smith (author: Record Collecting for Girls, and the creator of the murder ballad podcast “Songs in the Key of Death”). She talks about why being a bad singer at karaoke is better for everyone involved, the worst karaoke-related date she has ever been on, and, surprisingly, a great experience singing “Picture” with a total stranger. Yep, that “Picture,” the bane of this show and the runner up to last season’s “Song to Ban From Karaoke” question. She cruises through the “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” quickfire challenge, and then puts Adam and Ed through the ringer with a rapid-fire take on the “Fire Away” response of her own.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store. The guys are still taking calls for the annual karaoke advice episode, so make sure to leave them a voice message on their Podinbox page (or, y'know, DM them or email them--but the new voice option is so much more fun).
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3. Midroll promo for Cycle Chats.
Courtney E. Smith is the author of Record Collecting for Girls, a former music programmer at MTV and worked as a music writer at CBS Radio and Refinery29. Twitter: https://twitter.com/courtneyesmith Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecourtneyesmith
Pride at Karaoke, and Finding Your *New* Karaoke Voice After Two Years on Testosterone
June’s a lot of things, but the first thing it is here at The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) is Pride month. We’re kicking things off with announcing three new pieces of merch (all proceeds from which will go to The Trevor Project and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, so if you want to support that, buy those, and if you want to support the show, buy something else, too). The Karaoke Trivia Bullpen focuses on queer music from the 1920s to today, and then Adam and Ed dive into queer issues at karaoke, including inclusivity in karaoke bars and how to navigate pronouns in songs.
Then, Adam and Ed bring their pal Jay McInnis on stage–he’s a poet who has been published all over, and a fixture of Ed’s local karaoke scene now that he’s been on testosterone for a while and has a voice he’s willing to sing in bars with. As an added bonus, Jay reads one of his original poems and, as this is The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), it’s about karaoke.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Jay McInnes is an internationally published poet and LGBTQ advocate. His work has been published under the nom de plume Jay Douglas or, more recently, Jay Orlando. Jay grew up in a small Appalachian town and writes a lot of being trans and hunting deer, among other things.
Let's Get Weird with Karaoke
This week, The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) gets… weird (weirder?). After a Weird Al themed trivia challenge that ends up turning into a sing-a-long a few times, Adam and Ed get into what’s weird at karaoke (already a fundamentally weird endeavor). If you have any weird karaoke advice questions for them, they’ve signed up for Podinbox–leave a voice message with your question, and they may include that on the upcoming advice episode.
All that weird leads right into the interview with Lauren Carey from the Beer’d Al Podcast, who is the biggest Weird Al fan that Adam and Ed have ever met. She’s also got an intense love of karaoke (and posts more karaoke footage on Twitter than Adam and Ed do), and talks about that karaoke love, where her love of Weird Al sprung from, and embracing her own weirdness.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even TikTok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Lauren Carey is the host of the Beer'd Al Podcast (Where we talk about two of the greatest things in the world: Beer and "Weird Al.") and has been a karaoke enthusiast for nigh on 20 years.
https://www.beerdalpodcast.com • https://twitter.com/BeerdAlPodcast • https://www.instagram.com/beerdalpodcast/?hl=en • https://www.facebook.com/beerdalpodcast
Hip Hop at Karaoke: The Don't, the Do, and the Deuces
Let's be honest--when it comes to talking about hip hop, you probably don't want to hear two middle-aged white guys wax philosophical about it. Hell, neither do your hosts Adam and Ed. But when it comes to talking about hip hop at karaoke, that? That's their wheelhouse. They talk about great hip hop songs to do at karaoke, songs that are surprisingly difficult to pull off, and the word you should never say on a karaoke mic if you look like them.
Yeah, that one.
After that, they talk to Young Deuces of the Geekset podcast about his love of karaoke, hip hop, and nerd culture. His passion is infectious, which means his latest project, "The Black Geek Documentary," will also be as engaging as this interview--if you want to help crowdfund that documentary, here's the link to the info on it (The Black Geek Documentary GoFundMe Trailer - YouTube), and here's the crowdfunding page for it: (Fundraiser by Rudy Strong : The Black Geek Documentary (gofundme.com)). Let's help him crush that goal, because this project is going to be *great.*
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Young Deuces is a part of Geekset, an emerging collective that started as a podcast reaching global notoriety by being the only place that blends Hip-Hop Culture & Geek Culture in one place. Think Comic Book Men meets Drink Champs & you have Geekset. Lead by 1 Artist, 2 Music Producers & an Engineer, Deuces, Bacardi, Lib & Didge have successfully become the hub to curate and combine the two. From releasing podcast episodes to delivering convention coverage to breaking down properties, Geekset has it all.
http://www.twitter.com/GeeksetPodcast
http://www.instagram.com/GeeksetPodcast
http://www.facebook.com/GeeksetPodcast
http://www.youtube.com/GeeksetPodcast
https://www.linkedin.com/company/geekset
http://www.twitch.tv/Geekset
Finding Your Karaoke Voice (or Voices) with Comedian and Impressionist Bobby Hedglin-Taylor
Karaoke is all about singing, right? That should be obvious, but what's a little less obvious is finding your voice. Do you sing like yourself, in your natural voice? Do you try to imitate the original artist? Ed makes the bold claim that he is "the voice of karaoke" (and that isn't about the quality of the singing), and Adam and Ed talk about taking songs originally performed by women, and why that's a great way to expand your karaoke repertoire. In terms of impersonation, Ed goes into trying to sound like the artist, and Adam talks about the Stanislavski method and embodying a character, if not a voice.
The trivia challenge is all over the place--it covers sampling, comedy songs, and iconic voices, and that's all inspired by this episode's guest: Bobby Hedglin-Taylor is a standup comedian and impressionist who integrates actual karaoke into his act and can sing in 50 different voices. He talks about that, how he finds the voices he does, and how doing singing impersonations made his own natural singing voice better. If you're listening on day one and are in the NYC area, you can catch his New York Queer Comedy Festival Highlight Show Thursday April 21st, 9:30PM at the Greenwich Village Comedy Club.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even TikTok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Bobby Hedglin-Taylor is standup comedian, a circus and aerial designer who has worked on and off Broadway, in summer stock and regional theater as well as rock concerts and cruise ships, and he’s just published his first book, a tribute to his late mother called #ShitMyMamaSays–a humorous look at life while dealing with dementia. Now available on Amazon. His next book, Escape to Ravioli Mountain- a Memoir in Food, is currently in the editing stage. Recipes and amusing anecdotes from growing up in a dysfunctional Italian family on a mountaintop in rural Pennsylvania.
All this and he can cook too!
Find him on social media:
Facebook-Escape to Ravioli Mountain
join his mailing list - EscapeToRavioliMountain@gmail.com
Instagram and TikTok @BobbyHedglinTaylor @EscapeToRavioliMountain
Twitter- @YwalkWhenUcnFly
A Cool Thing About Karaoke: Taking Risks with Good People
In the movie BLOOD IN, BLOOD OUT, one of the characters says “life’s a risk, carnal.” Life is absolutely a risk–and so is karaoke. After this episode's Karaoke Trivia Bullpen challenge, Adam and Ed talk about the risks and rewards of karaoke, and the risks associated with starting a mobile KJ business–chiefly, the cost it takes to set one up in the first place.
Why business? Are the guys transitioning into the world of business podcasts? Of course not. Their guest, though, Joey Held, talks to all kinds of artists and entrepreneurs in his podcast “Good People, Cool Things,” and reached out to us because he loves talking to karaoke people as well–for nearly 20 years, he’s been on both sides of a karaoke night, as a singer and as a host. They all compare notes on the progress of a goal they all share–singing karaoke in all 50 states, discuss one key rule to providing a great karaoke performance, and have a great time doing it all. Who knows–they may even end up on Joey’s podcast someday, as karaoke is a very cool thing.
This episode briefly mentions a karaoke charity event that took place in Pittsburgh where proceeds went to RAINN. If you’d like to contribute to RAINN, you can do that at their web site: RAINN | The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Joey Held is a writer, podcaster, and author based in Austin, TX. He's the founder of the Crisp Bounce Pass newsletter; host of the Good People, Cool Things podcast; and author of the book Kind, But Kind of Weird: Short Stories on Life's Relationships. He's never met a pun or dad joke he didn't like, and he prefers a wireless mic when performing karaoke.
The Endless Knot of Karaoke. Sort of.
Hey, look at us, posting on a Friday! Today, we’re the podcast that takes etymology *exactly* as seriously as it should be taken. Well, we don't, but The Endless Knot (alliterative.net) does–it’s April Fool’s Day, and Operation Switcheroo, so we’ve switched places with Mark and Aven–their listeners are hearing one of our episodes, and you’re hearing one of theirs. Their notes for this one, from 2018, are as follows:
"We head back to the Endless Knot Cocktail Bar to talk about the history of the Mai Tai, the Tiki craze, Polynesian mythology, cultural appropriation, and World's Fairs. And then we turn to Rome's relationship to Greece, and discuss whether Horace wrote the Exotica music of the ancient world!"
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. And if you want to support the podcast and snag yourself some great karaoke and podcast swag doing it, our store has all of that and more–www.sungpoorly.com/store.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
The Real Karaoke Is the Friends We Made Along the Way
Their guest, too, was a big part of their karaoke journey--Tabitha Ashley was there when Adam and Ed really began developing into the diehard karaoke fiends they are today. They talk about the old days, of course, but the main focus is on Tabitha, who has made the leap from a person who sings at screens in bars to releasing music of her own--you can find her music wherever you stream your music, or via her web page www.tabithaashley.com.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even TikTok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com, and you can buy great karaoke and podcast swag at www.sungpoorly.com/store--it's a great way to support your favorite or second favorite karaoke podcast.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Tabitha Ashley is a singer/songwriter residing in Pittsburgh, PA. She lives with her husband, three children, and two dogs. Tabitha considers her music to be mostly symphonic hard rock. She writes most of her songs late at night when the distractions of everyday life aren’t so intrusive. She loves the quiet time, and it brings her peace when she can bring her innermost thoughts and emotions to paper. Tabitha also works as a photographer and has owned her own studio for 15 years. In addition to serving clients at her local business, she enjoys writing/illustrating children’s books and exhibiting in art shows in her spare time.
Oh, the Places You'll Go (and Drink, and Sing)
This week on "The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly)," Adam and Ed reminisce about some fantastic karaoke regions--from Japan and the Phillipines, to New York City, Portland Oregan, Florida and, of course, western Pennsylvania, where they both cut their baby karaoke teeth and became the karaoke-obsessed people they are today. Naturally, the Karaoke Bullpen Trivia Challenge has a place connection, too, as Ed quizes Adam about places in songs. Some of the great karaoke bars mentioned: Winnie's in NYC and Backstreets Sports Bar in Cape Coral, Florida. And, of course, the idea of finally taking this podcast on the road and hitting up some new towns and making some new friends along the way.
Speaking of new friends--the guys are then joined by Jennifer Howell of the "Every Rom Com" podcast, who has also done a lot of karaoke in her time--everywhere from Massachusetts to Korea to Portland, Oregon. She shares some of her favorite karaoke places and memories and brings some of her movie love in as well before playing the "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" quickfire game. And, for the first time this season, the show features its guest singing karaoke!
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Jennifer Howell is the host, producer and editor of Every Rom Com, the podcast that has fun taking romantic comedies seriously. When she’s not podcasting, Jennifer works as a page at the Madison Public Library, spends time with her husband and cat, and tries to figure out the perfect ending for her horror screenplay. Jennifer spent time as a karaoke nerd at the Ambassador in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Busan and Gyeongju, South Korea to teach English from 2009-2016. Her favorite karaoke songs include “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Wannabe”, “Bette Davis Eyes”, “Dancing in the Dark” and her special party trick of singing Disney’s “Colors of the Wind” in German.
Drink Water. Express Your Feelings. Sing Karaoke.
This week, Adam and Ed get a little serious–they talk about all things health and wellness, and how they relate to karaoke. Even the Karaoke Trivia Bullpen focuses on it, as Adam quizzes the notoriously morose Ed on songs about happiness. But they also share some of the benefits of singing and karaoke.
As the fellas both say, neither of them is licensed or certified for anything, which is why they bring in Angel Shamsa (https://angeluniversal.com), a holistic health coach and shaman, for a more official look at some of the benefits of karaoke and singing can have for the person doing it, as well as her own health and wellness story–and, obviously, her karaoke story as well.
In addition to Angel, here are some other resources for your mental and physical health:
The National Institute for Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
Healthline Mental Health Resources
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health-resources#finding-therapy
US Health Resources & Service Information
https://www.hrsa.gov/
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok, sometimes. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
The Second the Singalong Starts It'll Be Sensational: Cover Songs, Karaoke, and... Frank Turner?
Disclaimer: there is no actual singalong, but Adam and Ed do interview Frank Turner, the musician and songwriter responsible for that line from his song “The Gathering,” part of his ninth album F.T.H.C. releasing 11 February 2022.
Prior to the interview, Adam and Ed debut their new, more formal trivia game "The Karaoke Trivia Bullpen" with some questions on songs Frank Turner has covered, and then cover some topics at the intersection of karaoke and professional music: is a karaoke performance a cover song? What do musicians have to say about karaoke? What are the barriers to making music, and creativity in general? Essentially, the concept is the same as in any episode: it's about loving music, and how people engage with it (and everyone knows how Adam and Ed engage with it).
Frank might be a surprising choice for a karaoke podcast, but Adam and Ed are both big fans of his work. They heard an interview Frank did with Liam Bird on Liam’s podcast Punks in Pubs--Frank told a story about getting kicked out of a karaoke bar after singing Meatloaf (which they’ve excerpted here). He expands on that story, tells another unhinged karaoke story, and then the three of them sort out all sorts of music and karaoke related questions. He even left a piece behind--starting in Episode 4, the quickfire game has a question rephrased because, not surprisingly, Frank Turner turns a phrase more cleverly than Adam and Ed do.
FTHC is the ninth solo album from British punk and folk artist Frank Turner. Initially striking out as a vocalist in the punk rock band Million Dead, Turner then turned his focus towards a folkier, acoustic-based solo career. Since that time, he has reached international acclaim as a chart-topping, award-winning singer-songwriter. Taking inspiration from early '80s US hardcore band logos, FTHC stands for Frank Turner Hardcore.
Photo credit: Ben Morse (ben-morse.com)
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media--the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok, sometimes. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Looking Back, Looking Forward, and Looking Moderately Good Doing It (Bonus)
This week, The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) finishes up its look back on its inaugural season, including the final four quickfire rounds. In these fifty-nine minutes, you'll hear from:
Terry and Naomi Clark (owners of Black Parakeetz in Nyack, NY): 4:33
Honey Leavitt (host, "The Honey Leavitt Show" podcast): 17:12
Christian Swain (host, "Rock N Roll Archaeology" podcast): 25:48
Douglas Wolk (author, "All of the Marvels"): 35:32
Then, Adam and Ed reveal some data from the first season, including this season's winner (loser?) of everyone's favorite karaoke question, "If you could magically strike one song from every karaoke playlist forever, which song would you choose?" They also wax nostalgic on some good memories from the first season, and cast their shiny, hopeful eyes towards what season two will bring this February.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media–the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. The discussion continues at The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast Facebook group.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
From Broadway, to Japan, to Seattle... and some Adele on the way (Bonus)
This is the second of the season-ender clip shows, bringing back some of listener's favorite "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" quickfire rounds and, as a treat, Adam singing some Adele.
In this episode, you'll hear again from:
Episode 11: Dana Babal of Non-stop Broadway (6:31)
Episode 12: Ayumi Shinozaki (15:36)
Episode 13: Mike Wiston and Joe Rubin (21:45)
Episode 14: Brian Raftery (33:18)
Episode 15: Andrew Crawford (42:02)
Episode 16: DJ Baby Van Beezly (49:01)
Two more bonus clip shows to go, and then Adam and Ed will be back with new interviews, new trivia segments, and all sorts of new things in February.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media–the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. The discussion continues at The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast Facebook group.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
We Asked, They Answered... Ten Times Over (Bonus)
Between the holidays and, er, an infection of the... novel variety, we've been pushed back from doing interviews and scheduled episodes. To absolutely and blatantly misquote Rakim, "it's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you / without a karaoke podcast to step to" so, to make up for the delay, we're releasing this bonus episode. If you've never listened before, it'll give you both a taste of the tone of the show and one of its most popular segments. If you've already been with us, stroll down memory lane with us as we collect (and slightly re-edit) the first ten "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" quickfire segments:
- Episode 1: Zachary Mattis (2:47)
- Episode 2: Christopher Price (4:05)
- Episode 3: Ben Dumm (10:43)
- Episode 4: Jonathan Barnes (17:37)
- Episode 5: Chris Smith (23:37)
- Episode 6: Jess Demaio (30:03)
- Episode 7: Thomas the Red (36:50)
- Episode 8: Gabe and Leigh Cetra (46:19)
- Episode 9: Garvaundo Hamilton (52:39)
- Episode 10: Mara Wilson (59:13)
There will be more bonus episodes to follow (obviously, we have ten more quickfires to post), and we'll resume all new interviews, trivia challenges, and that sweet, sweet karaoke discussion later this month.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media–the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. The discussion continues at The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast Facebook group.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
These People, These Karaoke Monsters
It’s all about fandom this week: how Adam and Ed are karaoke nerds, and how they are nerds in other ways as well. Adam claims to not be a comics nerd–will he pass the “Challenge of the Nerdy Songs?” They share the nerdiest karaoke-related things they’ve been a part of, and then want to share a give-away with you–-instructions in the show--and if you're the winning entry, you’ll get a Kindle copy of guest Douglas Wolk’s newest book All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told, and they’ll read the winning submission on a future episode.
Wolk talks about his latest book, of course, but this is a karaoke podcast–they found ways to work that into a karaoke-focused discussion: the appreciation of different kinds of art (and karaoke is an art), and how karaoke looks in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and in the comics proper. He’s got great advice for anyone who wants to get into comics or karaoke and shares the best place for a top-notch karaoke experience in Portland, Oregon. There’s also a little “inside baseball” when he talks about how he created the theme music for his podcast “The Voice of Latveria.”
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media–the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even Tiktok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. The discussion continues at The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast Facebook group.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3.
Comics writer, critic and journalist Douglas Wolk is the author of the Eisner- and Harvey Award-winning Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean, and the host of the podcast "The Voice of Latveria." A National Arts Journalism Program Fellow and USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Fellow, Wolk has written about comics, graphic novels, pop music and technology for magazines, newspapers and sites including the New York Times, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Believer, Slate and Pitchfork. His latest book All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told is about his experience reading 27,000 Marvel superhero comic books.
Karaoke Archaeology
This week, The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) looks back at history through another music trivia challenge, and then dives headfirst into the history of karaoke, the thing that unites Adam and Ed in holy bromance-trimony despite all their obvious differences. They cover where it originated, who created it, how it came to the US, and some things that laid the groundwork for its popularity in the USA--and how does cartoonist Max Fleischer fit in to that?
Then, they’re joined by guest Christian Swain (host of the Rock N Roll Archaeology podcast) who brings some historical perspective on the longevity of certain songs at karaoke (and rock and roll in general), how karaoke changed people’s minds about music and performance, and the worst band names of bands he’s ever been in. He even sings an answer in the "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" quickfire game.
You can dig deep into rock and roll history with Christian’s podcast Rock N Roll Archaeology, and even deeper into all sorts of music podcasts in the Pantheon Podcast Network. And if you’re lucky enough to be in the Northern California area, you should absolutely check out his band TinMan, or hire them to rock out your next big event.
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), and on social media–the show is @sungpoorly on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and now even TikTok. You can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. The discussion continues at The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast Facebook group.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Make sure to check out Ben's newest music at The Ben Dumm 3, wherever fine music can be streamed.
Bless Your Heart, Phil Collins
This week, Adam gets put on the spot with a sexy song challenge, and then Adam and Ed reminisce on flirting, dating, and relationships of all kinds that start and continue through karaoke.
Then, Adam learns the true meaning of “bless your heart” and Ed reveals how kink free he actually is when Honey Leavitt of the Honey Leavitt Show (a comedy podcast about human sexuality, dating, love and relationships) takes our quickfire game in decidedly new and salacious directions. She also talks about her own experiences with sexy songs, flirting at karaoke, and a specific bartender in East Atlanta who brought a memorable sexiness to a karaoke night there. In fact, everything was so sexy, the episode couldn’t contain her singing, so there’s no karaoke singing segment this week--you don’t want to explode your devices with all that Greg Allman hotness.
(While most of the karaoke-related stories talked about on the podcast happen in places that require folks to be 21 or older, this episode in particular might be the one you use headphones for. Or not. You know your listening situation best.)
As always, you can find more info on the website (https://www.sungpoorly.com), Twitter (@sungpoorly), Facebook (@sungpoorly), and you can reach Adam and Ed via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. Also, feel free to join the Facebook group: The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants.
Good Vibes + Good People = Great Karaoke Spots
The title says it all--it's just simple math. Now that things are opening up and karaoke is becoming safer and easier to access, Adam and Ed talk about the places they do karaoke, the things they like in a karaoke place, and some of their all-time favorite karaoke spots, including some new ones Ed found on a work trip to Cincinnati (check out the blog on the web site to see more about that).
The focus on karaoke spots dovetails into an interview with the owners of a place that is now definitely on Adam and Ed's bucket list of karaoke spots they need to hit. Terry and Naomi Clarke, the owners of Black Parakeetz, the new paint, swig, and sing spot in Nyack, NY talk about what makes their spot unique and special, the thought that went into developing the place, and their plans for the future. Remember, if you're trying to get to Black Parakeetz, it's right across the Tappan Zee Bridge into Nyack, take the first exit, and then "two lights, two rights" and you have found Nyack's premiere karaoke lounge. You'll also get a snippet of Terry singing some Johnny Mathis.
As always, we’ve got a web site (https://www.sungpoorly.com), we're on Twitter (@sungpoorly), and you can reach us via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. Also, feel free to join our Facebook group: The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast.
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants.
Rotating Around to Burleskaraoke
This time around, the guys don't dilly-dally or chat about their personal lives--there's so much karaoke fun to be had that they jump right into it. Adam hits Ed right off the bat with a Broadway challenge, and then they dive into one of the biggest karaoke argument springboards--the rotation. If you have a strong opinion on how a karaoke rotation should or shouldn't be run, hit them up at sungpoorly@gmail.com or on Twitter @sungpoorly. They also declare themselves the winners of the R. Kelly beef by default, as he's going to jail and can't fire back.
Then, all the way from Seattle, DJ Baby Van Beezly joins us to nerd out about all the great karaoke nights she hosts--everything from corporate events, to weddings, to burlesque karaoke. If you want to see if her Cher is as great as she claims (spoiler: it is), stick around for her performance of "If I Could Turn Back Time." This episode runs a little long since she was just so great to talk with. If you live in or visit the Seattle area, check her out in person at the Queer Bar or at The Cuff Complex, but you should check out her stuff on Instagram regardless where you live--she's babyvanbeezly there.
As always, you can find more info on the web site (sungpoorly.com), Twitter (@sungpoorly), and you can reach the show via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. Also, feel free to join the Facebook group: The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/groups/tgsesp)
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants.
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Karaoke Me
This week, Ed reminisces about getting to see an outdoor punk rock show held in Episode 8 guests Gabe and Leigh Cetra's backyard, where he rocked out to the sounds Ben Dumm and Kepi Ghoulie (formerly of The Groovy Ghoulies). Then, to liven things up, Ed and Adam play a karaoke news based "two truths and a lie" style game we're calling "The Greatest News Ever Told (Poorly)." Does Adam win or lose? They also talk about the games we've played to amp up the karaoke experience--shoot an email to sungpoorly@gmail.com if you want copies of our Decision Roulette wheels, or to share how you've amped up your own karaoke nights.
The fun continues with guest Andrew Crawford, a prolific member of the Facebook group "Friday Night Karaoke," who won a spot on this show as part of the FNK "Summer Mic Drop Challenge." He's been doing karaoke for DECADES as a singer, a host, and a competitor who has entered and won a bunch of contests. Follow Andrew's music on Youtube ("Andrew Sings!"), Instagram (andrewcrawford51), Smule and StarMaker (SS_AndrewSings on both platforms), or in the "Friday Night Karaoke" Facebook group.
As always, you can find us on our web site (https://www.sungpoorly.com), Twitter (@sungpoorly), and you can reach us via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. Also, feel free to join our Facebook group: The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/groups/tgsesp)
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants.
The Singing Machine is a Time Machine
Breakout your JNCO jeans and your... um... whatever people wore in the 2000s. This week, Adam and Ed get nostalgic for the '90s and 2000s. The music, the karaoke... ok, they don't really remember karaoke in the '90s and early 2000s (Ed really bombed the '90s- and 2000s- themed challenge), but their guest Brian Raftery (author of "Don't Stop Believin': How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life") joins to talk about that big boom period in karaoke, his travels in karaoke, and his book.
Does this episode have a giveaway? Yes! The only eligibility requirements are "sending an email" and "not being Adam Wainwright."
Make sure you check out Brian's podcast "Gene and Roger," about Siskel and Ebert on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. As Brian didn't have a recording handy, Ed sings Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" this time and is sorry.
As always, we're on Twitter (@sungpoorly), and you can reach us via email by sending a message to sungpoorly@gmail.com. Also, feel free to join our Facebook group that we announce this episode: The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Podcast | Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/tgsesp
Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants.
Home Is Where the Friday Night Karaoke Is
Back in Episode 4, Ed and Adam talked a bit about online karaoke, and what it was missing for them. In this episode, they cover events from the past week in their lives, like "what rhymes with Ivermectin?" and poetry and, well, other things. But then! Then get right into the important stuff: how one of karaoke's big selling points is the communities it fosters. Ed stumbled across an online group that brings that feeling back, and brings it back hard: Friday Night Karaoke (https://www.facebook.com/groups/fridaynightkaraoke). It's not surprising that such a great group (and, later, a great podcast) sprung from the minds of two great guys--Mike Wiston and Joe Rubin--who tell us about how it all got started way back when, and then grace us with a duet hearkening back to last episode's them. Guests: Mike Wiston, Joe Rubin. Theme song: "Gasoline" by Ben Dumm and the Deviants. Background barking provided by Woodford.
The Birthplace of Karaoke
This week on TGSESP, we decide it's time we acknowledge our bias as Western karaoke people and talk more about karaoke in it's birthplace, JAPAN. Highlights include: Adam's experiences in Japan, scanning our catchphrase, ASMR, a new challenge, a new segment ONLY for Ben Dumm, Ed's gastrointestinal distress, ACTUAL insight into karaoke in Japan, FAME, an adorable love story and our guest, coming straight to your ears from Japan, Ayumi Shinozaki schooling us and then singing for the good of the world.
Guest: Ayumi Shinozaki - Host of 'Sparkleside Chats with Magical Girl Ayu' podcast
Theme Song: 'Gasoline' by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Bed music in 'Heads Up' segment courtesy of Bensound
Broadway Babies
Guest: Dana Babal
Social Media to Follow: www.facebook.com/NonStopBroadway
Theme Song: Gasoline by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Now This Here's a Story..
This week on TGSESP, we take a deep dive into the world of storytelling and how it applies to karaoke. While Ed and I clearly have stories for days, we thought it best to consult an expert so we were delighted to have Mara Wilson join us to talk about karaoke, kitties, storytelling, kitties, musicals, kitties, and so much more! Here's what else to expect: terrible Space Odyssey orchestrations, a deep dive into famous storytellers, Adam challenges Ed, and a rousing rendition of Britney Spears' 'Toxic'.
Guest: Mara Wilson
Twitter & IG: @marawilson
Writing: mara.substack.com
Donate: tinyurl.com/unhousedlosfeliz
tinyurl.com/unhousedLA
Theme song 'Gasoline' by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
You Can Win Karaoke. For Real.
In this episode of TGSESP, we let our competitive sides show as we talk about what it means to "win" karaoke and then talk to the person who actually won karaoke. Here's what you can look forward to: fireworks playlist propoganda, a challenge to R. Kelly, more selfless promotion for Kettle Dad's Barbecue, karaoke challenges, competitions, and contests, plus a conversation with World Karaoke Champion 2020 Garvaundo Hamilton.
Garvaundo's YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQpOwe4QRQYdafg1J5SWZg
Garvaundo's Insta: @GarvaundoHamiltonMusic
For more info about the Karaoke World Championships check out KWCUSA.org
Theme song 'Gasoline' by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Let's Duet in Ways That Make Us Feel Good
On this week's episode of TGSESP, we recognize that karaoke feels good when you do it yourself but, is just better with a partner. In that spirit, we brought in two karaoke experts, that share in their love of karaoke and love of each other, to debate what the best karaoke duet song of all time is. Talking points include: dive bar Hallelujah, getting all stupid up in here, ethical judging, and stander or sitter.
Guests: Gabe and Leigh
Gabe's IG: @thebiggaber
Follow Photo Joe and the Negatives on Facebook
Theme Song: Gasoline by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Karaoke is Funny?
World's collide on this week's episode of TGSESP as comedy and karaoke merge to make one big ball of warm soup. Ed demonstrates his knowledge (or lack there of) of Weird Al, Adam brings back an "old" segment, Adam and Ed both establish new "kill this song" canon and our guest Thomas the Red saves the entire show by bringing actual funny to the podcast.
Guest: Thomas the Red
Comedy Clip and 'A Whole New Hole' Courtesy of Thomas the Red
Theme Song: Gasoline by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Questions, Answers and Smooth Talk
This week's episode of TGSESP is all about answering your questions and dropping all the karaoke knowledge everywhere. Ed and Adam show off their smooth voices, a dog outshines both of them as co-host, Adam laments about the Yankees, Ed reminisces about days gone by, we feature some of Florida's best (or at least enthusiastic) karaoke singers, and our guest Jess saves the entire show by bringing a fresh perspective to Ed and Adam's old madness.
Theme Song: Gasoline - Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Let us know what you think and send your karaoke questions to us at sungpoorly@gmail.com
Party Boy and the Party Pooper
This week's episode of TGSESP is all about getting the party started as our guest Christopher Smith helps us weed through a randomly generated bracket of karaoke party songs to determine what is, in fact, the song to get the party started at karaoke. Ed and Adam go head-to-head on, well, everything, Ed names a new bathtub, all Adam wants is Kermit to be serenading him and talks, like, so much hate on ABBA.
Theme Song: Gasoline - Ben Dumm and the Deviants
Featured Music: Talk to the Mountain - Liz Armour featuring Christopher Matthew Smith
Let us know what you think and send us your karaoke questions at sungpoorly@gmail.com
Online Karaoke, Tiktok, and Bathtubs, Oh My!
On this week's episode of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly): Ed and Adam talk about being Phizer warriors, Adam has a new podcast idea, Ed shares way too much about how he's coped with not being able to go to karaoke, they get into an old man argument about Tiktok and welcome in their guest Jonathan Barnes who breaks down the how to's of online karaoke.
Rock Stars and Karaoke at the Bar
Spring is in the air as Adam and Ed talk about their (sorta) mutual love of baseball, what it's like for that person at the bar who's NOT there for karaoke and what you can do to help, special guest Ben Dumm gives them rock star insight on what it's like to be that person and Ben delivers one of the best answers yet in 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'.
The KJ: Professional Drunk Hoarder And So Much More
On this episode of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), Ed and Adam tap into their announcer voices, find out that they are vaccination twinsies, have a small disagreement around the word 'hyped', delve way too deep into what it means to be a karaoke DJ (NOT KJ), and reunite with a friend.
Guest: Chris Price, Owner of Crisp Entertainment
Featuring Music by Ben Dumm and the Deviants
A Karaoke Addiction Leads to Love
In the "inaugural" episode of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly) Ed and Adam establish themselves as experts in their field, discuss the karaoke addiction that led to their love for each other, define the "perfect" karaoke week, talk to Zachary Michael Mattis who introduces them to Stanley Bigshoulders and Inda Blonde, put Zach through the first round of Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and Adam sings some Johnny Cash.
The Greatest Trailer Ever Sung (Poorly)
Hey, look! We made a trailer with clips from the show. If you haven't listened yet, this is meant to entice you, probably? If you've already listened and subscribed... this is like a teeny-tiny "Best Of" episode, maybe?
So, yes, we did a marketing!
Theme song "Gasoline" provided by Ben Dumm and The Deviants. Check out Ben's latest project The Ben Dumm Three on the streaming platform of your choice.