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AND FOR THE REALLY YOUNG THAT THINK KARAOKE IS NEW.
The Japanese didn't really start anything, they simply warmed up an old concept and put a few twists on it.
Back in the thirties you could go to a movie theater, and sandwiched in between a double feature,(that's right, two full length features), a cartoon, sometimes a continued weekly serial(Superman, Red Ryder Western thriller,etc) and world news, you may have a brief sing along session. There would be music playing and lyrics on the silver screen with a bouncing ball going from word to word in tempo to the music.
Sound somewhat familiar anyone ?
A bandleader named Mitch Miller enjoyed popularity with his reheat of it in a television series called "Sing Along With Mitch" sometime around the 50's or 60's, once again using the bouncing ball concept.
Major change is that the early versions had the lead instruments in the score.
So much for the history lesson.
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