The word Karaoke comes from the two Japanese words: kara meaning “empty,” and ōkesutora (oke) meaning orchestra- so basically Karaoke means Empty Orchestra.

There are many different claims to who first invented the name karaoke. The most widely held belief is that the karaoke type machine was actually invented by a Japanese musician named Daisuke Inoue.

Daisuke Inoue, who was a  musician when he was a young man, had a job backing businessmen who wanted to sing in bars. It is believed that he invented the machine so that they could sing  without the cost  and trouble of having to organise a live backing group or any live musicians. This was in 1971. The only problem was that Daisuke Inoue did not actually go to the trouble of patenting the machine… and therefore never made any money from it, thus missing the chance to become one of the richest men in Japan!!

Time Magazine named Inoue as one of  “The Most Influential Asians of the Century” in 1999 (recognising the giant worldwide craze that Karaoke had become..which was nice that he was now recognised as having invented Karaoke… but I bet he would rather had got the money!).

In fact Daisuke Inoue lost his chance to become one of Japan’s richest men to Roberto del Rosario.  He was a Filipino inventor who had actually developed a sing along system in 1975 (4 years after Daisuke Inoue had invented his system) and went and patented it in the 80s.  Roberto del Rosario called his sing-along system “Minus-One” but he holds the patent for the basic model that we now all know as the “karaoke machine”.

Karaoke developed across Asia to be one of the most most popular types of entertainment. The most common type of karaoke venue in asia being known as a karaoke box, which is usually a quite small room (thus providing an intimate atmosphere) that  contains karaoke equipment rented by the half hour or hour.

Across the rest of the world Karaoke started to become  extremely popular in pubs and clubs where they would offer karaoke on a weekly schedule, while some started to have Karaoke every night, developing into Karaoke Bars.

Flicks Bar has been offering Karaoke since 1997 and has, over the years, developed a fantastic concept… a lively Disco Fun Pub bar that plays all the latest club hits ..that also does Karaoke! Its a concept that has worked so much that it has turned Flicks bar into the one of the busiest bars and best bars in Corralejo Fuerteventura. Most people who come in to dance to the latest club sounds dont think they would ever sing on stage..but when they see everyone having fun, and then take a look through the list of the thousands of songs that are on offer, they very often have a go (usually with a little help from a cocktail or two)!!

So make sure that when you are in Corralejo, and you head into the centre of nightlife at Flicks Karaoke and Disco Bar for a fantastic night out..and you see the Karaoke with everyone having fun, then give just a little thought to Daisuke Inoue- the inventor of Karaoke!  (although, if you remember his name after a couple of cocktails then, well.. we’ll buy you a shot!!)