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“I Love This Bar”: Working-Class Expression Through Karaoke Song Selection

Gerolami, Mark T
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1167928429

Abstract Details

2007, Master of Music (MM), Bowling Green State University, Music Ethnomusicology.
This thesis probes the meaning and processes of karaoke song selection at Whiskey Dick’s, a working-class bar in Bowling Green, Ohio. Through research, observations, and interviews conducted from 2005 to 2006, it examines how working-class identity manifests itself in karaoke song selection. An analysis of a single night at Whiskey Dick’s creates a framework for specific observations and gives the reader greater context, while the lengthy enthnography provides for more generalized observations. In interviews and discussions with the singers I attempt to uncover the meaning behind each song selected, discovering how conscious singers are of their choices. For some participants my research eventually impacted how they pick songs thus raising issues of intrusion by the ethnomusicologist. I examine several of the most popular songs at Whiskey Dick’s and analyze the lyrics of each, focusing on class representation within the lyrics. In addition, the difficulties of speaking about music and our musical preferences are explored and discussed in reference to the singers at Whiskey Dick’s.
David Harnish (Advisor)
58 p.
Karaoke; karaoke singing; working-class; class culture; bar; working-class bar; Bowling Green bar; karaoke performance

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gerolami, M. T. (2007). “I Love This Bar”: Working-Class Expression Through Karaoke Song Selection [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1167928429

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gerolami, Mark. “I Love This Bar”: Working-Class Expression Through Karaoke Song Selection. 2007. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1167928429.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gerolami, Mark. "“I Love This Bar”: Working-Class Expression Through Karaoke Song Selection." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1167928429

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1167928429
3,173
© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.