The term karaoke started out as a music term meaning empty track, indicating a music bed with no vocals. It wasn't until the 1970s that the term became popular in reference to sing-a-longs where lyrics are given and people provide vocals along to the music. Karaoke machines became popular in Asia before spreading to United States and the rest of the world. Originally, karaoke machines used cassettes, then CDs, and now they use DVDs to store the music and related information. Karaoke contests have become a staple of many local bars. Technology has brought karaoke to mobile phones, computers and the Internet, as well.
Just like in regular karaoke, in online karaoke you are given the lyrics and melody and then sing along to your heart's delight. There are a few things to look for in an online karaoke site:
Do a simple online search and you can easily find a number of sites that will let you chose from a wide selection of popular songs. Some will let you try the site for free with a sample selection of songs. Be warned, though, that just like regular karaoke, online karaoke is very addictive! You can also buy karaoke software in addition to joining an online site.