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Karaoke singing is becoming the epitome of group entertainment in bars all over the country. Karaoke bars seem to pop up every month and offer more and more discounts and privileges. Karaoke singing has also been conquering the household through the cheap karaoke equipment sold in almost every department store.

Whether you own a karaoke bar or an individual with an obsession to karaoke singing, you need a set of karaoke CDs in order to enjoy it better. Karaoke CDs are the life of the experience. Hundreds of songs can now be stored in a single CD and most stores offer a vast diversity of genre from pop to old school rock. Karaoke lovers have never been more excited with this recent boom in the hobby because they get to choose more songs to sing and more genres to discover. However, how can you tell if a Karaoke CD is a great buy? You don’t need to ponder upon this any longer, here are five great tips that you need to know as you start your Karaoke CDs library.

Create a checklist of your favorite music genres

The trick here is to understand your own taste. what are the songs that you can sing easily and what are the songs that you really love? creating a check list gives you an overview of the library that you are going to build. Also, through this checklist you can update your collection and avoid buying CDs that has the same content. having an overview of your collection gives you an idea of what other CDs to buy.

Look for the best deal

If your local karaoke store offers less than what you want, then hit the internet and start browsing the best karaoke sites. Hundreds of websites are offering deals that you will not even imagine. There are thousands of CDs to choose from, and music genres are grouped smartly. But before being awed by a deal, make sure that you look for at least three websites and compare their offers. Buying CDs need not to be expensive, so keep your eyes out on the best deal.

Since you are fast becoming a music enthusiast, you can also try other music genres that you might appreciate. Most people prefer the standard and pop songs but if you are a serious karaoke singer, better look for other genres as well. If you have a business, this is a must for you. A diverse collection of CDs only means you can attract almost any type of customer.

Check out CD quality and type

Ever heard of a CD-g? this type of CDs can hold hundreds of Karaoke songs. Most karaoke websites offer this type of CD so be sure that you consider them when you buy some for your collection. There are also DVDs and other types of CDs so be sure that you know them. aside from this, you must also make sure that your player can read the CDs that you will buy. Some types can only play a certain type of CD so be sure that your equipment can handle them.

Grab offers and discounts

Since the karaoke craze is sweeping the country, more stores are offering discounts. There are seasons where stores offer more discounts, so make sure that you are the first on the line when they launch one.

Karaoke singing is a really great way to have fun, release some stress and bond with friends. If you have a karaoke bar and would like to attract more customers, then establishing your CD collection is a must. In a household, buying CDs for your karaoke machine also adds more fun when you and your friends spend time together, and throwing a party can be really easy.

We have to admit, we came late to the Drake party. it wasn’t until the orchestral bombast of ‘Over’ that we realized he was onto something amazing.

The lyrics of the hook (“I know way too many people here right now/That I didn’t know last year”) spoke of the trepidation that fame and money brings. It’s a theme which dominates ‘take Care’.

From the cover – which depicts Drake as some sort of battle-worn Roman Emperor who’s eaten too much gold-encrusted swan at dinner and is paying the price – to the nocturnal sonics (thanks in part to collaborations with Jamie XX and The Weeknd) contained within, ‘take Care’ is a classic post-fame album. the rapper contemplates his newly found riches that equally intrigue and disgust him.

In the spoken word intro to ‘Crew Love’, he touches upon the albums themes saying: “make this an open letter about family and struggle/About it taking forever/About hearts that you’ve broken and ties that you’ve severed.”

‘over My Dead Body’“I know you don’t love me, baby”, is the way Drake chooses to open ‘Take Care’. He starts as he means to go on. Against this Frank Ocean-ish backing Drake ponders the state of his career, taxes and more. “I guess you win some and lose some,” he concludes. Let the emo-hop begin!

‘Shot For Me’He’s in full-on 80s crooner mode, as the synths sit expansively over a machine-gun drum beat. “Alesha, Katya, I’m the Man,” he emotes to all the girls he’d loved before (well some of them at least). There are shades of the Weeknd’s dark clubland odes on this track (not to mention the locked-in-a-cupboard backing vocals) and even Bon Iver’s ‘Beth/Rest’.

‘Headlines’You know this one where we find Drizzy mixing regret with bravado over a choppy riff. He’s filled with a mantra of “realness” and “money over everything” yet, this being Drake, it’s more complicated than that. “Then she wanna ask when it got so empty/ Tell her I apologise, happened over time,” he emotes in his eternal search for self reflection. the layers of tone are all very ‘My beautiful dark Twisted Fantasy’.

‘Crew Love’“There’s a roomful of niggers/ What are you following me for?” sings the Weeknd’s Abel Tesfaye on a track that sounds like it could have been taken from his ‘House of Balloons’. And if the theme of being hounded by unwanted attention seekers and groupies hangs heavily on the hook, Drake’s one verse finds him celebrating the fact he can splash out on his family (the “crew” of the title) and, like, buy them stuff.

‘Take Care’One part xx remix (Jamie xx produces and his Gil Scott-Heron collaboration ‘I’ll take Care of U’ features heavily), one part Chicago house monster, and one part lovelorn duet between the former ‘What’s My Name’ collaborator Rihanna, the title track is an early album highlight. “You hate the fact you bought the dream and they sold you one,” Drake sings (to Rihanna? to himself?) before Scott-Heron’s ghostly voice comes juddering in like a warning of things to come and flips the whole thing fantastically 360.

‘Marvin’s Room’Following on exquisitely from ‘take Care’, this is all 3am regret, and xx-like soul searching. over the flat-lining synth line and the barely-there sighs of a voice on the other end of the line, he breaks the maxim of ‘don’t drunk text’ (no, Drake, no!). Sounding like he’s half asleep when he’s singing he begs an ex to “talk to me please, I don’t have much to believe in,” whilst complaining about his state of mind (“too many drinks have been given to me…. I’ve had sex four times, I’ll explain/ having a hard time adjusting to fame”). a wonderful malady.

‘Underground Kings’ Possibly the most swaggering moment of the album thus far. Drake ditches the shell shocked tone for a moment and goes back to his ‘Thank Me Later’ rapping style, as he tells his story from underground hero to reigning king.

‘We’ll be Fine’A partner to ‘Underground Kings’, ‘We’ll be Fine’ finds Drake riffing about his past over a choppy beat that sounds not unlike ’50 Cent’s ‘Ayo Technology’. a shout to Aaliyah here, a reference to Nicki Minaj and “uptown shit” there, this feels slightly retrograde compared with some of the futureshocking, drowsy soundscapes which have come before.

‘make Me Proud’It doesn’t reach the blissful places that their last team up (‘Moment For Life’) did, but ‘make Me Proud’ is still… pretty good. Drake reels off the qualities he loves in his lady, before Nicki and does what she does best – drop a spotlight-stealing verse (possible because of her Dolly Parton reference).

‘Lord Knows’Producer Just Blaze creates a majestic soundscape, a gospel choir, a refracted orchestra and an old skool sample. It’s all very ‘College Dropout’ and Rick Ross’ verse gives this air-punching track some vocal gravitas (but also some comic relief). Lyrically Drake’s under the cosh again; negotiating the male/female divide, fending off the haters and fans who have their knives ready. Paranoid or battle-weary? It’s hard to tell at this stage.

‘Cameras’ / ‘good ones Go’A slightly dark, low slung bass line and sparse drum beat finds Drake warning a new love that there’s a difference between on-stage chemistry and real love. “look like we in love, but only on camera,” he growls, as what sounds like a new Jack Swing sample recorded off the radio plays. Outro track ‘good ones Go’ sees Drizzy reminiscing regretfully over a lost love (“the good ones go, if you wait too long”) and a Weeknd-styled backing track. We’re making a welcome return to the dark heart of the album.

‘Doing it Wrong’The track wibbles nervously with Drake pining for “something different” from relationships which end with him lying “I love you’s” and being “in a generation of not being in love,” into this comes Stevie Wonder’s lonely harmonica which, appropriately, sounds like it’s pitching in from another time and another (more innocent) place.

‘the Real Her’Could be a partner to ‘Shot For Her’ with its shout outs to ‘Houston girls’, ‘Atlanta girls’ and ‘Vegas girls’ and of course there’s a healthy shot of existential angst brewing in the hook’s search for ‘the real her’. Label boss Lil Wayne turns up (“sometimes I Stevie wonder,” he puns) as does Andre 3000 for an uncharacteristically dour rap (“sitting here/sad as hell listening to Adele”) where he assesses the groupie situation (“please be careful/the bitches got the rabies.”)

‘look What You’ve Done’A heart tugging reminiscence about his family, aided by what sounds like Tom Waits drunkenly banging out a tune on the piano. Most touchingly he shouts out to a departed relative (Mother? Father? Aunt?) who believed in him before he was famous. Features an endsong answer-phone message from what sounds like his grandmother that will send you grabbing for the tissues (if, let’s face it, you’re not already there).

‘HYFR (Hell Yeah Fuckin Right)’ Weezy makes a second appearance , railing against journalists who ask silly questions (“are you high right now?””are you single?”- sounds like a Twitter Q&a to us rather than an interview). the title (“hell ya fucking right”) is apparently how they address these queries. that means we can still ask; “where do you get all your lovely jumpers from then mr Drake?” right? ‘Practice’ Similar in tone to ‘Shot For Me’; there’s clattering drum beats and icy synth action going on. the hook seems fashioned on the Weeknd’s ‘the Morning’, as we find Drake morosely club bound once more.

VerdictWith the Top 40 filled with club-minded bangers, ‘take Care’ is the epic comedown. Drake has raised his game significantly, cornering the market in emo-hop. There’s few ‘hands in the air’ moments, but instead there’s depth and intelligence here that makes him stand out from the crowd.

NME.COM blogs contain the opinions of the individual writer and not necessarily those of NME magazine or NME.COM.

Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli and Justin Hines dazzled the audience in Guadalajara

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Nov. 20, 2011 /CNW/ – An  inspired performance infused with music and dance has made it official—everyone in the Americas is invited to celebrate infinite possibilities in Toronto in 2015 for the next Parapan American Games.

During the Closing Ceremony of the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games, spectators at the Telmex Athletics Stadium saw how the cultural canvas of Toronto—a mosaic of athleticism, artistry and ability—will be the setting for inclusive and accessible Games in less than four years from now.

“As Canada has always welcomed people from around the globe with open arms, so will Toronto in 2015 as we celebrate achievement, participation and inclusion at the Parapan am Games,” said Ian Troop, Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).

The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and the Honourable Bal Gosal, Canada’s Minister of State (Sport), accepted the Americas Paralympic Committee flag, signaling the official countdown to the 2015 Parapan am Games has begun.

Following the flag handover, singer Justin Hines, who uses a wheelchair as a result of the joint condition Larsen syndrome, performed Canada’s national anthem in both official languages.

Toronto’s eight-minute creative segment, performed by nine acclaimed Canadian dancers, explored how the limitless potential of youth and community contributes to the human drive that guides athletes to achieve perfection in athletics through training, ambition and perseverance. one of the dancers, Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli, showed what is possible with movement. he was born with a rare muscle disorder that limits motion in the joints.

The program also featured sweeping projected images of Toronto and the surrounding region, and a range of high-energy Aboriginal, Caribbean and Latin dance performances resembling an urban street party, similar to those found on the streets of Toronto.

BaAM Productions, a Toronto-based creative development and project services company, was the executive producer of the Toronto 2015 portion of the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan am Closing Ceremony.

The creative team included composer, producer, musician and Gemini Award winner Lou Pomanti, world-renowned choreographer Luther Brown and image designer Alexis Laurence.

Media Backgrounder

Toronto—Journey to Infinite Possibilities

On Sunday, November 20, the Toronto 2015 segment of the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games Closing Ceremony took spectators on a visually driven, image-filled journey supported by a musical score of global harmonies and instruments.

O Canada

Canada’s national anthem was performed in English and French by singer Justin Hines.

Overture

A projected collage of Pan and Parapan athletes and intense colour and motion applauded the excellence of form and the pursuit of perfection embodied in the courageous and determined athletes.

Journey of the Athlete

The dancers reflected the various people of the Pan American countries, a mosaic of athleticism, artistry, ability and ethnicity—the cultural canvas of Toronto.

In an artistic, but highly athletic dance style, the performers explored sport movement. Featuring a performance by world-renowned Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli, the dance quickly became the human twin of the athletes in the accompanying video, striking impossible shapes and creating dynamic and unforgettable silhouettes.

Exploring youth, sport, dance and the human drive that strives to achieve perfection in athletics, the dance shapes morphed into instantly recognizable sporting forms with unexpected nods to traditional Latin American and Caribbean dance forms (tango, salsa, mambo, meringue and capoeira). the thread of the act was the journey of the athlete to achieve goals and perfection.

Infinite Possibility

This section opened with soft music. A beautiful and artistic child was revealed. she holds a secret. Moving artistically and with confidence, the audience learned this child represents every child, every athlete or every dancer—a child with limitless potential. A delicate and inquisitive dance of light presented the discovery and release of beautiful monarch butterflies. the butterflies began a journey from Mexico to Canada.

Journey to Toronto

The migration north by the monarch butterflies was illustrated with projected cinematic pictures of land, water and sky. this is a representation of how the people of the Americas will be drawn north to celebrate the Parapan am Games in 2015 in Toronto. the segment showed how Toronto is excited and ready with open arms and with the unbridled support of the multicultural essence of its neighbourhoods.

Welcome to Toronto in 2015

In the finale, the stage exploded with an exciting urban performance of dance and celebration. the dancers characterized an urban street party with Aboriginal, Caribbean and Latin performances.  the projection returned with a showcase of invitations to the 2015 Games from the people of Toronto in all the Pan am languages.

The Creative Team

Lou Pomanti—Composer and Music Director

Composer, producer, musician, Gemini Award winner and five-time nominee, Lou Pomanti is highly respected across Canada as one of the country’s finest musical talents. with more than 25 years of credits in scoring, songwriting and performing, his expertise has awarded him hundreds of musical projects for film, television and album work. he composed, arranged and recorded the eight-minute original soundtrack for Toronto—Journey to Infinite Possibilities.

Luther Brown—Choreographer

Luther Brown grew up in a household where music and the arts were part of daily living. with an ear for music, he assisted his father on the Toronto-based radio show, the Caribbean Crucible, on CHRY 105.5. As a songwriter and choreographer, he has worked with world-renowned artists such as Diddy, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Brandy, Shawn Desman and Jully Black. he has been a resident judge and choreographer on the “So you think you Can Dance Canada” TV series.

Turbine Creation—Image Designer, Alexis Laurence

With experience in large-scale projection, Turbine Creation has been involved in numerous award shows and celebratory productions since 2002, including Cirque du Soleil, the Juno Awards and Canada Day shows on Parliament Hill.

Performers

Justin Hines —O Canada performer

Born in Newmarket, Ontario, Justin Hines is a renowned multilingual singer-songwriter who has a rare genetic joint condition called Larsen’s syndrome. Hines, who uses a wheelchair, has a foundation in his name for people with a disability. “The reality is I don’t really look at my situation as that big a deal,” said Hines. “We all have our things that challenge us; just some people’s are a little more visible in the forefront.” that natural optimism permeates much of his Latin American debut, Days to Recall—a collection of heartfelt songs about life and love released in August 2011.

Dancers

Lisa Auguste

Based in Toronto, Lisa Auguste (pronounced O-geest) is a multi-faceted performer. she has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, modern, salsa, hip hop, break-dance and acting. she is an avid teacher, choreographer and student of her craft. Auguste appeared in the feature film Shall we Dance and music videos for Our Lady Peace, Lauryn Taylor and love inc, Jully Black and Shawn Desman.

Amanda Cleghorn

Taking her first dance steps at the age of four, Amanda Cleghorn has trained extensively for 15 years in various styles including ballet and pointe, modern, lyrical/contemporary jazz, hip hop, tap and musical theatre. Cleghorn appeared in the third season of “So you think you Can Dance Canada” finishing in the top two as the country’s favourite female dancer.

Mackenzie Green

Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Mackenzie Green has always had a love and passion for dance. after graduating high school, Green moved to Vancouver, BC, where he was hired as a company member of “MOVE: the Company,” one of Canada’s top contemporary/modern companies. Green is best known for his participation in the third season of the TV show “So you think you Can Dance Canada” where he was a top-three male competitor.

Christian Hazell

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Christian Hazell is an award-winning cultural and First Nations dancer. Proud of his Métis heritage, his contemporary take on the traditional hoop dance has twice earned him the title of World Teen Hoop Dance Champion. he was recently named valedictorian at his high school, Foothills Academy. the Calgary Herald has been following Hazell for some time, naming him a Calgary Herald Class Act in June 2011.

Danny Lawn

Danny Lawn began dancer training at the age of 12 at a small studio in Brockville, Ontario. after graduating from high school, Lawn worked as a contract dancer with Royal Caribbean Cruises. in 2009, he made it to the top 14 on season two of “So you think you Can Dance Canada.” he continues to take on video and film work and has been a guest performer at various industrial galas, competitions and fashion events.

Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli

Born with arthrogryposis, a rare muscle disorder that limits motion in the joints, Luca Patuelli of Montreal, Quebec has had 16 surgeries on his legs and spine. with his muscular arms and natural athleticism, he began exploring extreme dynamic activity which led to his first breakdance show and competition. Shortly after that, “Lazylegz” was born. he has performed with artists such as Kanye West, Talib Kweli, K-OS and Nappy Roots. in 2007, he appeared in the movie Kickin’ it Old Skool.  His message: “It’s about taking the bad and making it good.”

Shane Simpson

Dancing around the house at the age of seven, Shane Simpson would imitate music videos in front of friends and family. with an obvious desire to dance, his mother signed him up for lessons in Toronto and they’ve never looked back. though trained primarily in jazz and contemporary, Simpson trained at five different studios practicing hip hop, acrobatics, lyrical, tap, ballet and modern. Working with notable performers including Lady Gaga, Jully Black and K-OS, Simpson says his biggest accomplishment to date is making the top six in season four of “So you think you Can Dance Canada.”

Savannah Storm

A high school student in Toronto, Savannah Storm has been dancing and training at the Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance since the age of eight. she was admitted into the competitive program at the age of 10 where she is involved in pointe, jazz, ballet, tap, acro and lyrical. she has completed her Cecchetti Exams (ballet) up to grade three where she attained honours each year.

Bree Wasylenko

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Bree Wasylenko has trained in many dance styles including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, modern and hip hop. she has appeared in many commercials and music videos for artists such as Shawn Desman, Danny Fernandes, Massari, Addictiv, Eva Avila, Carly Rae-Jepson, Kim Davis and Kreesha Turner.  Wasylenko made the top 20 of the third season of “So you think you Can Dance Canada.”

About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American GamesThe Pan American Games are one of the world’s largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). the Games comprise all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in 17 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14. For more information about the Games, please visit toronto2015.org.

About BaAM ProductionsBaAM is a creative development and project services company specializing in the unique requirements of high-profile and large-scale sports, cultural and entertainment projects. Clients include the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the CN Tower and the Olympic Spirit Group. Follow #BaAMProductions on Twitter and at baamproductions.com to stay up-to-date with all of our exciting projects and events.

For further information:

For media inquiries, please contact:

Carlene Siopis, Communications Advisor, TO2015, Tel:  647.206.0259