John Williams karaoke songs?

[Thor 9,362]

Yeah, yeah....knowing this place, I'm expecting lots of jokes and digs about this, but I'm a karaoke buff and have been for quite a few years -- probably because my singing career never materialized despite extensive training in my teens and 20's. So I must suffice with "amateur" gigs. I've acquired a sort 'repertoire' of about 50 songs that I know pretty well -- lots of Disney film songs from the 90's, for example. I prefer songs in an anthem-like style, especially minor-moded.

Anyways, I want to add some John Williams-penned songs to my repertoire, but I have trouble finding any instrumental templates on youtube etc. So I need your help.

Particularly, I would like:

"Star of Bethlehem" from HOME ALONE -- the closest is the orchestral rendition on the soundtrack, but it has the singing line played out explicitly -- it's not the choir version

"For Always" from A.I. -- the Josh Groban version

Have any of you ever seen any instrumental versions of these that could work as karaoke?

[Muad'Dib 2,059]

MIDIs could help you a great deal, I know there's one for For Always aronud, that's for sure. I don't know about the other one, but you can open the MIDI on a program like Sibelius and remove the main track and just sing over it, and if you don't like the sound of MIDIs (nobody does really) you can open the MIDI on a program like Synthfont and upgrade the sound of the digital instruments.

[hornist 1,261]

Karaoke > John Williams

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

I'd like to see Williams sing karaoke.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Some of the songs you could just remove the center channel and have a self made karaoke...

[indy4 160]

Or you could just go for instrumental versions of the themes, like Monica's theme.

[Incanus 5,890]

Or you could just go for instrumental versions of the themes, like Monica's theme.

I don't think Thor can get to the higher notes like Barbara Bonney.

But in semi-seriousness very few of those songs Williams has done are available in the purely orchestral accompaniment form omitting just the vocal line. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas and Can You Read My Mind from Superman are first that come to mind. Childhood from Hook (the piano version of the theme found on Remembering Childhood track) would be suitable for karaoke I guess but hardly a rounded song, ensconced as it is in the underscore.

[Thor 9,362]

Or you could just go for instrumental versions of the themes, like Monica's theme.

I don't think Thor can get to the higher notes like Barbara Bonney.

You'd be surprised.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have zero technical skill, so I'm not sure I could fool around with a track in Sibelius or whatever. But if I were to -- say -- sing some of the 60's Williams songs, I would have to do that. No way no one ever makes a karaoke version of those!

"Dream Away" from MAN WHO LOVED CAT DANCING would also be cool.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,024]

"For Always", and "Nice To be Around".

[Maurizio 6,913]

I'd like to see Williams sing karaoke.

That's the first thing I thought when I read the thread title

[Uni 307]

Karaoke > John Williams

Banned. For life.

I had an idea a while back, something that would never take off and never be understood and never have a chance of catching on with the general public. But if we—I mean the group who frequents this forum—were actually hanging out in a real place together, that's where this would work: Conductor Karaoke, specifically film music conducting. Instead of a microphone you could use to torture people needlessly, you'd have a baton; instead of a screen with rolling lyrics, you'd see a scene from a movie complete with the timing animations and click information. You'd could conduct the orchestra for some of your favorite cinematic passages.

That goes along with an even better idea (one I'm not sure whether I've mentioned here before)—a variation on Guitar Hero and Rock Star using a special baton that would allow the gaming platform to track your movements. As with the karaoke bit, you'd be scoring scenes from different movies. Along with the film projection in the background, you'd have a metronome ticking, a display of the current time signature and tempo, and (maybe on the easier settings) some sort of diagram that would lead you to "draw" the proper pattern with your baton so the beginner players don't lose their way. The challenge would be to keep precision time with the orchestra so you make all the right "hits." If you start missing them, your meter goes into the red, and after a few mistakes the director/producer would come in and stop everything. After playing through several versions of GH, I think something like that would be a blast.

- Uni

[Incanus 5,890]

The Conductor Hero. I am sure it'll be a hit! There must be enormously many frustrated closet conductors just itching to show their talents even if just in the privacy of their own house with a few friends watching/listening!

[Thor 9,362]

I must say I prefer regular karaoke. I used to 'air conduct' quite a bit as a geeky teenager, but it eventually faded.

The best karaoke gigs I go to are ones where people actually CAN sing (I take my karaoke singing very seriously, he, he....), but it's often fun for pure entertainment when people can't too. Especially when you've had a few.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,024]

I must say I prefer regular karaoke. I used to 'air conduct' quite a bit as a geeky teenager, but it eventually faded.

The best karaoke gigs I go to are ones where people actually CAN sing (I take my karaoke singing very seriously, he, he....), but it's often fun for pure entertainment when people can't too. Especially when you've had a few.

"Air-conducting"? Try air-drumming...to "Tom Sawyer"...