Karaoke can bring peace in the mideast

Written by Kyle about El Salvador. Feelin' happy

I don't care what anyone says; karaoke is the glue that brings the world together. It's not love, peace, understanding, or any of that other hippie crap. It's karaoke.

Listen, I've been to enough karoake venues around the world to witness its power. I've sung "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Manilla, skipped class in Hong Kong to sing with fellow students, done group karoake in Vancouver, belted out "Eye of the Tiger" in Puerto Rico, and carooned with students who don't know a lick of English in Beijing. Heck, even world leaders do karoake in the name of good diplomacy. I mean, if Colin Powell thinks it is a good idea, who am I to argue with that?

Anyway, the soul-binding nature of karaoke reared its head again in the mountains of El Salvador. Scene: cold (ok, 50 degrees), mountainous region near the highest point in El Salvador and a stone throw away from Honduras where the clouds are actually below you. There's not much going on, but the bar has 1) Booze and 2) a karaoke machine. So, with a bunch of travelers stuck on the side of a mountain with nothing much else to do, what do you think would happen? I'll tell you what: Salvadorans and Americans getting together and singing like old college friends. Check it out:

Thanks to the Miramundo Hotel for making an otherwise uneventful night into a pretty darn good time.

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July 08, 2008 Rachel Z: It's not often I'm laughing out loud for a solid minute at 8 in the morning, but you guys made it happen. That's one of the most amazing videos I've ever seen. Forget ruinas, forget World Cup qualifiers, forget building ovens for people in need! Yeah karaoke! It was so fun to watch the party progress--from four people in a room trying to entertain themselves, to a hip hop music video! Gotta love the social lubricant! (Can't wait to be sipping some of that with you, B!)

July 08, 2008 Kyle: Really? Damn! What the hell did we go traveling for? We could have made this video in Chicago.

Wherever we live when we get back, we're totally investing in a wet bar and karaoke machine.

July 08, 2008 Bessie: happy to entertain. making the video all I kept thinking was this is like a bad episode of American Idol.

I think our grandkids with CHERISH this someday.

July 08, 2008 Kristine: Oh my god.... that was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying...

I love how you guys can turn a seemingly dull place into a rockin' party! Although I'm sad I didn't hear "Feelings..... nothing more than feelings..." But I think watching Bessie singing "My Humps" was well worth it. :)

July 08, 2008 Kyle: Mmm...I think the tears are your inner musician crying in pain.

July 08, 2008 Bessie: honestly, it was such a time and place thing - I don't know if I could ever really sing that song quite that way again. Plus the crowd (ummm... the other 10 people) really dug our over the top performance.

July 08, 2008 Wendy: That was awesome! I'm jealous of your good time with strangers...

July 08, 2008 Bessie: :) glad you liked it. it's amazing what people in the middle of no where come up with. It was really singing or well, singing.

July 09, 2008 Anne: Yes, yes, yes YESSSSSSSSS!

Karaoke DOES unite the world. Nice song selection you two! Bessie, I applaud your Mariah Carey, and Kyle, well, you and I both know your Rick Astley is second to NONE! However, the best, by far, was the "My Humps" duet. BRAVI!

July 09, 2008 Kyle: Ya, I think every song made by Fergie was meant for karaoke. They're all so ridiculous...

July 09, 2008 Den Sue Czurylo: Kyle doing the Lounge Lizard thing! Far out!

July 10, 2008 Bessie: personally, I'd tell him not to quit his day job, but well, we sort of already have...

July 10, 2008 ben: Stop a second, let me play that again... I am laughing so unbelievably hard that I might fall through a window. Hugs to both of you.
Let me give it the "2nd time through review"....
Starts off slow, but on the 2nd time, even the first 5 minutes is absolutely busting my GUT...
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHA WONT YOU SHAMA RAMA WITH ME BAAAABY
OOOOOOOH Ne ver gonna give gonna give
BAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa MY HUMP Hahahahaahhahaa
HAHHAHAAA Bessie with cheering croud as she RAPS unassisted by useless TUBETV
I believe in yesteeeeeerrrrrrrrday...
Y2K in Cancun Bus Anyone?

I don't think I can handle a 3rd viewing, but I'm going for it...
XOXO

July 10, 2008 Kyle: Ya, watching it too much is a little bit like chinese water torture.

July 10, 2008 Bessie: haa haa, glad you're getting so much out of it! Hope Russell's not singing like us when I'm back in August...

I think we're better than cable really. we're so amazing race material...

July 10, 2008 Luis Carlos Henriquez: Was really nice to spend a nigth singing with both of you, I hope you can come back to the Hotel before your departure, be in touch.

July 10, 2008 Bessie: It was great coming to your hotel, Luis! We've recommended it to friends!

Hope you like the video!

July 10, 2008 Linda: As always, keeping your best interests at heart and knowing that when you return to the U.S. employment opportunities may be limited, I have taken the liberty of forwarding this video to Simon Cowell. Hopefully, although you are currently unavailable for in person auditions, he will take into consideration the extraordinary talents display. As he is a multimillionaire, and frequently goes out of his way to discover and promote exceptional talents, there is a possibility that he would sent "his people" to talk to "your people" and a recording contract is most likely a done deal. Star quality shines through even in the wilds of El Salvador. We loved every melodious moment!

July 11, 2008 Bessie: ha haaa, Simon Cowell, he'd have some interesting things to say about our signing I'm sure.

I don't mind the YouTube video out there for all to see, but I don't think I could embarass my self so far as to be ON tv. You mention us getting jobs someday? I fear a stint on American Idol my ruin ANY future career.

July 11, 2008 DADDIO: FIREPLACE AND JACKETS IN JULY... IT MUST BE VERY HIGH ALTITUDE... GREAT FRIENDSHIPS AND A VERY HAPPY AFTERNOON!!! THANKS FOR SHARING THE FUN...

July 14, 2008 Bessie: haa haa, yeah, it was a bit chilly up on that mountain side!

July 14, 2008 selena: LOL i love chicago! i laughed so hard i had tears in my eyes!!!! andrew just stated watching and he goes "wow! cool!" then he grabed the mouse to play the video again and said "cool!" lol and i agree with ben and lindas comment =D

July 14, 2008 Bessie: awesome. :) yeah, we hoped we'd garner that response...

July 14, 2008 erica: wow! that was awesomely bad.

July 16, 2008 Bessie: I hope you mean awesomely bad - like phat, amazing, ridiculously cool. you'd of loved it cuzzie.

July 16, 2008 Linda: Just to clarify......I'm not suggesting the American Idol route......you both are toooooooo amazing to have to actually audition!!!! I'm talking DIRECT to recording a CD for worldwide distribution....after all.....you are already on YouTube.....promotion barely necessary once the world has discovered you!!!

July 16, 2008 Bessie: ha haa, of course! I'm sure Simon & his talent scouts will find us soon!

August 23, 2008 Todd and Liam: oh dear Lord!!!! Are you sure youth ministry is not in your future. Anyone ok with embarrsing themselves that much with total strangers, and them want to post it on the internet, has to be called to youth ministry..

August 24, 2008 Kyle: Are you saying that you have rediculous videos of you on the internet? Why haven't I seen them?

July 17, 2010 Audrey: In full disclosure, I watched this video after spending five hours at a beer garden in Prague...but I was laughing out loud. This whole scene is hilarious, but I think my favorite part was My Humps and then Bessie hitting the TV to get it to turn on again.

July 17, 2010 Kyle: Ya, usually when people say that karaoke isn't fun, I tell them that they aren't drinking enough!

Karaoke can bring peace in the mideast

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