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  • Song 7: The Mood-lightener

    “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley Written by Kevin Karaoke can be serious. If you have someone with powerful vocals, a modicum of training and perhaps they’re in the midst of a bad week, it can get heavy. Maybe someone is racked with pain and because of their stylings or lack thereof, your…

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  • Song 6: Karaoke is not a spectator sport

    “Kiss On My List” by Hall & Oates Written by Kevin The first time I sang any karaoke at all was back in high school at Durham, North Carolina. I was in concert band and we had just finished performing at a Night of the Arts downtown or some sort of celebration like that. One…

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  • Assignment 2: The Rules of Karaoke

    Name: Kevin Johnson Place: Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA Your relationship to music: karaoker Industry: IT Specialist, and sometime freelance writer/critic I first met our second contributor to Five Song Project in May of 2013 at book club. Kevin was invited to join our group by another book club member and friend. Our first meeting together…

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  • Song 5: We are all queens

    [“Androgyny” Photo by Monica Orozco] “Heroes” by David Bowie 5songprjct: Two of your picks are very famous for their transformations. David Bowie has transformed not only his music but his aesthetic along with every album. This is also true of Madonna. The photo you did of the Aladdin Sane cover really struck me. It is…

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  • Song 4: How do you say De-Groovay?

    [“Deeelight” photo by Monica Orozco] “Groove in the Heart”  by Deee-Lite Monica: It was hard to pick a song for this time in my life because there are so many dance songs I love. I chose “Groove is in the Heart” for what it represents. In my mid-20s I had entered into the Club Kid…

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  • Song 3: Bigger than life

    [Photo by Monica Orozco] “Down By the Water” by PJ Harvey Monica: I am having a hard time with this. I know I have the photo for PJ Harvey, but I don’t know. I have things to say, but it definitely isn’t as deep as the other ones. 5songprjct: It doesn’t really have to be…

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  • Song 2: Whatever happened to Scarlett?

    [“peek-a-boo” Photo by Monica Orozco] “A Night Like This” by the Cure I was a late bloomer in everything. I was in one of those nondescript relationships when I was 18 or 19. He was the first person who would take me to concerts and clubs. Although it wasn’t the greatest relationship, I am glad…

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  • Song 1: A teenage girl in Mexico

    [“Powerful” photo by Monica Orozco] “Borderline” by Madonna Monica: Madonna, Prince, and Michael Jackson saved my life. I lived in Mexico from 1980-1986. I had a really hard time being an American teenage girl in another country. Culturally, it felt extremely patriarchal. You and I have talked before about boys having more value, varόn versus hembra.…

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  • Assignment 1: Escapism

    [Hit It!” photo by Monica Orozco] Name: Monica Orozco, aka deMonica Place: El A Your relationship to music: It is my escape Industry: Photographer. You can find her on instagram and on the web at demonicaphoto I first met Monica at a Devo concert at the Hollywood Park Racetrack six or so years ago. Meeting…

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