White Trash Idol: Round One

As with so many occasions, the Sing Minnesota Karaoke contest started out innocently enough. A coworker--the kind you feel could be your workplace sister and/or mother figure--knowing I was a karaoke fiend suggested I rendezvous with her and a few friends at Joe and Stan's in St. Paul, MN for a Wednesday night karaoke "sesh." Oh, and it happened to be the open-entry first round for White Trash Idol. Newly single and knowing I had absolutely no plans, I shrugged a yes.

Since moving to Minneapolis, I rarely venture outside a 5-mile radius of my home or workplace. I'm like my grandmother at 70, wary of her night vision. If I do commit to the car, I'm probably going to spend the night on a couch. Driving to Joe and Stan's gave me enough adventure: all the way in freaking St. Paul, along routes fraught with road construction, I found the 7UP sign that marked the location. I walked in at 8:30, alone, and proceeded to not participate in the bingo game that raged for another forty-five minutes before anyone I knew showed up and the bingo crowd hit the road, leaving about sixteen people in the bar.

I must admit I had expected something much more grandiose. I sang two songs before initial thoughts of holding a competition were even formed in the DJ's mind. By 10:00 I'd entered the contest. Maximum twelve contestants, top four move on to round two. I sang "No Diggity" by Blackstreet, a song I've sung as often as I've been able to find it in the 'Songs by artist' book. It's a great tune. Easy and smooth. The ladies love it. Everyone's impressed without understanding why. I smile and sit down.

Since there were only five contestants on that particular Wednesday, I managed to move on to round two, despite recieving only three votes. I felt equally pathetic and proud.