King Karaoke
I have waited for this day all of my life. The day when all doubters would be disproved, when all talent would rise to the surface and when true genius would actually be recognised by the people who matter. Picture Auckland, the city of sails, with almost half of the population squeezed into this city and almost half of them packed into Paddy O gintys Irish bar last night for the most talked about event in the citys calender, the annual Karaoke championships! People had flocked from all corners of the globe to compete in this illustrious event and with Pop Idol wannabes spilling out onto the streets it was game on for a thrilling nights entertainment!
Step forward yours truly, a man who's true vocal talents have yet to be properly recognised at the highest level. A man who is more renowned for his rugby ballads than his disco classics, but a man who amongst all other things is never one to shy from a challenge. The standard had been set, and been set very high, by the rotund Maori warbler fully clad in Borat Bodysuit and shell suit bottoms with his sensational Atomic Kitten rendition. Aucklands answer to the Corrs had registered a thrilling reparte of Girls just wanna have fun and the pressure was on the boy from Blackpool to avoid extreme embarrassment. As the CD loaded and the boy Freel was handed the microphone the knees were knocking and the hush that filled the bar was reminiscent of the calm before Jonny Wilkinsons drop goal of 3 years ago. The track commenced and the crowd awaited in expectation and then Freel, with faultless timing, sang out those immortal words:
"A long long time ago, I can still remember....."
The crowd went wild and the pre kick off butterflies were gone. Freel was unleashed like a rampant Lion toying with his prey, teasing them and lulling them in and then thrashing them with acapello lines of pure brilliance. By the time the Jester sang for the king and queen the crowd were hooked and Freel was unstopable. The full 9 minute version of the Don McLean classic followed and the entire bar were in full voice led by the Pied Piper Freel in a merry march to ultimate delirium! As the final notes were belted out the whole city shook at the applause received by the Blackpool Bobby Dazzler and the new standard had been set. People tried and failed to maintain such heights and although big Si's version of Mr Brightside had some moments of absolute magic when Freel threw in Hotel California to back up his starter for ten it was curtains to the competition. 
Freel was awarded the title of Karaoke chapion of Paddy O Gintys bar 2007 and I can honestly say it was one of the proudest moments of my life! The 50 dollar bar tab was immediately replaced by 12 Jagermeisters and an exhibition duet with the champ and Irish Julie closed the evenings proceedings. We of course continued deep into the night and the legacy left in Auckland will be impossible to follow. Well that is at least until next Tuesday night and then every Tuesday after that when the Karaoke comp runs again but believe me O Gintys will have a very hard time hitting the heights of February 13th and Freels finest moment of glory!
I have waited for this day all of my life. The day when all doubters would be disproved, when all talent would rise to the surface and when true genius would actually be recognised by the people who matter. Picture Auckland, the city of sails, with almost half of the population squeezed into this city and almost half of them packed into Paddy O gintys Irish bar last night for the most talked about event in the citys calender, the annual Karaoke championships! People had flocked from all corners of the globe to compete in this illustrious event and with Pop Idol wannabes spilling out onto the streets it was game on for a thrilling nights entertainment!
Step forward yours truly, a man who's true vocal talents have yet to be properly recognised at the highest level. A man who is more renowned for his rugby ballads than his disco classics, but a man who amongst all other things is never one to shy from a challenge. The standard had been set, and been set very high, by the rotund Maori warbler fully clad in Borat Bodysuit and shell suit bottoms with his sensational Atomic Kitten rendition. Aucklands answer to the Corrs had registered a thrilling reparte of Girls just wanna have fun and the pressure was on the boy from Blackpool to avoid extreme embarrassment. As the CD loaded and the boy Freel was handed the microphone the knees were knocking and the hush that filled the bar was reminiscent of the calm before Jonny Wilkinsons drop goal of 3 years ago. The track commenced and the crowd awaited in expectation and then Freel, with faultless timing, sang out those immortal words:
"A long long time ago, I can still remember....."
The crowd went wild and the pre kick off butterflies were gone. Freel was unleashed like a rampant Lion toying with his prey, teasing them and lulling them in and then thrashing them with acapello lines of pure brilliance. By the time the Jester sang for the king and queen the crowd were hooked and Freel was unstopable. The full 9 minute version of the Don McLean classic followed and the entire bar were in full voice led by the Pied Piper Freel in a merry march to ultimate delirium! As the final notes were belted out the whole city shook at the applause received by the Blackpool Bobby Dazzler and the new standard had been set. People tried and failed to maintain such heights and although big Si's version of Mr Brightside had some moments of absolute magic when Freel threw in Hotel California to back up his starter for ten it was curtains to the competition.
Freel was awarded the title of Karaoke chapion of Paddy O Gintys bar 2007 and I can honestly say it was one of the proudest moments of my life! The 50 dollar bar tab was immediately replaced by 12 Jagermeisters and an exhibition duet with the champ and Irish Julie closed the evenings proceedings. We of course continued deep into the night and the legacy left in Auckland will be impossible to follow. Well that is at least until next Tuesday night and then every Tuesday after that when the Karaoke comp runs again but believe me O Gintys will have a very hard time hitting the heights of February 13th and Freels finest moment of glory!
posted by Freely at 7:47 PM
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