R.I.P./D.E.P. Whitney Houston

She was found only a few hours ago at a hotel in Beverly Hills, and we haven't been told how she died, but we will miss diva extraordinaire Whitney Houston.

Se encontró solo unas horas antes en un hotel en Beverly Hills, y no sabemos cómo murió, pero vamos a extrañar a la diva extraordinaria Whitney Houston.

If you're inclined to croon in her memory, here are the Whitney Houston karaoke songs on our list for karaoke Wednesday nights 9pm-2am at La Galería:

Could I Have This Kiss Forever (duet with Enrique  Iglesias)

How Will I Know

I Will Always Love You

If I Told You That

I'm Every Woman

One Moment In Time

Saving All My Love For You.

When You Believe (duet with Mariah Carey)

¡Canta con Annie y Aarón los miércoles 9pm-2am en La Galería!

Miércoles 2 Nov: Karaoke de los Muertos y Concurso de Disfraces!

Todos saben que hay karaoke con Annie y Aarón los miércoles en La Galería.

Pero el próximo miércoles es muy especial—el Día de los Muertos!—con un concurso de disfraces con premios para 3 lugares!

• 1º premio: Botella de Buchanan's Whisky y 20 alitas de pollo!
• 2º premio: Botella de Johnny Walker Red (etiqueta roja)!
• 3º premio: Botella de tequila Tradicional!

Ven, canta Y GANA con todos tus amigos! El público será el que escoja a los ganadores!! (Asegurate de traer a tu porra!!!)

El karaoke empieza a las 9pm y el concurso será a las 11pm. No necesitas talento para el canto para ganar el concurso—sólo el mejor disfraz!

No cover! Reservaciónes: 415 154 4288

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Karaoke of the Dead and Costume Contest!

Everybody knows it's karaoke night with Annie & Aaron every Wednesday at La Galería. But this coming Wednesday is a special occasion--Day of the Dead!—with a costume contest and prizes!

• 1st prize: a bottle of Buchanan's whiskey and 20 chicken wings
• 2nd prize: a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label
• 3rd prize: a bottle of Tradicional tequila

Come, sing and WIN with all your friends! The public will choose the winners, so bring your cheerleaders!

Karaoke begins at 9pm and the contest at 11pm. You don't need singing talent to win the contest—just the best costume!

No cover. For reservations, call: 415 154 4288

Karaoke songs make fitting tributes to the loved ones we've lost

On a June karaoke night at La Galería, local author and writing coach Eva Hunter and her friend David sang Seven Spanish Angels for fellow writer Wayne Greenhaw, who died unexpectedly during surgery. Eva hadn't sung in front of a crowd before, but the loss of a loved and respected colleague was enough motivation to conquer the usual first-time jitters.

On July 23, when recording artist Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment, her songs received more requests than ever at karaoke venues around the world. There is something about music that brings people closer, consoling us and helping us to accept our grief and pain, especially when we're singing together.

Today I received this note from my friend Amy in Minneapolis, whose brother Terry died in his sleep of a heart attack at the age of 47. Amy writes, "My brother Terry loved karaoke and was, in fact, out singing Karaoke the night before he died. My 83-year-old father wrote his beautiful euology, which included lines from the last song he ever sang… Come Sail Away by Styx:

A gathering of Angels appeared above my head
They sang to me this song of hope and this is what they said
They said, ‘Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me’...."

And then Amy writes: “I know how much you love karaoke—the next time you are out, I’d love it if you could sing that song for me, for my brother, as I am not a singer. It would mean a lot.”

Of course I will. And I'll bet Terry's gonna be singing right along with me.

REVIEW: Karaoke Beer Fest at the Shelter

A good time was had by all on Saturday, May 28, as singers grabbed their suds and ascended to the stage at Shelter Theater. Beer and karaoke go ever so well together, don't they?

Four of our singers were self-proclaimed "karaoke virgins" when the evening began, but no longer! Purple heart medals for bravery all around!

Delicious international beers were provided by The Beer Company, now open on the Ancha de San Antonio and ready to deliver to your home or event venue. One of my favorites was Minerva Viena, made in Mexico.

Stay tuned for the next karaoke event at Shelter Theater, coming soon!

At La Galería, karaoke fans & "microphobes" can feel equally at home

Ron and Rossalba

There are karaoke bars, and then there is La Galería. This venue has a raised stage, costumes, lights, and a sophisticated sound system. It's not the kind of place where you can hide in the shadows and mumble your way through a song you thought you knew.

La Galería on a Wednesday night isn't as casual as Mama Mia, where karaoke starts at 11pm, reducing the average age of participants by 10 or 20 years, and significantly upping the blood alcohol levels.

Aarón

At La Galería, the stage is the center of attention and singers are able to see faces in the audience, which you really can't at Mama Mia, since the TVs are placed up high and facing the DJ booth.

While each venue has its merits, I'm loving karaoke at La Galería because both performers and audience get the best of both worlds. We start early—9pm—and keep it going until 2am, when we usually end up pushing the tables aside to make way for a dance floor.  We have the biggest songbook in town in both English and Spanish, so it's not uncommon for someone to find a song that compels them to break the mold and sing for the first time in their lives!

For die-hard karaoke fans, it's a kick to be in the spotlight, especially in an upscale place like La Galería. It makes a singer feel like wearing tap shoes and a hat, or a long, sparkly gown.

Suzy and Gene

For people who would rather extract their own wisdom teeth than sing in front of others, La Galería is a beautiful, comfortable room in which to hang out, stay cool (air conditioning!), and enjoy the surprise of a really good singer once in a while without paying for a concert ticket.

Last week we were lucky enough to have three professional entertainers in the house: Aarón Romo, who co-hosts on Wednesdays, Rossalba, who sings on Friday nights at La Galería, and Doug Robinson, whose jazz compositions are available on CD.

Ponchis, Irma, Alexis, Gerardo, Adri

We were also delighted to have La Galería server Josune, who sings Yuridia's Ángel like (you guessed it) an angel; crowd favorite Ron, aka Louis Armstrong; Olga Rodriguez Ramirez, who won last year's karaoke contest at Mama Mia; and Alejandro de León, Guanajuato, who quietly ate dinner and nursed a beer for hours, then finally sang a most impressive El Triste!

The rest of us, for better or for worse talent-wise, had FUN, and those who shied away from the songbook said they had fun, too. Which is the whole point! It's nice to have a venue where karaoke fans and microphobes alike can feel at home.

Karaoke at La Galería with Ani & Aarón

Wednesdays 9pm-2am

Plaza Alhondiga (behind the Banamex across from Mega)

Dinner Reservations 154 42 88

Karaoke Ani with Aarón Romo, Wednesday nights at La Galería!

What makes an unforgettable karaoke night? Well, first you need hosts who are dedicated to making the night fun for you, and that's us: Karaoke Ani, Aarón Romo, and Juan Manuel Cervantes, owner of La Galería bar and restaurant!

Every Wednesday from 9:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. starting April 20, we'll bring San Miguel's biggest songbook to La Galería, the comfiest karaoke spot in town. It's an air-conditioned room with high ceilings, so it doesn't get smoky, and you can enjoy singing on-stage or at your table.

La Galería has a great sound system. It makes you sound better, even after a few beers! Really! (We also have wigs and other fun props in case you still want to disguise yourself.)

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, NO COVER, FREE PARKING, full bar, and great food! (I order steamed mussels with a glass of white wine; Aarón likes a burger and a beer; and others rave about the pizza.) Te esperamos!!!