How to Throw a Fun 1980s Karaoke Party

Hosting a Karaoke Party

Invented in Japan in 1971, karaoke quickly made its way to the United States. By the late 1980s, it exploded on the entertainment scene, with countless bars and restaurants hosting karaoke shows nationwide.

A karaoke party is such a fun and creative theme for a celebration. Below are some tips and guidelines to help you throw the perfect 1980s sing-a-long party.

Party Invitations

When sending invitations, choose cards that deal with music, such as music notes, a microphone, or a karaoke sign. This will help set the theme for your party. Send them two weeks in advance so guests have plenty of time to plan for the party and RSVP.

If possible, enclose a partial song list so people can practice singing their favorite songs before your big event. If you would like guests to dress in 1980s attire, encourage them to do so in your invitations.

Karaoke Equipment

There are several ways to go about having music for your get-together. You could hire a karaoke deejay who can supply a sound system and emcee the event for you. Another option is to buy or rent a karaoke machine. If both of these are above your budget, apps like Karaoke (by Yokee) and Sing Karaoke can provide music.

In addition, YouTube has a wealth of sing-a-long videos to choose from with all genres of music. Plus, if you use it on your TV, you won't have to worry about getting a monitor.

Choosing a Host

You're going to need someone to run the equipment and host the show. The host should give a good introduction before each singer, then lead the rest of the partygoers in a thunderous round of applause after each performance.

Also, the host can provide a sheet where people can sign up for the song they want to sing. If possible, this person should also be able to sing. It's a good way to kick off the singing at your party and encourage others to sign up.

1980s Party Decorations

To get your party started, set up a stage area where people can get up and sing. This is also where the sing-a-long equipment will go. To decorate, place some inflatable guitars up against the wall.

Have some music notes and microphone decorations hanging down from the ceiling. Also, put up posters of bands who had popular karaoke songs in the 1980s, such as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the B52s.

If you want to give your stage a flashy look, place some strobe lights in the area. Be sure to set aside a place for the party props. Ideally, this should be right next to the stage area.

Sing-a-Long Props

Add to the fun of your party by having props available. These contribute to the silliness and give singers something creative to do while they're performing. Keep the props on a table at the side of the stage or in a container. Just be sure they're easy to get to so guests can grab them as they go on stage. Props can include:

• A variety of hats
• Wigs
• Inflatable instruments
• Large sunglasses
• Masks
• Binoculars
• Feather boas
• Hawaiian Leis
• Tambourines
• Applause signs

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1980s Bar Food

As most karaoke shows took place in bars, set up a table with some typical bar food of the era. A lot of great appetizers were available then that are still popular today, including:

• Potato skins
• Pizza rolls
• Deviled eggs
• Cheeseballs and crackers
• Chicken wings
• Doritos Cool Ranch tortilla chips
• Mini quiches
• Pizza
• Spinach dip
• Cocktail wieners

If serving dessert, two of the most popular at the time were tiramisu and ice cream cakes. Of course, you'll also need some beverages. One of the most popular cocktail drinks in the 80s was "Sex on the Beach." It's colorful, sweet, and easy to make. Here is a quick and easy recipe to make your own "Sex on the Beach" cocktail:

Ingredients You Will Need

• Ice cubes
• 1 1/2 oz. vodka
• 2 oz. orange juice
• 1/2 oz. peach schnapps
• 2 oz. cranberry juice

Preparation

Fill a glass with ice cubes. Pour in vodka, schnapps, and orange juice, then stir. Pour the cranberry juice over the top. Add an orange wedge for garnish.

1980s Clothing

Clothing at karaoke clubs was pretty laid back. Unlike dance clubs, where people really dressed up, attire at karaoke clubs was pretty casual. For girls, jeans with off-the-shoulder tops were quite popular, along with jean jackets and hoop earrings. Also trending were leggings and bright neon tops.

For guys, acid-washed jeans with solid-colored T-shirts were common, as well as jean jackets. Hawaiian shirts and bomber jackets were also the fashion trend.

Popular Sing-A-Long Songs

When putting your song list together, you'll want to keep with the retro theme. To do this, you'll need songs that were popular to sing in the 1980s. Some of these were popular to perform in clubs. Here is a list to get you started:

• "Love Shack" (The B52s)
• "I Love Rock 'n Roll" (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts)
• "Dock of the Bay" (Otis Redding)
• "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" (Hank Williams Jr.)
• "Summer Nights" (Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta)
• "My Way" (Frank Sinatra)
• "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor)
• "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" (The Righteous Brothers)
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" (Pat Benatar)
• "Mack the Knife" (Bobby Darin)
• "On the Road Again" (Willie Nelson)
• "Don't Stop Believin'" (Journey)

Karaoke Party Games and Activities

Singing karaoke is a lot of fun, but there are some additional activities you can do at your party which will add to your guests' enjoyment. For example, have a karaoke contest. Get your guests who are interested to sign up for the contest, then ask nonparticipants to act as the judges. Give each one a scoring card from 1–10. Afterward, count them up, and the singer with the highest score wins!

Other Karaoke Games

Another idea is to have a celebrity karaoke contest where people can bring a costume, dress as their favorite singer, and imitate them while singing a song.

Now for my favorite, suicide karaoke! Write a bunch of songs from your playlist on individual pieces of paper and place them in a bowl. One at a time, each guest must pull out a piece of paper and sing the song no matter what. This can be really hilarious.

1980s Slang

The 1980s had a lot of slang words. Here are some you can learn, along with their meanings. Try learning these before your party to really impress your guests.

• Gnarly (super cool)
• Chill (relax)
• Gag me with a spoon (disgusting)
• Have a cow (get upset)
• Grody (gross)
• Space cadet (clueless person)
• Dip (foolish person)
• For sure (yes)
• Psyche (fooled you)
• Bodacious (really good)

The Possibilities Are Endless

In closing, you now have some basic tips and suggestions for throwing an awesome 1980s karaoke party. Use the suggestions above, then let your imagination go wild with additional ideas. The most important thing is to have fun. If you follow these tips, your guests are sure to have an amazing time.

© 2023 Janis Masyk-Jackson