Friday Night Karaoke – Ep. 64: The Last 10 Years of Music – Karaoke Style

Date: August 6, 2024

Overview

This episode of the Friday Night Karaoke podcast, hosted by Mike Whiston, Joe Rubin, and co-founder/co-host (possibly Mike Whiston), celebrates songs from the last 10 years (2014–2024), all performed by amateur singers from their vibrant Facebook community. The hosts share their candid reactions to each performance, discuss trends in recent karaoke song choices, explore their personal music experiences, and encourage group engagement. The episode is filled with playful banter and plenty of admiration for the featured singers.

Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Kickoff and Episode Theme [06:13–07:47]

• Hosts: Mike, Joe, and co-founder/co-host
• Theme: Songs released in the last 10 years (2014–2024).
• Purpose: Diversify away from classic decades (50s–80s) and give focus to modern music.
• Observation: Group submissions were notably more “chill” than previous, high-energy eras.

Notable Quotes

• “We’re trying to get something a little bit more recent... it’s nice to kind of get some new music out of the group here.”
  – Co-founder/co-host [06:50]
• “Of all the songs in the past 10 years, karaoke aficionados choose the mellower ones to sing.”
  – Joe Rubin [08:11]

2. Featured Performances & Host Commentary

a. Steven Strong – “Tennessee Whiskey” (Chris Stapleton) [00:20–04:24, 04:33]

• Big, smooth vocals impress the hosts, setting a high bar for the episode.

• Hosts are effusive, joking about never singing again after hearing this performance.

• Recognition of Steven’s prior successes in the FNK community.

  Quotes:

  • “I’ve just uninstalled Smule from my phone because I could never sing again after listening to that.” – Joe Rubin [04:43]
  • “It belongs on the radio. It belongs on TV.” – Mike Whiston [05:06–08]

b. T Bone & Sarah Keane – “Someone You Loved” (Lewis Capaldi) [09:28–12:10]

• Appreciation for collaborative performances and strong harmonies.

• Sarah Keane praised for her vocal evolution and stage-worthy talent; T Bone’s newer contributions highlighted.

  Quotes:

  • “I can't imagine that she's not like a famous Broadway singer.” – Joe Rubin [12:50]
  • “Watching the evolution… she really makes every song her own.” – Co-founder/co-host [13:19]

c. Andrew Crawford – “Last Night” (Morgan Wallen) [17:58–20:38]

• Andrew consistently delivers complex songs requiring vocal skills.

• Hosts note Andrew’s reliable excellence and unique presence amid thousands of group participants.

  Quote:

  • “He really stands out. It's great.” – Joe Rubin [21:10]

d. Karen Pavkov – “I Am Not Okay” (Jelly Roll) [26:13–29:15]

• Karen’s versatility on display; first time hosts recall hearing her perform country.

• Karen’s usual preference is big-band/crooner styles, but she excels in this genre as well.

  Quotes:

  • “She is such an incredible singer and honestly that's the first time I've had her sing country music.” – Joe Rubin [29:21]
  • “She crushes everything music.” – Co-founder/co-host [29:47]

e. Mimi Walt – “Leave Before You Love Me” (Marshmello & Jonas Brothers) [37:03–39:29]

• Praised for prolific, consistently high-quality postings.

• Hosts relate their own perfectionism and nerves about sharing recordings.

  Quote:

  • “She posts a lot of songs but they're all freaking good and I love that.” – Co-founder/co-host [40:21]

f. Charles Johnson – “A Million Dreams” (The Greatest Showman) [44:51–49:12]

• Technical imperfections noted, but the heartfelt delivery wins out.

• Charles compared to the quintessential karaoke buddy; his vocal and stylistic flair highlighted.

  Quote:

  • “He's the guy you want to invite out… everyone sings along with him. He's that guy.” – Joe Rubin [49:39]

g. Simone Tellier – “Lost Boy” (Ruth B.) [53:02–57:27]

• Hosts discover the song via Simone’s interpretation, some hearing it for the first time.

• Simone’s expressive, standout voice repeatedly praised; discussion of interpreting new music via FNK versions.

  Quote:

  • “She’s got this killer voice... she crushed that song. She killed it.” – Joe Rubin [58:04]

3. Trends & Reflections on Song Choices [07:27–08:20, 30:03–30:24]

• Recent karaoke picks lean heavily acoustic and country.
• Jelly Roll, in particular, is noted for his collaborative spirit and charitable endeavors, signaling the hosts’ appreciation for artists’ personalities as well as their music.

4. Community & Group Engagement [25:47–26:13, 34:34–34:49, 35:24–36:09]

• Moderators: Karen Pavkov and Mimi Walt highlighted for community stewardship.

• Call to Action: Hosts encourage listeners to re-engage, especially calling out Joe Rubin to start posting again, and to tag him with song requests.

• Group Highlights: 34,000+ member community, themed challenges every week, “negativity free, ad-free” ethos.

  Quote:

  • “Go to the Friday Night Karaoke group. I want you to start a thread, and I want you to tag Joe Rubin and tell him what song you want him to sing.” – Co-founder/co-host [35:37]

5. Stories & Host Banter [14:54–16:57, 49:12–51:26]

• Reminiscing about concerts (Metallica, Kid Rock, Bowie & Nine Inch Nails).

• Discussion of karaoke parties, on-the-road antics, and the toll of their drinking games.

• Reflection on the joy of duets, shared performances, and why even the hosts hold back from posting sometimes.

  Memorable Moment:

  • “We would walk through the aisles just pouring [Fireball] in people's mouths. Oh my God, dude, people were trashed by the time they got to the venue...” – Co-founder/co-host [33:22]

6. Behind the Scenes: Sponsors & Gear [21:45–22:32, 42:16–42:54]

• Shout-outs to Mr. Cliff’s Whiskey and Shure microphones—provided as contest prizes, not for profit.
• Emphasis on staying commercial-free for community benefit.

7. Closing & Next Week’s Theme [62:04–64:47]

• Hosts debate and ultimately pick an exciting follow-up challenge: “Previous 10” – any song released from 2004 to 2014.
• Encouragement to group members to submit entries and reference “P10” for the theme.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I’ve just uninstalled Smule from my phone because I could never sing again after listening to that.” – Joe Rubin [04:43]
• “I love it when big artists... don't just go out and put out their own stuff... here's what else I can do.” – Co-founder/co-host [30:48]
• “You know, if you close your eyes and just listen, you're going to think you’re listening to [Postmodern] Jukebox.” – Co-founder/co-host [32:01]
• “She's got this killer voice... she crushed that song. She killed it. It was so good.” – Joe Rubin [58:04]
• “Unpopular opinion: I think Dustin Hoffman's greatest role ever is as Captain Hook in Hook.” – Co-founder/co-host [59:27]
• “We need Mr. Cliffs to sponsor us. We'll walk through and pour Mr. Cliffs in everyone’s mouth...” – Co-founder/co-host [33:47]
• “I love live music in general. I’m actually going to my very first music festival in Japan in, like, two weeks.” – Co-founder/co-host [15:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Steven Strong – “Tennessee Whiskey”: [00:20–04:24]
• Host Reaction: [04:24–05:58]
• Theme Explanation: [06:13–07:47]
• T Bone & Sarah Keane – “Someone You Loved”: [09:28–12:10]
• Andrew Crawford – “Last Night”: [17:58–20:38]
• Karen Pavkov – “I Am Not Okay”: [26:13–29:15]
• Mimi Walt – “Leave Before You Love Me”: [37:03–39:29]
• Charles Johnson – “A Million Dreams”: [44:51–49:12]
• Simone Tellier – “Lost Boy”: [53:02–57:27]
• Theme for Next Week Discussion: [62:04–64:47]

Episode Takeaways

• The FNK community is thriving, talented, and supportive: everyone from moderators to first-timers gets celebrated.
• There’s an ongoing shift in karaoke – more recent song choices have gone mellow and country/acoustic.
• The podcast is a blend of music discovery, light-hearted personal stories, and an invitation for community engagement.
• The hosts keep the show fun, conversational, and deeply inclusive of their group's “negativity free” sensibility.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Friday Night Karaoke is packed with passionate performances and real enthusiasm for community-driven music. The hosts’ banter, their admiration for the singers, and amusing behind-the-scenes stories make it a warm and entertaining listen—ideal for anyone seeking both a taste of new music and the energetic, welcoming spirit of amateur karaoke.

Ready to join or submit your own song?
Find the group on Facebook (Friday Night Karaoke), keep an eye out for the "previous 10" theme, and maybe inspire your fellow hosts to return to the stage!