Global Karaoke Party: BIG LOVE

Mother’s Day falls on every second Sunday of the year. On May 10th, 2020 we will celebrate love with songs that convey the kind of love that is wise and generous. At least, I think that’s what my late friend Irene meant by “BIG LOVE.”

Irene Tomoe Cooper coined the words “Big Love” —- which I found intriguing when I watched her live videos on Facebook. I asked about them when we met up in London last year. She said that she was devastated when she learned that cancer had returned. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she decided to share her story and most importantly, what she learned about love with the hope that her message would reach a million people.

Decades after graduating from Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, she became an international love coach and book author, jetsetting between London and Tokyo.

One of her most poignant messages was that of being mindful of others. Pay attention, she said.

Irene played the guitar in our high school girl band, The Lo Lo’s. Our rendition of “Our Lips are Sealed” won second place in the annual talent show. We, the remaining members of our band, will dedicate this and other songs in her memory.


Sunday 10 May 2020

19:00 BST = 14:00 EDT = 11:00 PDT = 08:00 HST

Global Karaoke Party in ZOOM

Free to attend and participate. Just register in advance.


To participate, first register in advance, to get the ZOOM meeting ID and link.

What is ZOOM? It’s a web application you can download for free. For the best experience in ZOOM, please close other applications and windows. Hard-wired Internet (into your router) is better than WIFI. Use the biggest and most power computer device: a desktop computer is better than a laptop which is better than an iPad which is better than an iPhone. If you’re not in an entirely quiet location, best to use headset (earphones) and microphone.

To allow others to see you, please ensure light falls on your face and not on your computer or device screen. If you plan to perform, do ensure your ZOOM audio setting is set to ORIGINAL SOUND, otherwise, ZOOM treats any other noise (including your instrument) as interference and playing and singing means your ukulele strums are clipped.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to have more than one microphone ON when music is being performed. So the karaoke party will be such that one microphone (however many people on that microphone) will be heard while everyone else will be muted. The host will facilitate the muting and unmuting.

Global Karaoke Series: once a month since April 12th, 2020 (actually since Chief Noda Birthday Party when the idea first germinated).

The following is a preliminary list of songs. We will add favorites like “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

  1. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
  2. All Kinds of Everything – Dana
  3. Amie – Pure Prairie League
  4. Another Brick in the Wall – Pink Floyd
  5. Beautiful Sunday – Daniel Boone
  6. Believe It Or Not – Theme from “The Greatest American Hero”
  7. Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
  8. Breakup Song – Greg Kihn, Steve Wright
  9. Chotto Matte Kudasai – The Sandpipers
  10. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
  11. Do You Believe in Love – Huey Lewis & the News
  12. Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
  13. Does Your Mother Know – ABBA
  14. Feelin’ Groovy – Simon and Garfunkel
  15. Forever Young – Alphaville
  16. Goodnight Irene
  17. Hey Mickey – Toni Basil
  18. I Only Want to Be With You – Dusty Springfield change to C **
  19. It’s So Easy – Linda Ronstadt
  20. Just Between You and Me – April Wine (in F)
  21. Killing Me Softly With His Song – Roberta Flack
  22. Lemon Tree – Peter, Paul and Mary
  23. More Than I Can Say (Leo Sayer)
  24. Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go Go’s (transposable to C)
  25. Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals **
  26. Rhythm of the Rain – The Cascades
  27. Sealed with a Kiss – Brian Hyland
  28. Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
  29. She’s Not There – The Zombies **
  30. Should I Stay or Should I Go – The Clash
  31. Sukiyaki – Mike Bonnice
  32. Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver
  33. Take On Me – Aha
  34. Top of the World – The Carpenters
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