And Now The End Is Near...

Several interesting things happening this week.

The first one to hit the headlines was the world singing record set by a Korean woman. Kim Seok-ok sang for 59 hours and 48 minutes to set a new unofficial world record last Thursday. What is even more impressive is the fact that she sang 979 songs, and had prepared 35 more. How many singers do you know with a repertoire that big?

Well actually, I do know several. Toni, Kirsty, Richard and Bryan of Hatstand Opera.

Hatstand Opera have more than 20 complete concert programmes at their fingertips, and I think the last count on the database was more than 800 songs, duets and trios that could be sung at the drop of a hat (and from memory, naturally). In fact, Bryan probably has and additional few hundred songs under his belt alone.

It's one of the things that make finding new singers for the company so difficult. Incoming singers have to be able to provide a list of ensembles that they know, that don't come from a role on their known-role-list, and usually in more than one language (original language and English).

But going back to Kim Seok-ok. When you read further into the report (I found the first version via the Korea Times) you realise that she was in fact singing Karaoke. That puts a slightly different complexion on it, as Karaoke usually has the words (together with the bouncing ball) on the screen. However, almost 1,000 songs in the space of almost 60 hours is still an extraordinary feat. Apparently The Guinness Book of World Records still consider it continuous singing, even though she was allowed a 10 minute rest every 50 minutes (strange rules, I always think).

What makes it really interesting is the reason she was doing it. Her goal was to encourage her 45-year-old husband in his fight against a brain tumour. Perhaps her grit and determination in keeping singing for 60 hours was to be an example to him. The reports don't say if it worked or not. Life would certainly be interesting (and slightly noisy) married to her.

Incidentally, the karaoke session was broadcast live in its entirety. It doesn't say what the ratings were.

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