Zhu Yuling and Zhang Jike singing

Perhaps if I were 29 now I might be able to teach Zhu Yuling and Zhand Jike something about singing in exchange for their teaching the 29-year old 145 lb. me how to play elite level table tennis.

Both look as though they"re having fun, and there's nothing wrong with that, given the stress of playing world class table tennis.  And karaoke is karaoke--I know--I sang karaoke for about four years in various bars along N. 4th Ave. in Tucson and at the Congress Hotel on Congress St.  I never criticized a singer, now matter how hesitant, strident, or off-key, male or female, who had the guts to stand up in front of a bunch of people and sing to an electronic accompaniment and televised lyrics, if you didn't know them by heart.  It ain't easy; you gotta follow the accompaniment and there's no room for the rubato  (now slightly ahead of the tempo, now slightly behind) that characterizes truly musical singing.

Here however I must let my musical self come out.  Zhu and Zhang's voices are too strident, they sing sometimes flat, sometimes sharp and there's no sonority there.  It's sort of in reverse as if I tried to play, even were I young, attacking table tennis at the world class level with the world class technique they have.  

I should not be too critical.  Zhu and Zhang aren't making millions though they as some who do make millions can't sing on pitch.  And karaoke is supposed to be and is fun, and singing is supposed to be extroverted, no matter how well you sing.  After a hard day at the office, both of them deserve a bit of R & R.