# Singing AC/DC, yeah, okay **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-ac-dc-yeah-okay/753668 "2016-05-02T04:48:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-ac-dc-yeah-okay/753668/1 "2016-05-02T04:48:12Z")
So I’ve been a regular performer at a local karaoke bar for a couple decades. Somewhere along the way, about the time I turned 47 years old, I somehow figured out Brian Johnson’s vocal technique. After years of trying and failing, I suddenly discovered that I could sing Johnson’s AC/DC material without hurting myself, and without running everybody out of the room. Specifically, the song _Shoot to Thrill_. It’s been my favorite AC/DC song ever since I first heard it in 1980. It’s fucking difficult to sing properly. But I figured it out. And when I sing it, I get AC/DC fans in the audience going, “WHOA!” and telling me how I “nailed it”. Meanwhile, there’s this young “kid”, Caleb, probably about 25 years old, who typically sings songs that I’m just going to describe as “screamo”. I don’t know if that’s the actual genre. I’d describe his typical singing as “death metal growl, but higher-pitched”. This kid always sits there with this irritated, mocking look on his face every time I get up and nail AC/DC. My last time at this karaoke bar, I sang _Shoot to Thrill_, and got the usual response from blown-away fans in the crowd. But as I was stepping off the stage afterward, I heard Caleb whispering to the karaoke host, “Hey, _Back in Black_”. Kid gets up there and yells at me over the mic, “Hey, Rik, you’ve inspired me!” and then proceeds to sing _Back in Black_. It was … pretty good. He hit the notes. Mostly. But he finished the song and glared at me like he was telling me, “I can do it too” (not that I ever thought it was a competition). But if it is a competition … Okay dude, let me hear you sing that again when you’re 50, like I’ll be in about two weeks. I think I give this kid an inferiority complex. He’s at the karaoke bar every night, and all the girls are “ooooo” over his singing. And then I waddle my “old” ass in there and blow him away. So sad. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-ac-dc-yeah-okay/753668/2 "2016-05-02T05:01:31Z")
😛 Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-ac-dc-yeah-okay/753668/3 "2016-05-02T09:22:26Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > (not that I ever thought it was a competition). I’m glad you’re enjoying singing, but I think your post screams that it **is** a competition to you! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-ac-dc-yeah-okay/753668/4 "2016-05-02T09:49:37Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > …I think I give this kid an inferiority complex. He’s at the karaoke bar every night, and all the girls are “ooooo” over his singing. And then I waddle my “old” ass in there and blow him away. > > So sad. Well, at least your not competitive about it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singing-ac-dc-yeah-okay/753668/5 "2016-05-02T10:01:53Z")
Come on. I think I’ve seen this movie. The antagonism gets progressively more flagrant. Then one night your niece, maybe your daughter, comes along to see you and catches the eye of the young dude. You get angry when, trying to better you, he sings _Big Balls_ while gyrating in front of her. Arguments, misunderstandings for weeks or months, then you find out that he has selflessly helped out your niece. You befriend him, teach him where he is going wrong and he becomes a revelation… Something like that.