Dolores Kirchner has been regularly singing karaoke at local venues such as Dutchman's Pizza, the Longhouse and the Gilroy Bowl. Last Tuesday, I was arm-twisted into joining her for Chevy's Karaoke Night, led by a DJ known as Randy, who owns a mobile entertainment company called "Randy's Party Music."

Lyrics are displayed on a video screen, and Randy brings 5,000 songs to choose from. He is a karaoke pro with 27 years experience in the music business. He hands out prizes and keeps the audience laughing with comments like, "I wish I had one of those revolving fans … then at least I'd know I have one fan!"

First up to perform for the evening was a woman named Rebel who had come all the way from Monterey. She was pretty in pink: decked out in pink blouse, pink visor, pink shoes, pink fingernails and pink earrings.

I was surprised when shy, quiet Kirchner got up and sang the disco classic, "I Love the Nightlife," as she nailed every little inflection and flourish, such as the line, "That'll - uh - make a man out of you."

"I'm finally at that age where I'm not self-conscious anymore," 60-something Carol Jio told me as she joined Kirchner for a duet, her dangling gold earrings swinging wildly as she danced.

A shy teenage girl went up to perform a Janet Jackson song, while her mom and sisters cheered her on. An older gentleman sitting alone went up to sing, "But I Do." He wasn't dressed like one, but he sang like a cowboy. A Hispanic woman in bright yellow worked the audience in Spanish and in English with, "Mucho Corazon" and "Sabor Ami." Even our waiter, Joe, used his break to sing a soulful number, winning a big hand from the diners.

After a young woman named Suzanne sang a beautiful rendition of "Strawberry Wine," two young guys got up to sing, "Pretty Woman," to their girlfriends, who were recording them on their cell phones and laughing. A mom managed to balance her 3-year-old son on her hip the whole time she sang the tongue twisting lyrics to a Shania Twain song, "Any man of mine better walk the line, he's gotta be a heartbeatin' fine treatin' breathtakin' earthquakin' kind."

What I realized while listening to these singers was that they don't go on stage for egotistical reasons. Karaoke is a cathartic thing, an activity to help them unwind, and a way to connect with other people. They just love music.

Even more than that, karaoke is a way to become less self-conscious and more able to express oneself. "I used to feel like I was going to faint," Kirchner said about singing in front of people, which I can really relate to. Although I was invited Tuesday, I wasn't quite ready to go on stage myself.

"But now I'm comfortable in front of people," she said. In fact, she was able to sing "Annie's Song" at the hospital wedding of a 41-year-old stroke victim at Valley Medical Center in San Jose when he and his fiancee needed a singer. Thanks to karaoke nights, she found the courage and self-confidence to get up in front of people and use her talent for others.

"I used to get sweaty palms," Kirchner said, "But now I'm comfortable in front of people." She was able to sing "Annie's Song" at the hospital wedding of a 41-year-old stroke victim at Valley Medical Center in San Jose when he and his fiancee needed a singer. Thanks to karaoke nights, she found the courage and self-confidence to get up in front of people and use her talent for others.

What I loved as I listened last Tuesday was that even though the karaoke singers were diverse, from young to old, from all different ethnic backgrounds, and interpreting everything from heavy metal to pop to country, they all accepted, supported, and applauded each other. They painted a picture of life as it should be everywhere.

Next Wednesday, Dolores is heading over to sing in San Juan Bautista, where I hear they karaoke from 8 to 12 p.m. at the biker-friendly bar, Daisy's Saloon. Maybe I'll give it a try.

Kat Teraji Kat Teraji is communications coordinator for a large non-profit organization that benefits women and children. Her column appears every Thursday in the Take 2 section of the Dispatch. You can reach her at kattoy@verizon.net.