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By Hannah Frishberg
Brooklyn Daily
The fat cat sang.
The beloved Park Slope karaoke-party series Karaoke Killed the Cat is belting out its final notes on Friday after 11 years. The weekly song sessions emphasized choreography and crowd-surfing over pitch-perfect performances — and karaoke veterans said the series has been the cat’s meow.
“It was a hedonistic s--- show whose magic seemed to lie in the fact that on any given night almost anything could happen,” said eight-year attendee Giraud Lorber.
Another regular explained that the shindigs were celebrations of showmanship, no matter how amateur.
“The more off the wall and outrageous you were, the more extra credit you got,” said committed weekend warbler Elann Danzinger, who got the nickname “Danceathon Elann” through frequent trips to the Cat stage.
The Friday-night staple drew such big names as “Juno” actor Michael Cera and members of the bands Jet and the National, Lorber said.
The recurring party was and continues to be a blast, but there is more to life than karaoke, the organizers said when explaining their reasons for putting it to sleep.
“We’ve been running Karaoke Killed the Cat for nearly 12 years in New York City, and it’s just time,” says co-creator Chris Goldteeth, who said he wants to spend more time focusing on his photo agency Goldteeth and Company.
Vocalists still craving a chance to belt out their beloved tunes at Union Hall will find the Friday slot replaced by Kings of Karaoke, which offers punk and metal ditties alongside new wave and crooner numbers.
Friday’s last purr-ah will end the series on a high note, said Lorber, adding that the shindig served the important function of keeping silliness alive among working adults.
“[It gave] people an outlet to go out and have a great time and without taking life so seriously,” Lorber said.
Final “Karaoke Killed the Cat” party at Union Hall [702 Union St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues in Park Slope, (718) 638–4400, www.unionhallny.comp]. 11:59 pm. Free.