Here’s the rundown of participants and what they sang… continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Pictured with Politico’s Dave Catanese are the ladies of Russia Television — Krissy Frazao and Alyona Minkovski. Lauren Lyster was a third backup dancer, but is not pictured above.

Politico‘s Dave Catanese won “The Schieffer,” the highest award at Karaoke in the Capital last night at the Rock n’ Roll Hotel. He and the women of Russia TV performed Niki Minaj’s “Superbass.” Catanese praised his backup singers, saying, “The ladies, dressed in hot pink skirts, were wonderful dancers that obviously clinched the victory for us.”

Other performances of the evening included CBS’s Bob Schieffer, NJ‘s Chris Frates, The Hill‘s Sam Youngman, who sang “A Country Boy Can Survive,” and NBC White House Producer Shawna Thomas, who brought down the house with “Before he Cheats,” and a fiddler, Alex Ruiz, who played “Devil Went Down to Georgia” in a duet with TWT‘s Peter Parisi. Both Ruiz and Parisi were dressed in black with Parisi alternating between a black cowboy hat and red devil horns as the song progressed. (This is completely normal, we swear.) Freelancer Stephanie Green promised over Twitter to “make a fool of myself again tonight for Karaoke in the Capital.”

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

These are some of the boldface names you’ll see on stage in two weeks when Washington’s bravest journalists take to the stage to belt out a song.

It’s the one night each year when Democratic and Republican operatives, Hill staffers, and the media who cover their diminishing bipartisanship join forces to sing badly for a good cause. Karaoke in the Capital, sponsored by the American Association of Political Consultants — with some proceeds benefiting Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation — returns to Washington D.C.’s Rock and Roll Hotel on Wednesday, October 19th. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at KaraokeInTheCapital.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For those interested in singing, the slots fill up fast. Last year’s stellar performances included FNC’s Ed Henry (then at CNN) singing Katy Perry’s “Firework” and Slate’s Dave Weigel‘s unforgettable Elvis impersonation. Write budjackson@aol.com to sign up.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

NBC’s Luke Russert and CNN’s Brianna Keilar won “Best Duet” for Livin’ on a Prayer

(All photos taken by FishbowlDC’s Matt Dornic.)

Milling about in a darkened upstairs barroom last night at the Rock & Roll Hotel, the mood amongst journalists was a low buzz of excitement. Some of Washington D.C. ‘s nerviest participants in the charity competition were there having pre-Karaoke drinks. They showed not even a trace of anxiety.

One such performer was CBS “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer, all decked in cowboy attire and accompanied by a CBS reporter and correspondent, Kaylee Hartung. Schieffer was moments away from performing with his band, Honky Tonk Confidential. Asked if he was nervous, he laughed and replied, “I’m so bad I’m so past that. Anyone with as little talent as me is beyond being embarrassed.”

Peter Parisi, a TWT copy editor, was particularly chipper in his red gingham button-down and blue jeans. He told me he had performed Karaoke dozens of times and was more than ready for his performance. “Sonny and Cher. I Got You Babe,” he said, when asked what he’d form. “Cher had a previous engagement so I’m going to have to do this alone.”

Journalists soon moved downstairs to the stage area. In the crowd, but not performing was NJ “The Hotline’s” Executive Editor Reid Wilson, Politico‘s Natasha Lennard, The Hill‘s Tricia Barba , Susan Crabtree and Christina Wilkie, QGA and FishbowlDC’s Matt Dornic, Chicago Sun Times D.C. Bureau Chief and Politics Daily Flotus columnist Lynn Sweet, Washington Examiner’s Julie Mason, NJ‘s Matt Cooper and Major Garrett, CBS News’s Christine Delargy and CNN’s Abby Livingston. Upcoming performers included NBC’s Luke Russert (who knew he could sing?), Politico’s Shira Toeplitz, Slate‘s Dave Weigel (who knew he could, er, dance?), CNN’s Brianna Keilar, HuffPost contributor Stephanie Green (lovely voice), Washington Life‘s Michael Clements (borrowed Green’s long fur tiger print coat for the performance; one journo said he wears coats like that only to funerals) and TPM (but soon-to-be CQ-Roll Call‘s) Christina Bellantoni.

CNN Senior White House correspondent and “Dynamite” performer Ed Henry was spotted by the bar horsing around with his backup singer children, Patrick and Mila, prepping them for the big event. He admitted to some pre-performance jitters. “Covering the White House is easy compared to this,” he confided. “This is sink or swim.” But Henry persevered and won “Best in Show.” (See a complete list of performances, more photographs and award winners after the jump.)

Nerves or not, a decent-sized roster of journos soon took to the stage.

Amongst White House scribes, the competition grew tense over Twitter with lots of smack talk. One of those talkers was The Hill‘s White House correspondent Sam Youngman. Once on stage, the lights beamed on him and he looked utterly relieved.  “This is awesome, I can’t see any of you,” he told the crowd. He had planned to sing three short verses of “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” by Warren Zevon, but during the performance appeared surprised when the song seemed to stretch on so long. Still, he held his own, sang in tune and thankfully, unlike some of the other performers, didn’t try to hit any high notes.

Jaws dropped when…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

It takes courage to get up and sing – period.

Some D.C. journalists may be ruing the day they ever agreed to sing Karaoke for the upcoming event: 2010 Karaoke in the Capitol. Singers include politicians, political insiders and media. Proceeds will benefit Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a non-profit that provides musical instruments to deserving students.

The event, hosted by The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) Mid-Atlantic Chapter, a nonpartisan organization representing political and public affairs professionals, is on Oct. 6 at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are now on sale at www.karaokeinthecapital.com for $15.

“Some of the best voices in Washington and some that you’ll never want to hear again will gather on the big stage for an evening you may want to forget but never will,” joked CBS “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer, who is emceeing the event (and performing). Schieffer’s band, Honky Tonk Confidential will be the opening act.

Who are the other performers? Find out after the jump…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.