I used to love karaoking in NYC - we'd go after dinner in a huge group and wander around k-town for a bit before walking up flights of slightly dodgy stairs. After being welcomed by happy Korean folk, we'd find a large room and settle happily onto some red plastic couches. One by one, we'd put on crowd favourites, from backstreet boys to bloc party. While there usually were only two mikes provided, that wouldn't stop the entire crowd from dancing around the room and singing their hearts out. Karaoke was a group activity.
A little while ago, I went karaoking in Singapore with some friends, and was dumbfounded by the experience. While the trappings were the same - a room at the top of stairs filled with plastic couches - the atmosphere was different. There were only a few of us present, so people took turns singing instead of dueting/quinteting/sixteen-ing (:P). You could actually hear individual voices!!
I dunno, I guess I just find it interesting that in a group/family based society like Singapore, karaoke is an individual thing, while in the self-centric society of the US, karaoke is such a group-based thing.
2 comments:
lolz i know exactly what you mean. when i was in seattle we'd go karaoking in huge groups too! but in taiwan karaoke is more of an intimate, 2-3 people thing...not that i don't like the intimacy (and having the mic securely in my hand instead of having to fight for it), but i miss the group fun.
anywayz, when are you coming to visit?
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