Man, I'm Tired of Singing: KTV

I am taking a break from my focus on education to talk breifly about one of my favorite things about China, and one of the things I miss the most.

KTV 

The Entrance for the In Love KTV in Wumart

For those of  you are unfamiliar with what this is, allow me to explain. It is Karaoke Television, or sometimes called Korean Karaoke.  Now, the word 'karaoke' seems to be off putting for many Americans.  It conjures images of crowded bars and people with no vocal ability screeching their oft-drunken hearts out to a judgmental drunken crowd.  Or worse, someone with vocal talent that puts the rest of the crowd to shame; who wants to follow that act?

However, I wish all Americans could visit China or some other KTV-friendly countries because your perception of karaoke would totally change.  In China, Karaoke is totally different.  Instead of being on a mic with one or two friends in front of a zillion strangers, you are with a group of your friends in your own room.

This is a typical 2-5 person room. Its a bit larger than your average dorm room. 

And this is not just an ordinary room.  There are couches and chairs all around the room, several microphones, and usually a small stage with a stand up mic.  Mirrors line the walls. interrupted only with several flat screen televisions.  Over to one side of the room is a little touch screen television where you choose from literally thousands of songs.  Depending on how big your city is and how many foreigners live there, you can have slim pickings or extremely updated list of American songs. Once you have selected your song, the lyrics and accompanying video begin playing on all those flat screen televisions around the room.  The KTV we spent most of our free time at was only 2-3 weeks behind on the top 40's list, and you could always recommend new songs.  They got them pretty fast.

One page of the selection; I have to thank Amanda Woomer for taking this shot. In 2 years, it never occurred to me to photograph this, although I know she was only excited that they had Jedward. 

This is because there are no copyright laws in China.  So not only were these songs available in terms of text and music, but they (with some rare exceptions) also played the music video on all available television screens.

Above: me, rocking out to Pink's Family Portrait. Below: Liv, striking a pose. 

At any time during the evening you can visit their well stocked supermarket for refreshment (and, of course, beer and white wine-liquor).  Or you can call one of the many attendants and they will come in and you can order food.  You could literally live there from about ten in the morning until closing time...at 6:00 am the next day.  And yes, we have stayed until pretty close to closing before.

That's what we calling "Singing it Out"

You can go with a large group of people or with just you and a friend--we would often go for a few hours after the gym (it was in the same building, on the same floor) to rock out or sometimes during the afternoon (when it's cheaper--kinda like a matinee) on a weekday that we did not teach on.  Or, on one memorable occasion, we took about 12 students as a reward for doing the best in the class that semester.  We have had birthdays there, and celebrated one of the best Christmases of my life at KTV.  The establishment is a very fancy warren of different sized rooms depending on the size of your party.  And there is no karaoke stigma in China, so if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you might be waiting a long time for a room.

Liv's Birthday, for example, we had Dave, Theresa, Justin, Alex, Olivia, Lanaya, Sammy, Tom, Pretty Young Trainer, a couple other guys from the gym and myself. 

Amanda, on Christmas, rocking out with Olivia and I. 

The advantages of KTV are as follows: It's effing fun. It's stress-relieving. It's cheap (at least, it is in China; a couple hours is about 20 bucks for a room for 2-5 people).  And if you are sitting there saying "man, I wish I could go to China and KTV", don't worry: many large cities in America have KTV's.  Although, they are typically not quite as fancy, considerably more expensive, and their selection somewhat more limited, as America does have fairly strict copyright laws.  But the premise is the same; you, your friends, and singing it out. I highly recommend you do some research and see if your local metropolis has a KTV, especially if the only thing holding you back from regular karaoke is shyness or complete lack of talent; KTV was made for you, trust me.

...and if you really want an example of what KTV looks like, here is a duet of Dave and myself singing the 90's Backstreet Boy classic: I Want it That Way.  We are being a bit ridiculous in this particular rendition, but hey, that's the beauty of KTV; if you can't be ridiculous in a room full of your friends, where can you be ridiculous?