The art of singing to a microphone
There are certain ambiguous aspects that really define a culture or give it flavor if you prefer. Karaoke is Chinese culture. Its everywhere...On a warm moonlit night in the middle of a crowded park, you can find it connected by a confusion of threatening extension cords. Downtown, in a dark smoky half empty bar spotted with love struck couples, its there. One drunken night; at the town’s hot spots, when the “time to go” lights are blinking. In its designated KTV rooms; its presents almost stagnant, but ready to soothe, accompany, entertain, entice and envelope any and all who might need it. In most living rooms, young and old belt out their favorites in the comfort of their private walls, to reminisce, celebrate and remember the good times shared together around the very same VCD/DVD appendage.
Historically, the invention of Karaoke is credited to the Japanese people, ironically, it is the Chinese and the Koreans that have grabbed the baton and made Karaoke into an unbelievably popular pastime in their countries.
There is a certain ambience of luxury that accompanies one’s karaoke excursion. Privacy plays a key role in this. Rooms are divided into individual suites with padded walls to ensure sound proof-ness… a welcome advantage for the shy ones! What’s going on inside cannot be heard outside, a comforting and reassuring point for those who know they can’t hold a tune but still want to indulge. Cheap beer and heart wrenching songs are in abundance as well as a confetti range of snacks from shaved fish to watermelon slices. Choosing a song is easy. The high technology put in the making of Karaoke machines makes for easier selection and operation.
The trick to singing a karaoke song is to sing loud and proud and to no one in particular, in fact one sings at or to the song itself in an act so powerful and soulful the audience privately or publicly in the form of exaggerated applause implore the spirits to carry along the wishes of the singer. Owing to the great sense of modesty in China, some Karaoke machines have an applause option that will ensure privacy to the admirer and to the singer, a passageway to guiltless acceptance of praise.
Singing in front of an audience gives off an aura of power- singing in front of a slightly or mostly sedated audience whilst one is in more or less the same condition is ..Well that calls for immediate Grammy nominations and recording contracts. The art of Karaoke is simply the ability to make people feel what you are feeling through someone else’s lyrics and tune.
Living in China is like living through one long karaoke track- if you didn’t like it from the beginning; you are definitely not going to like the unusually high pitched end. I believe that the same way people throw pennies into a wishing well for luck, it’s for the same reason that they submit themselves to karaoke. Hoping that somebody –somewhere will hear what they are singing and hopefully answer their plea. That their vocals will carry that love note to that special someone. I myself have spent many a countless dark nights hugging a sweaty local beer and popping my neck veins out as I strain to release the last parts of “I will always love you.” I find I can sing much better and feel much better if I personalize the song to the point where I am singing my pain, my joy, my success. Whatever it is that’s on my heart. Do not miss this induction into “real” culture. It’s the off the beaten track experience, the bohemian appeal, the ethnic flavor we all look for when we pilgrim exotic sites such as China.