Karaoke Nights

-TV: Now With Lyrics-

Karaoke is well known abroad, although the appeal isn’t always understood. It’s embarrassing to be singing in front of others, and it makes no sense to pay for such embarrassment. However, when you realize that everyone else around sucks at singing as much as you, it’s easier to open up and belt out your favorite song.

In Hirakata, it’s rather common for students to hang out at the local karaoke establishment, Ring, on weekends. Although Ring offers other things to do besides karaoke, the 20 booths are usually filled by 8pm for late night singing parties. Ring does not provide alcohol unlike the usual karaoke bar, but is subsequently cheaper, and does provide free soda.

-Ring-

Ring has at least three different brands of karaoke machines spread throughout the different booths, each with similar, but different song collections. One machine may have your favorite song on it, when another may be missing it. Overall, the English song selection is vast and wide, with the Japanese selection being downright exhaustive. Each machine has a unique portable song selection device. From there you can choose a song by artist, title or a top-hit chart listing.

But what if the song you’re dying to sing isn’t available on your machine? Make friends, and join them!

The doors to the booths at Ring have windows in them so everyone can see you singing, even though they can’t hear you. People will look in your window to see who’s in there. Invite them in, maybe they’ll invite you over. Leave the karaoke area every now and then and see if anyone in the lobby wants to sing. Remember: half the people are drunk, and none of them can sing. The people you’re with make karaoke fun; don’t miss out on an opportunity to make your evening more exciting.

-Singing in one of the less colorful rooms [picture taken by Bryan]-