Was it the women? Yes.
Was it the food? Yes.
Was it the culture? Yes.
Actually, all of these aspects stuck out (for good reason!) but one thing in particular seemed like a revolutionary idea: private karaoke rooms/establishments.
My thinking, years ago, was that if I could somehow manage the capital, setting up a few of these shops in hip/major cities would be a sure-fire way to make that quick milli we all desire. Since everyone in Portland is a member of a band, perhaps it would not benefit from one of these but, after this post/description, perhaps even the most utilitarian amongst you will think differently. The benefit is easily noticed and could create an entire new source of entertainment for millions. (Me making millions in the process!) Suffice it to say my hopes never manifested and one still needs to head down to the local bar for a night of digressing quality and forgettable, hopefully, memories. Drunken forty-some year olds singing Blondie or Foreigner into the microphone at imperfect pitch, like nails on a chalkboard, summarizes karaoke in the States.The rest of the world is, fortunately, different.
I'm not the first to comment on these business found everywhere outside of the States but will attempt to describe the Taiwan environment as opposed to elsewhere.
Such articles as this (Link)(Pretty trashy blog but everyone has to make a dime I suppose) made for a very "interesting" read about KTV in China, especially the shady side of it. (I mention this and link the site for those who would otherwise call me out for my positive spin on the establishments outside of Taiwan). In most Asian countries, KTV is generally a place to sing, get drunk, and solicit sex workers. Perhaps such things can be found in the back alleys of Taiwan but, except for these rare and secretive establishments, prostitution and that sort of thing is extremely frowned upon. Most folks here meet the "love of their life", which is the first, second, or third, partner and stick with him/her for life. But this is all a digression.
Taiwan KTV is a fun and special outing where a group of friends can enjoy one another's company in song, dance, drink, and merriment. Such outings are a "special" event and often occur during holidays, birthdays, good-bye parties, etc. This past week, I had the opportunity to participate in such an outing and thoroughly enjoyed myself. (Without a sex worker I might add)
I'd say the KTV that I visited is on the fancier side of the scale and seemed more like a nice hotel than a karaoke joint. One walks into the building where a nice lobby greets you. After paying at the desk, you head upstairs and walk through corridors lined with doors. Little to no sound can be heard from the rooms and popular songs play quietly through the intercom system. A large center nexus houses food for purchase. One is lead to their "room" of which is rented for a four or five hour block of time and, upon opening the door, fancy couches, large, flat-screen televisions are hooked up to a computer system, thumping sound systems, light effects, etc. is found. Tombs containing the songs featured on the computer system sit upon the tables and the easy interface allows for near instantaneous access to action. A waiter will come by and take people's drink order (one goes into the food nexus for other goodies) and return shortly with the desired items. Every hour or so they pop in to make sure the temporary residents don't require more liquid courage to keep up the show. A private bathroom was attached to conveniently allow minimal separation from the action.
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| Vantage: sitting on the far couch |
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| The T.V. and Sound System |
To quickly summarize why KTV is awesome:
Friends - Check
Drink/Food - Check (You can bring your own stuff in too! If you so choose.)
Private Venue (where even the most shy can sing to his/her heart content without the contemptuous and judgmental audience's opinion. Or worse, in such a public scenario, having to listening to someone that emits sounds akin to a late-night cat fight) - Check
Relaxation/Rockin' Good Times - Check
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If you like singing, or if you don't, the fact you can chill out with your friends and have a good time, in a private setting, is pretty cool. Sure, you could get drunk with your friends at home but the formality of leaving the house to party is pretty important for most people. Is that what separates the "party" alcoholics from the "normal" alcoholics? I remember hearing this comment before. Having a private room you can party in is like partying in a hotel room - so much fun!
On a whole, the Asia bar scene is completely different from back home. This was the case in China, Taiwan, The Philippines, and (from what I've heard) elsewhere as well. Violent drunkenness is very uncommon. If you go out to the bar here, you will mostly find happy, extroverted people wanting to drink with you and do some singing, some dancing, lots of laughing, and generally just have a really good time. My blog post referencing the ship-hand and his drunken attempt to hook up with girls we were with was the most confrontational local drunk person I've met in Asia. Sure, you can go to the bar that has all the foreigner's partying and watch people make assholes of themselves in the most aggressive fashion, but such is not the local custom. The scene here is uniquely different and extremely more inviting. Imagine going to the bar and not being confronted with bros, meat-heads/frat boys, slutty homie girls, or belligerent old guys seeking to ruin your night. Such reflection makes me want to head out and take advantage of Taiwan night-life while I still can.
Such is the public scene. Now make that same joy-filled mentality intimate with friends and acquaintances - that is KTV. With the technological assistance of a booming sound system and a desire for fun, I can see why this is such a popular past-time. Pick up the mic and start dancing, this shit is hot!
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| Dancing to a popular song |
As you might imagine, the more relaxed people get within the environment, the more fun everyone starts to have. Fortunately, most of these nice folks I joined were not shy in the least bit and began to boogie the minute the door was shut and food and drinks were obtained.
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| Choosing the next song |
While people dance, eat, and sing others are able to use the digital interface and select which songs they would like played. A playlist is built and partying can commence unhindered, with the chore of track selecting accomplished. Taiwanese people seem to enjoy love songs and, not only is their music replete with the theme, the foreign (American) songs that is brought over are either love songs or pop songs. (for some reason Cast Down The Heretic or Krokodil (NSFW!) are not featured :-(... ). Since this is _not_ the type of music I listen to, the only songs I really knew were few by The Beatles, one by Neil Young, some MJ. Perhaps five or six more were in the book that have tortured me with its insidious and ever-present nature as background music of grocery stores but none popped out. I was hoping for a Johnny Cash song to impress the folks with a deep voice, but instead, impossibly high tenor was all that the pop songs could offer.
Perhaps that hardest part with being a white guy from the West is my lack of a singing voice. I won't sugar-coat the truth; if tone-deafness was personified and met me in singing a tune while out hiking, even it would run away in fear, hands covering metaphorical ears. I'd like to think that Dylan Thomas was the source of my name instead of the famous singer, just for my own ego's sake. Or was it Matt Dillion that sources my name- no... couldn't be... GUNSMOKE!
Contrasting my vocal impurity is the pitch-perfect and downright professional quality of individuals I joined. It is as if the record studio closed for the evening and the singers migrated to the KTV parlor to continue making music. I'm not exaggerating. During one of the songs, the guy I sat next to informed me that he used to sing and play guitar with the guy singing in track that was currently being played. Well.. It was great to listen but, since I only knew one person there, it was rather nerve-wracking to bring down the overall groups performance.
After I successfully butchered a Neil Young song, I tapped in some assistance from one of the other guys to help me with a Beatles song. After both of these embarrassing sessions I reclined and relaxed for the rest of the time. This feeling of embarrassment was only in my mind because these nice people there gave encouragement and cheers. I would definitely go again with such acceptance! Food, beers, good company, and lots of fun, what a successful experience.
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| The Folks I Joined |
