KTV- AKA Kareoke

It has been said, " if you ain't sung Kareoke then you ain't been to China." And Kareoke with the Chinese is a different experience from anything you've done before. Forget drunken nights in a Japanese resturant from college, forget want to be rock stars performing their best, this the is the real deal.

Last weekend was teacher's day, when all the students take their teacher out to show your appriciation. We brought her to the Golden years, a 5 story palace of KTV, as it is sometimes referred to in China, dedicated soley to singing Kareoke. Unlike in the states, the Kareoke here is done in little private rooms, each rooms filled with shuai ge (handsome men) and mei nu (pretty girls) dressed in their sunday bests singing old Chinese folk and national songs as well as modern ones.

One must note, this day of song, 6 hours in total, is all done completly sober. Chinese people never get tired of it, and they love that I can read the english and sing the english songs. Really, it is quite interesting how well chinese people can sing, espcially the women. My teacher who is nostalgic for the past, beautifully sang folk songs and national songs like no one's business. Periodically the students, both male and female, serenade the teacher and dance with her.

My hits included a rendition of Hotel California with air guitar. Too bad bust a move was not a hit, none of my classmates knew it and they didn’t quite get into it. My personal serenade and dance with my teacher was to Brown eye girl. Also, a little blackbird by the beatles, and some Simon and G-field never hurt. I am proud to bring Scarbough fair, Celcia, and not to mention Mrs. Robinson to the Chinese People.