Karaoke- KTV
Karaoke (better known as KTV) is very popular here in Taiwan. It's so popular that you have to make a reservation or wait till 11pm for the first available room. You climb the stairs into the upper floors of the complex. The ceilings are very low, I feel positively tall since my head is only inches from brushing the paint. The space is sort of like in "Being John Malkovich" where they've "cut down on the overhead". Only you don't get to see the the world from JM's PoV or teleport out to the Jersey turnpike afterwards.
Things apparent after my initiation into the small soundproofed room that is KTV-
Don't let your Taiwanese friends at the console until after you've entered some English songs, else you'll spend the entire night waiting for your turn at the mike.
Most Chinese pop songs involve tragic death scenes that look a lot like a cross between tuberculosis and Ebola. The funniest one I've seen so far was a Lego version that's spot on. the entry has a link to the original version which is also pretty funny.
Be supportive of other efforts, you'll prolly suck more and you don't want to be voted off the island.
Keep drinking beer, it doesn't help with the singing but it makes the whole experience more tolerable.
Don't bother with the extra priced buffet, it's just fried food and inedible desserts.
I discovered several things about my musical depths-
I know very few of the popular songs.
I know all the lyrics and the tunes of a limited selection from the 80's. This means my inner muppet wears a mullet with wings, pegged pants, leg warmers, off the shoulder sweatshirt and electric blue eye shadow.
Most other songs I know one word per line and only the tune from the chorus (which doesn't generally help with singing the melody for the verses if it's different)
Beer doesn't actually help my singing in any way (funny when I played rugby it seemed to work)
I can't wait to start learning characters so that I can go back and rock the Chinese section.
of course this time I cheated and sang a song that I have been listening to for sometime, I should point out that even tho I know the tune and the words (sort of) I did miserably and will have to practice heaps before I try again.
Sung by Vienna Teng
Lüdao Xiaoyequ
words by Chen Chang-shou/music by Yao Di
Zhe Lü Dao xiang yi zhi chuan,
zai yue li yao ya yao,
Airen yo, ni ye zai wode xin li piao ya piao,
Xiang wode gesheng sui na weifeng,
chuikaile nide chuangjin,
Rang wode zhongqing sui na liu shui,
buduande xiang ni qingsu.
Yezishu de chang ying,
yanbuzhu wode qingyi,
Mingmeide yueguang,
geng zhaoliangle wode xin.
Zhe Lü Dao de ye yijing nayangde chenjing,
Airen yo, ni weishenma shi momowuyu:
Translation by Ed Peaslee
This Green Island is like a boat,
floating in the moonlight,
My darling, you too are floating in the sea of my heart,
Let the sound of my song follow the breeze,
blowing open the curtain of your window,
Let my love follow the flowing water,
endlessly pouring out its feelings for you.
The long shadows of the palm trees
cannot conceal my love,
The bright beauty of the moonlight
casts its brilliance into my heart.
This Green Island night is so calm and serene,
My darling, why are you silent, saying nothing?