Karoake

I went out with about half of my studio to celebrate a couple people's birthdays on Monday after work for a bit of karoake. I'd heard that karoake is huge here, and it turns out that it is. It's also completely different here than in the States. It's all done in private rooms with just you and your friends, and nearly everyone (at least in our group) is an amazing singer. It's less about singing crazy party songs, and more about singing love ballads American Idol style.

Here's our private room complete with 4 monitors for selecting your playlist, about 5 microphones, couches, an area for duets, tambourines and shakers, and a large flat screen playing the music videos with lyrics. A few people from studio had asked me to give them English names which is good because it's much easier for me to remember. This is Denzel. His birthday was one that we were celebrating and he was there a bit early to get our room. It turns out that in China you treat everyone else on your birthday instead of them treating you.
Before starting the singing we all got some food from a buffet and brought it into our room.

Gao da and Austin (Chenye)

The singing begins.

Gao Da workin' the mic.

Austin and Gu.

"but it was all Yellow"

Everyone kept adding English songs to the playlist and wanting me to sing them. They were surprised to find out that I'd never heard any of the songs that they were selecting. We finally got a couple familiar songs like Yellow by Coldplay.

While it was mostly love songs, there were a couple instances for breakin it down.

Denzel and his wife in the duo corner. Looks like Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Me about to attempt another song they selected for me....... Tears in Heaven.

Everyone laughing at my attempt.