Zhangpu, China: KTV - A Cultural Window

Two weeks ago, we went to a KTV with the Chinese interpreters, Aubrey, Elanor, Sarah, Wade, and Wendy.  They organized the event, and it was the most culturally revealing activity we've done so far.

KTVs are karaoke venues.  Zhangpu has dozens of them.  They are à la mode.

Karaoke in America is nude exhibitionism compared to Chinese karaoke.

American karaoke takes place in bars, under the heavy influence of alcohol.  One-by-one people sing to strangers and humiliate themselves.

In China, karaoke is private and takes place in suites (not theaters like I previously posted).

KTV near our hotel

Depending on the size, a KTV can have anywhere from ten to (I'm guessing) fifty rooms.  Many of the KTVs have multiple floors of rooms.

The suites range in size from small to large.  Small rooms sit two to four people; medium rooms four to ten; and large seat ten or more.

Each suite has video screens, microphones, speaker systems, and a computer to select songs.  Most songs are in Chinese, but there were a few American pop songs.

KTVs do serve alcohol and food, but it's sold separately.  Each venue has a convenience store at the front, complete with attendants, registers, snacks, drinks, and lamp-cooked food.

We went on Friday night, prime time.  The place was packed, and our group of ten had to rent a large room, because it was the only one remaining.  It was LARGE.

There were two projection video monitors complete with black lights and laser light machines.  The couch wrapped around three walls, and we even had our own bathroom.  It was way too much space.

The interpreters were excited to start singing.  We crowded around the computer screen and filled the song queue with a mix of Chinese and English songs.

To break the ice, the Axens crew and we sang first.  Olivier got the mic and sang this moving rendition of "Unchained Melody" by the Isley Brothers.

He sang well…at the beginning.  After that, Fabian and I butchered "Imagine."  Thankfully, I had the camera to prevent any recording.

After embarrassing ourselves, the interpreters took over.

Olivier told us an interesting fact about the Chinese and karaoke.  He said that people will practice for KTV.

They buy a song DVD and sing it relentlessly until they're near perfect.  The DVDs are sold everywhere, at grocery stores, on the street, at pharmacies.  The next KTV night, they blow their friends out of the water.

It showed.  They were good.

Wendy sang so well my camera couldn't keep up.

Aubrey, Sarah, and Elanor sang duets or trios with near perfection.  Wendy pulled off a great Chinese modern rock routine.  Wade stole the show, though.  He had a great voice and sang with distinction.

We were humbled, but that didn't stop the fun.  The beer arrived.  Our courage returned.  The song queue refilled.

A surprising trend became apparent.  The Axens crew and we were singing pop songs about parties, dancing, and having a good time.  (Someone sang "Party in the U.S.A."  I don't remember who...)  The interpreters sang mostly love songs.

It was sobering, literally.  The videos were filled with images of couples fawning over each other.  Men cried in their cars in the rain.  White clothing, fuzzy lens filters, and flowers were aplenty.

Our song queue looked like the play list of a manic depressive with emotional highs and lows

Galina and SB sing "I Kissed a Girl"

Eventually, the Axens crew and we stopped singing.  The interpreters crooned and waxed romantic on the mic.

We changed gears and played our favorite Chinese drinking game, shai zi (dice) a.k.a. Liar's Dice.

Despite the somber ending, we had a blast!

KTVs are more party space than karaoke bar.  Hosting parties is difficult in Zhangpu.  Most people live in company-owned dorms or hotels that don't have the space or privacy to get wild.

American karaoke can be brutal, both on the ears and psyche.  In some respects, it's public schadenfreude (the joy of watching others suck).  Like cowards, many of us go just to watch and revel at NOT being the biggest joker in the room.

Not the case for Chinese karaoke.  The privacy of suites and desire to practice to near perfection makes the space convivial and enjoyable.  Everyone participates.  Even if you bomb, which we did a lot, no stranger heckles you.  Only your friends do, so it's fine.

I am surprised there aren't more KTV-like karaoke bars in America.

Now that our crew is growing, we'd like to go again.  When the interpreters set the date, I'll be sure to start practicing and forget my camera.