|
clubs + bars : our favourites
Karaoke Karve Up
The term karaoke comes from
the Japanese words karapoo, meaning empty, and oke, meaning orchestra.
The term was coined in the sixties when 'Karaoke boxes' began springing
up in major cities in Japan. The story goes
that a guitarist failed to turn up one evening in a local snack bar in
Kobe, and the resourceful owner stepped in and took over the mic. The
rest is history and there are now something in the region of 100,000 karaoke
boxes in Japan.
Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation features a
slick 'n' sexy karaoke bar where Bill Murray and his friends hire their
own room and have food and drink brought to their door and sing their
hearts out to Sex Pistols' punked out trax. Only in Japan you might think,
but you would be wrong. In London's steamy Soho you can visit the Karaoke
Box (18 Frith Street, W1) where similarly you will be served food and
drink in your private room, which accommodates between 5 and 12 party
people and costs between £8 and £45, depending on the time
of your visit.
In the meantime, pass me the mic and lets make some
noize!
club/bar home
DJ Lord Ant B's Gimme 5 Karaoke Karve Up
Archway Tavern / Archway
Roundabout, N19 / Monday nights
Monday blues? Bad day at work? Need to unwind? Who knows you may even
discover a hidden talent. Remember, the next Pop Idol is only 6 months
away! Simon Cowell cover your ears! The fact is, karaoke acts as a platform
where you can let rip and where the rules are turned totally upside down,
so that bad becomes good, and good becomes boring. Karaoke is not about
being the next Whitney Houston or Alicia Keys, it's about letting go and
bearing your tonsils.
Recommended song: 9 to 5 -
Dolly Parton
Yo Below / 95 Farringdon Road, EC1 / Wednesday
nights
Famous for it's conveyor belt style eating experience, this Japanese theme
venue is the perfect hot spot to swing dem hips and curl yo lips in a
tribute to the karaoke king - Elvis Presley. It is interesting to note
that Japanese people, despite being considered a shy nation, actually
have a social history of breaking into song, but not dance, at every opportunity,
and having a good clap along... this is not very interesting and probably
not true! (ed).
A nice touch is the tables with the self-service beer taps.
Recommended song: Turning Japanese - The Vapors
Ivy House / 40 Stuart Road, SE15 / Friday nights
There is a whole community of karaok-ers who gather in this popular bar
and share their testimonials about how karaoke changed their lives. Serious
fans include foul mouth Frank who became a KJ (karaoke DJ) and traveled
the length and breadth of the country plugging people in and watching
them scream and shout.
Recommended song: Last night a KJ saved my life - In Deep
Silver Buckle / Camberwell Road, SE5 / Sunday nights
Karaoke is almost always about expressing nostalgic feelings of either
happiness or grief, so sometimes out of all the commotion comes a sense
of sorrow and bravery. The courage and confidence to get up and bear your
soul on stage can be a very attractive thing (especially after 6 or 7
pints of Dutch courage). You can begin the evening mourning the loss of
a loved one and end the nite in somebody else's shell suit arms - that's
karaoke madness for you! The Silver Buckle is a bit of a rough dive, so
come on have a go if you think you're hard enuff!
Recommended song: Angels - Robbie Williams
Brewery Tap / 78 Lingham Street, SW9 / Friday nights
monthly
Karaoke is all about singing + glamour - you grab a mic, pump up the volume,
add a smear of lip gloss and an appreciative audience, and suddenly you
have a way to give everybody their moment of glory and time in the limelight.
You won't find many glamour pusses in this dodgy dikey den. It's not everyone's
glass of Saporo, but you sure can have a whole lot of fun.
Recommended song: Lady and the tramp - Shirley Bassey
club/bar home
top of page
|
