Karaoke

A wise, beautiful woman once said, "there aren't many acceptable public spaces where you can sing."

Sadly, this is truth. Even in a day and age where people uphold the right of free speech and shut down detractors at all costs, we are not allowed to belt a note while walking down the street. Messed up? You damn right it is.

The karaoke bar, whether the private room or open for all to hear, is the last bastion of vocal expression for the world. Want to let out some lyrics and unleash your emotions on the world? Find the nearest magic mic and let the words on the screen light up (and the random images too, of course.) The karaoke bar is a resource for the voiceless. When we need to let out emotion in the form of popular song, it's there. The karaoke bar fills in the blanks. When we want to tell someone that we desperately want to make love to them, we push in the buttons to summon Boyz II Men. The karaoke bar is a pick-me-up. When someone at the bar intends for the evening to be a booze drowning sorrow fest, we sing "Poison" to ensure that there is a positive memory that ends the evening for them. The karaoke bar is a place to commune. When it's time to go, we go in unison to the tune of "Closing Time" by Semisonic.

It gets a bad rap. It is subjugated by other bars such as the dance club and hookah bar. It is used as a way to box-in Pilipinos. Regardless of these stereotypes and issues, it stands as an important space where young and old can come to sing and let the feelings flow (along with alcohol).