NoraeBang

Remember that part of Lost in Translation where they go to that Karaoke Bar, but its just them in a room by themselves, and it looks totally awesome and fun? BBro and I totally did it the other day! In Korea it’s called Noraebang/노래방 (norae [노래]= song, bang [방] = room), and it’s literally everywhere, but somehow I’d managed to avoid doing it so far.


Now that I have though, it’s pretty much my favorite thing. You get your own room, and microphones and video screen. The videos that it plays along with the songs seem to be, without fail, Korean War re-enactments.

The selection is particularly varied, and often rather strange. Koreans have interesting tastes when it comes to American music, as I’ve come to realize from hearing what they think are “hits.” Our awesome tracklist included:

Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes
Almost Paradise from Footloose (!!)
Listen from Dreamgirls
Beyonce - Irreplaceable
Spice Girls - Stop
Boy George - Karma Chameleon (BBro solo…)
ABBA - Gimme Gimme Gimme
Summer Lovin’ from Grease
Eminem - Stan
Wig in a Box from Hedwig
Breakin’ Free from High School Musical
Fame from… Fame
Blondie - One Way or Another
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Ace of Base - All That She Wants

Clearly they LOVE musicals here. And trashy 80s and 90s. Luckily, so do BBro and I, pretty hardcore, so we’ll most likely be back. Soon.