THE KARAOKE ITINERARY

Where are the world’s karaoke fans headed next month? JENNA VEHVILÄINEN grabs the mic to explain地球上的卡拉OK迷下月會到什麼地方去？ Jenna Vehviläinen拿起咪來為大家介紹

From Tokyo to Helsinki, JENNA VEHVILÄINEN highlights some karaoke spots around the world

ON A RAINY weekday night, the streets of Helsinki slumber. The scene is unadulterated Nordic Noir.

The rush hour has passed and the harsh sea wind, typical for autumn and winter in this Nordic city, has driven the crowds indoors.

And indoors means karaoke. Dive into any bar in the Finnish capital and you could suddenly be in Tokyo or Osaka.

But why is karaoke, invented in Kobe, Japan, by Daisuke Inoue in 1971 – and which literally means ‘empty orchestra’ – so popular in this Nordic outpost?

‘ For exactly the same reason it became popular in Japan,’ says Atte Hujanen, chief executive of Singa, the company that invented an online platform for singing karaoke, often called ‘the Spotify of karaoke.’

‘ Karaoke was born out of Japanese repressed emotions, which they couldn’t talk about at work or at home,’ says Hujanen. ‘ So they began expressing them through singing. Finns, too, are taciturn folk, for whom expressing feelings is not taken for granted. It feels easier for us to sing about them, which is where karaoke comes in.’

For the rest of the world, karaoke might appear a ham-fisted, off-key way to end a drunken night in a rundown bar. But for Finns it is something very dear. They sing karaoke in public and at home with their family, at company parties and on casual nights out with friends. Most do it enthusiastically, some ironically, others forcibly, encouraged by a few drinks. In short, karaoke brings the nation together.

Hujanen and his karaokeloving family also founded the Karaoke World Championships ( karaokeworldchampionships.com) in 2003. The event has made a name for itself and attracts hopefuls from up to 30 countries. This year’s championships will be staged next month at the Apollo Live Club in Helsinki.

Hujanen founded Singa in 2010 after he came to the conclusion that karaoke was a million-dollar business in need of modernisation.

The time of the karaoke DVD has passed, says Hujanen. ‘ Today, around 300 bars in Europe use Singa. Our platform makes it possible to sing karaoke anywhere there is a mobile device and internet connection.’

Of course, like every self-respecting Finn, Hujanen also has a favourite karaoke song.

‘I usually start with something peculiar enough to break the ice and encourage others to step out on the floor,’ he says. ‘It’s AC/DC’s Big Balls.’ Here are five spots around the world to flex that larynx.

YES R&B, BANGKOK

Choose from 30 differently styled rooms and sing the night away in this colourful Thonglor neighbourhood favourite. yesrandb.com

POPULUS, HELSINKI

This bar in the Kallio neighbourhood is open 24 hours and suits anyone unfazed by less elegant surrounds. The atmosphere can get quite bizarre in the wee hours… karaokebar.net/populus

KARAOKE-KAN, TOKYO

Karaoke may have been invented in Kobe, but nowhere is it more popular than Tokyo, which hosts countless karaoke spots. But one stands out: Karaoke-kan in Shibuya – which featured in Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in Translation, where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson’s characters enjoy a singalong in rooms 600 and 601. You can also borrow costumes (everything from Pikachu to mermaid outfits and wigs) for free. karaokekan.jp

LUCKY VOICE, UK & DUBAI

Lucky Voice has numerous locations in the UK and one in Dubai, each with more than 9,000 songs on the menu – from current chart-toppers to old school classics ( Dancing Queen, anyone?). Private booths fit up to 15 people. luckyvoice.com

THE DERBY, HONG KONG

This small pub next to Happy Valley Racecourse is not swish and definitely not artisan, but the long suffering Filipino backing band is game if you are. And singers at The Derby, whatever their standard, are always welcome.

80-82 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay

在一個平日的雨夜，赫爾基辛 的大街巷小已沉沉入睡，就跟那些北歐犯罪劇集和電影裡的場景一模一樣。

繁忙間時 已過，秋冬季常見的風強從海上吹捲來， 過這個北歐城市，將街上來熙攘往的人潮都趕進室內去。

此室時 內的好節目，就是唱卡拉OK。在這個芬蘭首府，意隨 走一進 間酒吧，你可能突然有會 置身東京或大阪的感。受

卡拉OK於1971年由井上大祐於日本神戶市發明，這個詞語由日文「空」及「管弦樂團」兩字組成，意思是指「沒有歌手唱歌的樂團演奏」。這種自源 日本的玩意，為何會在這座北歐城市流行起來？

Singa的總裁Atte Hujanen表示：「就跟卡拉OK在日本流行的原因一模一樣。」這間公司創辦了一個網上卡拉OK平台，擁有「卡拉OK界的Spotify」號稱 。

Hujanen說：「卡拉OK是日本人壓抑情緒的產物，他們在辦公室或家中都無法傾吐心聲，於是藉由唱歌來表達內心的感。受芬蘭人一樣也有著沉默寡言的性格，不習慣隨意流露自己的情感。我們覺得唱歌是較為輕鬆的表達方式，卡拉OK就這樣流行了起來」。

但在世界上的其他地方，卡拉OK不過是人們酒過三巡、帶著醉意在破舊酒吧內引吭高歌的消遣。但是對芬蘭人來說，這是他們十分重視的活動。他們會在公眾場