Karaoke Craze Catching the Trend in China and Moving Westward

Throughout China and East Asia, karaoke enthusiasts have been emerging at every corner, looking to unleash their musical divas and virtuosos. This increasingly popular leisure activity has taken over the entertainment scene in cities as the thing to do and place to go as millennials and younger generations look to gather for a date night, a weekend activity, a family event or just a social media platform to exchange musical performances.Chinese karaoke has evolved into a pastime quite different than its Western counterpart. In China, this karaoke phenomenon has taken on a techno twist and integrated social media, the smartphone, texting, following and posting. Known as KTV, it is much more lux than the Western version. Contrary to the cramped booth with a single microphone and an outdated TV screen, Chinese KTV is performed in a lounge-setting with a reserved private suite, plush upholstered couches, modernly cool lighting, state-of-the-art surround sound systems, and most importantly, a soundproof door. A plethora of delicious gourmet food is available to the guests at the KTV spots, so one can dine and drink, while performing their favorite tunes. Not only is Chinese pop music available, but also a selection of American party songs are as well. During my visit to China, I had the opportunity to share in the karaoke craze in Xi’an. Our exchange students surprised us with a KTV experience, located in a neighboring shopping mall, CityAn, adjacent to our school. What a musical extravaganza we shared! We sang, side-by-side, American pop music, British Invasion music and Chinese pop. One moment that forever resonates was singing Gao Bai Qi Qiu, a popular song by Jay Chou.Many technology companies are also tapping into the karaoke craze. KTV can be done on the go, with spacious soundproof booths conveniently placed in shopping malls. By using WeChat Pay, one can scan a QR code, and reserve their spot for even up to an hour. According to locals in China, this is much more accessible than the KTV houses, where one must make a reservation for a suite. Once they finish their solo, they can post it through WeChat, mimicking an “audio selfie.” Other companies have included the use of celebrities in their karaoke. San Francisco-based company SMULE has created an app in which users can record duets with their favorite stars, like Shawn Mendes and Charlie Puth. One is able to share their duet on social media sites like Instagram and WeChat.This craze of elaborate Chinese karaoke has recently been expanding westward and northward to Canada. According to a December 2017 New York Times article, karaoke clubs have become a popular attraction of the suburbs of Vancouver, BC. Chinese immigrants moving to these metropolitan areas have transplanted the pastime to these neighborhoods. Sharing the cuisines of various Chinese provinces and songs in Mandarin and Cantonese, the karaoke experience at PartyWorld KTV has invaded an enclave of British Columbia with flying notes. Hopefully this escape of Chinese karaoke will continue in its westward expansion and provide a retreat for the New York metropolitan crowd.

Some of the information and pictures in this article came from the following sources:

Karaoke Dragon – Illustration. 4 Nov. 2009. iStock Photo by Getty, Getty Images, www.istockphoto.com/vector/karaoke-dragon-gm92723807-7202029. Accessed 13 Jan. 2018.

Levin, Dan. “In a Chinese Enclave of Canada, the Sweet Escape of Karaoke.” The New York Times [New York], 27 Dec. 2017, International sec., p. A8.

Mini Karaoke box to face homogenization before winning market. CGTN, news.cgtn.com/news/3d4d544f77556a4d/share_p.html?t=1487341041701. Accessed 13 Jan. 2018.

Pham, Sherisse. “The New Way to Karaoke in China: On the Go and by Yourself.” CNN Tech, 5 June 2017, money.cnn.com/2017/06/05/technology/karaoke-changes-china-beijing/index.html. Accessed 13 Jan. 2018.

There are 15 comments

  1. Jeff Qasemi

    This is kind of cool how an American hobby has such a grasp in Chinese culture. However, I find it very peculiar how there are booths in malls just for this purpose. I didn’t think there would be a sudden urge to sing karaoke but, it may just not be popular in America. It’s a great thing to be able to express yourself freely without having much judgement.

  2. Dylan Swickle

    Thanks for this article!! It’s I last very interesting how small booths in malls are being developed for people to spontaneously sing karaoke at. I don’t see many people going to Song karaoke in the US, but in China, when I went, it seemed like something very popular!

  3. Herin Ahn

    It’s really interesting how Japan was first in a karaoke fever, next was Korea, and now China’s catching a karaoke craze. I also thought the fact that technology companies are getting involved in karaoke industry was cool.

  4. Richard R

    I love how cultures are being spread from place to place due to more trade and the invention of the internet. You can see the abundance of Chinese restaurants in America, but you can also see the abundance of karaoke places in China as well, and I think that’s pretty cool!

  5. Chase M. Hecht

    I like the article because I didn’t know that Karaoke was being spread to western civilizations. I’m wondering if other civilizations will also like Karaoke as much as the Chinese do.

  6. Joanne Li

    This is so cool! I had no idea karaoke was so popular in China. I remember seeing a few karaoke rooms like the luxurious ones you described at a local mall. Maybe it’ll become popular here too, someday!

  7. Pratim Chowdhary

    Before reading this I had no idea that there was such a love for Karaoke in China. I also never knew that it was moving to the western world. I also think that it is cool that social media is allowing more people to join the karaoke trend.

  8. Kaydence He

    It’s interesting how Chinese KTV is performed in such luxurious places. I did not know that the karaoke trend is reaching to Canada.

  9. Rohan Bhasin

    I found this article was very interesting because fun activities like karaoke were spread to other countries. I also found it interesting that they had made an app for karaoke where you can sing duets with celebrities like Shawn Mendes and Charlie Puth. I also found it cool that the American culture can influence China so much!

  10. Gloria Cheng

    This is so cool! I love karaoke or KTV as its called in China! After reading the article I can’t wait to do karaoke in China since Chinese KTV is performed in a lounge-setting with a reserved private suite, plush upholstered couches, modernly cool lighting, state-of-the-art surround sound systems, and most importantly, a soundproof door.

  11. Stephen L.

    I have seen these karaoke machines in real life. They are in malls and are pretty spacious and teched out. Nice article.

  12. Jillian Davis

    I never knew how popular karaoke is in China! It’s cool seeing how different places learn from each other and share ideas.

  13. Jessica Chen

    I never knew that Chinese KTV is performed in a lounge-setting with a reserved private suite, plush upholstered couches, modernly cool lighting, state-of-the-art surround sound systems, and a soundproof door. I am very interested in KTV now!

  14. Darren Cen

    I loved this article! It reminded me of my grandmother who loved to sing at places like KTV. I didn’t know KTV had all these private suites people can reserve to use and sing!

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