Karaoke, Baby

One of Aaron's co-workers had a birthday party on Friday and we were invited. It was at a Seattle's Best Karaoke. When we got close, I realized that I had been there once about ten years ago. It's an odd place. It looks like an office building from outside and once you are inside, it has a rec center feeling. There are individual rooms that you reserve that have all the karaoke accoutrements that you will need. The decorations are sparse. The room that we were in had three futon couches and a coffee table in the center of the room, plus a computer, flat screen tv and all the other karaoke equipment. There were no pictures on the walls or anything to give the room character. It felt like being in someone's basement (someone who has no crap anywhere - so not like my basement).

It's not a bar, so there's isn't anywhere to order drinks or anything. You can BYOB, but you have to get a banquet license at the liquor store. The birthday girl had taken care of that, so we brought a half rack of something from Whole Foods. It was on sale. I can't remember the name. Aaron said it tasted like Milwaukee's Best (Beast). (I rest my case. We should have stuck with PBR.)

When we walked in, the room was packed with about twenty people, most sitting on the futons, but two were standing up singing "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal. Interesting choice. The room was hot and everyone was singing along.

Aaron and I settled in and cracked open a couple Whole Foods' beers and soaked up the scene. Now, I haven't done karaoke in probably about a year. We used to do it occasionally and there was a period of time when we did it quite a bit (before Leilani closed down.) But it seemed like everyone always did the same songs and a lot of times with a feeling of irony. Some favorites were "Sister Christian", "Sister Golden Hair Surprise", songs by Barry Manilow, songs by The Carpenters, "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley, and sometimes Aaron and I would sing "The Sweater Song" by Weezer - that was the most contemporary we would get.

So, now would be a good time to share that most of Aaron's co-workers and friends of the birthday girl were in their mid-20's. Yes, it made me feel old. And as we sat there feeling elderly, we noticed that their song choices were not ironic. They chose pop songs by Rihanna ("Umbrella"),

Justin Bieber ("U smile" - which I was not previously familiar with - shocker, I know - If only they could have played some Bieber songs that were on "Glee"!),

Kylie Minogue ("Wow")

and the Friday song by Rebecca Black (which I don't know very well, but I was aware that it existed. And is it just me, or does the kid driving in the video look about 12 years old?). Somebody picked a song by the Spice Girls - because they liked it. Not because it was ironic. Someone said to a girl that was currently going to SPU, "You like the Spice Girls?" To which she replied, "Why not?" Why not, indeed.

It was an eye opening experience for us. We definitely felt like were part of a different generation. It was slightly depressing. However, I did enjoy knowing a lot of the songs they chose. Unlike Aaron, who never listens to top 40 music. I knew that you can stand under my umbrella -ella -ella, ay, ay, ay. I also knew that you can read my lips, because I'm into you and it's just the way you dance. Thank you, C89.

It was kind of fun, because karaoke is usually a good time, and everyone was really laid back and welcoming. My only hope is that we didn't look like those sad, aging hipsters you see at rocks shows and wonder, "Why are those old people here?"