LET'S KARAOKE IN TOKYO, JAPAN! LIST OF 80S & GOTH SONGS, BEST CHEAP RENTAL ROOMS IN SHINJUKU, PARTY TIPS.
A typical Shinjuku nightcrawl: the spooky kids stumble through Kabuki-cho, convenience store alcohol in hand, and run smack-dab into Maya, Mistress of Goth/industrial party Midnight Mess. She is shoe-less (don’t ask). Happy Phantom turns into Lord Lionheart and offers her a lift. The bar is closed; where to now? The Visual Kei dive? Sticker pictures? Or how about all-night karaoke… yes!
Maya whips our her cell and orders up a deluxe room at Pasela, a many-leveled Shinjuku karaoke parlor decorated like a tiki resort (again, don’t ask). Pasela is relatively cheap, air conditioned, equipped with plush seating – and best of all, serves 10-inch slices of white bread topped with decadent sweets. Repeat after me: don’t ask.
Tokyo karaoke booking tips:
† The cheapest karaoke parlors are in the outskirts of Tokyo. Shinjuku rooms are more expensive, so walk around and compare prices before putting down yen. Look for all-night, alcohol-inclusive deals that generally begin at 11pm or midnight.
† If possible, ask a Japanese-speaking friend to book the room. The staff will try to squeeze your group into the smallest possible room… but Maya batted her eyes and wrangled a large one! She even got a special price for Happy Phantom because he had to catch the last train.
† Don’t be intimidated by the song-choosing gizmo. You can switch the language to English and search by artist or song.
† Turn on the mike, grab the tambourine, and let’s karaoke!
Now, what shall we sing? Pick a track that everyone knows, that isn’t too long, and has male/female vocal trade-offs. Here’s a list of recommended karaoke songs:
1980s: because we love the 80s, yes!
† Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
† Europe – The Final Countdown
† Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind
Don’t forget the New Romantics (seen above):
† Visage – Fade to Grey
† Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
† Culture Club – Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
Goth: for self-explanatory reasons
† The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry
† Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence
† Marilyn Manson + Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Cheesy: because one needs calcium in one’s diet (don’t ask)
† Army of Lovers – Crucified
† Dschinghis Khan – Moskau (make sure you do the dance!)
† Journey – Separate Ways (you better hit the last high note!)
† Disney songs
Japanese: everything’s in hiragana so if you suck at kanji like I do, you can still belt along
† Anime songs
† Malice Mizer, Moi dix Mois
What are your favorite karaoke songs? Add your suggestions in the comments and we’ll sing them next time.
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Song of the Day #174: Celine Dion – It’s All Coming Back To Me Now (an inside joke… we always sing this song while falling over in extreme heartbreak.)
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Ahh I would love to sing MALICE or MdM at karaoke in Japan…looks like you had fun! :)
Ahh I would love to sing MALICE or MdM at karaoke in Japan…looks like you had fun! :)
So much fun! Can’t go wrong with all-night karaoke with unlimited drinks! ;)
Haha most certainly!
back again?
anywho disney songs are great group ones.
ayumi, namio amuro, monkey majik, nostalgic hits from the 90s, YMCA, the konbini song, eenen by ulfuls, utada hikaru~
OMG, Boy George?! -YES!!!
Oh yeah, and my fave karaoke song is by Billy Idol- Rock the Cradle of Love!
lol I dont know why, but it looks like Maya could be your sister! Must be great to know people with connections!*wink wink*^_- n wateva's currently playing is totally mii fav.lol too many to choose just one!
have you seen the literal version of Total Eclipse ? Lots of LOLZ http://bit.ly/Kwhw9
† Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
† Europe – The Final Countdown
OMG!!!!! the ultimate karaoke songs XD
great post ^^
Brilliant! I was just listening to Billy Idol today. ^^
Aw, cute! I never noticed the similarity before. I'd love to have her as my sister!
So much fun! Can't go wrong with all-night karaoke with unlimited drinks! ;)
Gotta love synths and 80s…
Great suggestions! I don't think I know the konbini song… do you have a link?
Love all the 80s song you mentioned there. Too bad we can't find that kind of music today. Too much cRap music.
back again?
anywho disney songs are great group ones.
ayumi, namio amuro, monkey majik, nostalgic hits from the 90s, YMCA, the konbini song, eenen by ulfuls, utada hikaru~
Great suggestions! I don’t think I know the konbini song… do you have a link?
i don’t know who it’s by but here’s a video using the song:
http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHT4MgkP25s“
OMG, Boy George?! -YES!!!
Oh yeah, and my fave karaoke song is by Billy Idol- Rock the Cradle of Love!
Brilliant! I was just listening to Billy Idol today. ^^
lol I dont know why, but it looks like Maya could be your sister! Must be great to know people with connections!*wink wink*^_- n wateva’s currently playing is totally mii fav.lol too many to choose just one!
Aw, cute! I never noticed the similarity before. I’d love to have her as my sister!
have you seen the literal version of Total Eclipse ? Lots of LOLZ http://bit.ly/Kwhw9
† Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
† Europe – The Final Countdown
OMG!!!!! the ultimate karaoke songs XD
great post ^^
Gotta love synths and 80s…
Love all the 80s song you mentioned there. Too bad we can’t find that kind of music today. Too much cRap music.
I looooove Depeche Mode %D
I looooove Depeche Mode %D
i don't know who it's by but here's a video using the song:
http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.youtube.com/watc…
loved boy george….
loved boy george….
When I did kareoke in Japan, La Camisa Negra with Juanes and La Tortura with Shakira were among my favourites (honestly, they have Spanish songs, with katakana subs as well!!! Tengo, tengo la camisa negra…) Also “Oops! I did it again” and other songs that are about as cliché! FunfunfunFUN! ^_^
Haha most certainly!
When I did kareoke in Japan, La Camisa Negra with Juanes and La Tortura with Shakira were among my favourites (honestly, they have Spanish songs, with katakana subs as well!!! Tengo, tengo la camisa negra…) Also “Oops! I did it again” and other songs that are about as cliché! FunfunfunFUN! ^_^
I wonder what you all would sound like singing The Candy Spooky Theatre xD If they have 'em tracks. ^^
I wonder what you all would sound like singing The Candy Spooky Theatre xD If they have ’em tracks. ^^
I don't go karaoke cos i sound like a dog with throatache!, but, from your list, i will choose Visage or Cure. oh, and a new one: Alphaville 's “A victory of love”
Ooooh I like this, yes I do…
I don’t go karaoke cos i sound like a dog with throatache!, but, from your list, i will choose Visage or Cure. oh, and a new one: Alphaville ‘s “A victory of love”
Ooooh I like this, yes I do…
I don't go karaoke cos i sound like a dog with throatache!, but, from your list, i will choose Visage or Cure. oh, and a new one: Alphaville 's “A victory of love”
Ooooh I like this, yes I do…