I am a big fan of the noraebang; those fantastic private rooms where you and your friends can rock out to your favorite songs, both K-pop and otherwise. In fact, I like them so much that I wrote an article last year on some of the classic K-pop songs that one must sing when visiting these fine singing establishments. If you're a lover of the oldies but goodies like I am, you always start off by singing the newer stuff but inevitably, the song numbers start getting shorter and shorter (older songs = fewer digits) as the night wears on.
Today's Way Back Wednesday will feature even more classic songs you have to sing. Also, last year's article included some do's and don'ts for noraebang beginners so this time, I'd thought I'd include a few tricks of the trade to make everyone's experience that much better.
Tricks of the Trade
Use the waiter button - Almost all noraebangs now have a button inside the room to call the waiters so there's no need to leave the room and track someone down to refill your bowl of peanuts and stale popcorn.
Pricing deals: Most noraebangs are located inside of some kind of restaurant/bar/lounge and they will have deals that if you order a certain amount of food or drink, they'll discount the price of the room or let you sing for a certain time for free. Do the math first, but normally you can eat, drink, and sing for a reasonable price.
Key Drop: The remote control at a noraebang can seem like it's from another dimension, especially if you can't read Korean. However, if there is one button on the remote you need to know, it's the one marked "??". That button, along with arrows up and down, will let you raise or drop the key of a song so that if it's too high, you can drop it a few notches and vice versa. Do your friends a favor and learn it, use it, love it.
DJ DOC - "Dance with DOC"
You'll find that the boys of DJ DOC have some of the best songs to sing at a noraebang but it's for a reason. This song will get everyone doing the classic grandmother/grandfather dance and singing about wearing shorts to work.
Sechskies - "Pom Sang Pom Sa"
Huge bonus points if you remember the dance to the first major hit from the six crystals.
Wax - "Please"
After a series of fast songs with everyone jumping around, you need a few slower ones to let everyone relax and none is better than this heartfelt ode to an ex-boyfriend's current girlfiend.
Koyote - "Innocent"
Koyote's first single was also their best... for the noraebang. High powered dance beats and Shinji's crazy vocals.
BoA - "Atlantis Princess"
This song is overlooked sometimes because BoA doesn't really perform it anymore (you can find the story about the passing of he manager and the association with this song) but it is a fun song to sing; tricky intro, but fun.
g.o.d - "Lie"
Some guy always has to do the part where the girl yells in the song, which was famously voiced by actress Jeon Ji Hyun.
Fly to the Sky - "Missing You"
This is my favorite song from the R&B duo and I have to admit, I've sang this on more than one occasion.
1TYM - "Hot"
One of the go-to jams for the noraebang aficionado, this classic song from 1TYM's fourth album is still fun to sing.
Kim Bum Soo - "I Miss You"
The magic potion of the male noraebang world, guys have been trying to seek it's power to impress girls for years and very few have been able to master its forces.
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