ATTITUDES are changing towards karaoke lounges as they shrug off a negative image and become increasingly popular venues for friends or colleagues to relax, unwind … and try to emulate their favourite singers.

For young people especially, karaoke lounges are regarded as places where they can forget their cares and have fun.

For radiographer Ma Ei Ei Kyaw, 23, all it took was one evening in a karaoke lounge with friends to convince her that her perceptions were wrong.

She had regarded karaoke lounges as unsuitable for a woman of her age.

“It was quite different to what I had expected,” recalled Ma Ei Ei Kyaw. “The karaoke machines are the latest available, not like those that people have at home. We sang along on a good sound system; it was pretty cool,” she said.

Although not a regular at karaoke lounges, she looks forward to occasional visits to help friends celebrate their birthdays or to relax with colleagues.
Ma Ei Ei Kyaw said the popularity of South Korean soap operas had contributed to the popularity – and acceptance – of karaoke.

“When we watch South Korean soaps, the performers usually go to karaoke lounges with friends or colleagues when they feel happy or sad,” she said.
“Watching these soaps has helped us to understand why people go to karaoke lounges and sing their voices out.”

However, Ma Ei Ei Kyaw said she would never go to a karaoke lounge on her own or with just one friend.

“There’s usually at least seven of us, otherwise we don’t go,” she said.
The changing attitudes towards karaoke lounges as places offering wholesome entertainment has corresponded with a gradual increase in customers during the past two years.

U Kyaw Khaing Swe, 35, the manager of the M3 karaoke lounge, said there had been a sharp increase in the number of younger customers during the last two years. When the lounges first began opening, most customers were middle aged.

Weekends are busy, with the number of customers usually double that of weekdays, he said, adding that many young women come in during the day and in the evening.

“I estimate that 60 percent of my customers are young women,” U Kyaw Khaing Swe said.

M3 karaoke lounge, in the M3 Food Centre on Shwegondine (West) Road, opened in 2003. It operates between 10am and 11pm and has 22 rooms which can each accommodate 25 people. It offers Myanmar, English and Chinese songs, with the cost of an hour-long selection starting at K4000, depending on the standard of the room.

U Kyaw Khaing Swe said there were difficulties with karaoke machines when the lounge opened. But they were overcome by providing high-quality karaoke machines.

He said business was booming because of changed attitudes and the sheer pleasure that many customers derive from singing with friends.

He said the more positive attitudes towards karaoke lounges was demonstrated by the fact that many parents visit them with their children.

Ko Nyan Linn, 27, the supervisor of Fun Karaoke at the Mya Kyun Tha Amusement Park on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, said most of its customers were aged between 18 and 25.

“Some are students, some are company staff, and an increasing number are young women,” he said.

“Seven years ago there were virtually no young women singing at Fun,” Ko Nyan Linn said, adding that the percentage of young women customers had risen since 2002 from 10 percent to about 40pc.

He said one reason why the number of women customers was increasing at many karaoke lounges was because of efforts to ensure their security.
Ko Zaw Win Htun, 21, has a good reason for using karaoke lounges – he can sing as loud as he likes.

“I like rock music and maybe it’s a bit noisy for some people. I have more freedom at a karaoke lounge than at home,” he said.

“We don’t need to think about noise pollution. We can sing loudly and even dance at some rooms in karaoke lounges. And it’s fun to sing together with a group of friends,” said Ko Zaw Win Htun, who visits karaoke lounges about twice a month to release stress.

Ma Nant Kay Zar Moe, 22, a tutor whose hobby is singing, says she likes to visit karaoke lounges because she hates singing alone at home.

“I usually relax with at least two songs. I feel happy singing with high-quality machines and I love the feeling of singing with friends and colleagues without restraint. I have complete peace of mind after singing” she said.

Ma Nant Kay Zar Moe said her parents have no objections to her visiting karaoke lounges.

“My parents understand the generation gap. And they don’t worry about my safety because I always go to karaoke lounges with friends or colleagues,” she said.