Korean Job Discussion Forums

endofthewor1d · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Location: the end of the wor1d.

has anyone ever been to a noraebang in this country that had a better-than-average selection of english songs? every one i've ever been to has had the same tired selection. i went to one while i was stuck in japan for three weeks. it had songs by the talking heads, the pixies and a bunch of others. it was the first time i had ever been in such a place enthusiastically trying to decide which song i was going to sing next, rather than flipping through trying to figure out which song i least disliked.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Most noraebangs here in Korea have the same machines/software from a company called Kumyoung. They have their own internet site online and it's in English. Most mom & pop and even chain noraebangs run this system which means the song lists are pretty much standard.

I've seen expanded set lists in major districts - Jeongno, for example but it's hit and miss. This goes pretty much for any city. Sorry I can't remember the name of the noraebang in Jeongno I went to.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I sing random songs on the mic between songs to make up for the lack of variety.

sojourner1 · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 10:39 pm Post subject:

I went to one a few months ago and it had a couple hundred English songs in the program guide which was a selection that surprised me. I would guess it was a very expensive high end noraebang, because it looked like a high end corporate boardroom and was all decked out in marble, a long table, plush seats, lots of fancy lights, a wall sized LCD style of video screen, and a phenomenal sound system. Lots of great food was brought in too, but the beer quality lacked as it was just the plain silver label national brand. This particular noraebang costs 150,000 won an hour for a group of 20 having a birthday party. It was very awesome and had very impressive electronics installed.

I hadn't ever gone to other noraebangs since this is something you only do when invited in a group; not something you do by yourself or even a small group.

Is this a typical noraebang or this an exception that I described?

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

sojourner1 · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:21 am Post subject:

Oh, wow, so a small group or even a couple could reasonably afford there 3 to 6 hour party in an average noraebang, but the English selection severely lacks.

Yea, that noraebang was nice, when you walk in, it was sorta like entering a nice hotel and then we had our funnest time in Korea. I am betting that June night will have been my funnest and best night in all of one year in Korea.

Whether, you are going for upscale with a broad English menu or just an average cheap noraebang, the important thing is having fun with other English speaking people, even though they may only be temporary friends. I wish I had someone or a couple of people to go to dinner and party with tonight on this Saturday evening as it gets old not doing much or being where there are people I can speak to and relate with.

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

luxury noraebang (that's the name, i think) has where is my mind? by the pixies.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Noraebangs in Korea are hit or miss. I've gone to a few that had songs I never dreamed that one could have, and then you have others that have nice facilities and stuff, but a TERRIBLE selection. The places where many foreigners go to probably have a larger English-language song selection, but that's not always the case.

That said, the pop song list grows every month, and Assa and Kumyoung seem to be the heavy hitters. The problem is, a lot of times the lyrics are wrong or don't match in time to the music, so it's good to know how to sing the song without help from the TV screen. Heck, it's good practice should anyone want to compete in the U.S. reality shows about knowing song lyrics (I forget the names but one is hosted by ex-"Whose Line Is It Anyway" member Wayne Brady).