Karaoke Queen

When I move to a new country, I always pick a karaoke song in the local language to learn. That way on a night out, I can make friends and impress strangers.

In Thailand I used to sing “สบาย สบาย (Sabai Sabai)” by Bird Thongchai. It was a hit back in the day so everybody knows the words--even in neighboring countries like Laos. Plus, not many foreigners know it. Most foreigners only sing "ดู เธอ ทำ" (Du Ter Tum) the backpacker anthem.

Is music a good tool for language learning? Sure, it's good for contextual vocabulary and correct pronunciation, but I don't do it for educational reasons. To be perfectly honest I do it for the reaction. People freak out when they see a foreigner singing in their language. It's like a talking dog.

Once in Kanchanaburi, Stacy and I queued up Sabai Sabai at a riverside restaurant. About 100 Thai teachers were having their staff retreat at the hotel. After we started the song, they rushed the stage,  screaming. A bunch of older ladies shoved whisky sodas in our hands and a long night of Thai dance lessons began. The magic of an "in".

Today I found a song I will eventually be able to sing in Czech. It's by a band called "Three Sisters" and its basically "99 Red Balloons" by Nena so I know the melody. Now all I need to figure out is where (and if) Czech people do karaoke.

UPDATE: After nearly 3 years of living in Prague, I had to accept that Czech people don't really do karaoke. I found one place called K*Star Karaoke in Vinohrady near I.P. Pavolva that has rooms, but it was a one-time deal with friends from soccer. I know there is karaoke at Berlin Bar but it's mostly tourists on holiday. Finally I tried a karaoke bar called Ground Zero in Žižkov with friends one night. The song list was controlled by a Russian staffer who sang every other song and didn't allow anyone from our group to sing songs in English or Czech. Lesson learned. Karaoke is not a thing here.

Tri Sestry – Dederon (tune of "99 Red Balloons")

Čas je díra čas je bič Lepší kdyby vůbec nebyl Nejednou chceš svůj balon Ztracenej je v dětství nebi A letí dál a stoupá výš Letí proudem roků zpátky To jen čas trh oponou Věci mizí - kde už jsou Nejednou chci svůj balón Zpuchřelá a prasklá duše Jistě řeknu - to je on Poznám ho měl jsem ho rád Každa další známá věc Kaugummi a pflege dusche Drážďany a schone schuhe A zde Simson Motorrad Mý gumoví indiáni Z ulice unter den Linden Později jsem se tam zpil Zrovna když byl feuer werk Tmavý pivo se sirupem řízek v sósu s knedlíkem cigára Káro byly fajn Jedno jak se změnil svět já chci zpátky svůj balón já chci zpátky svůj balón já chci zpátky svůj balón Nejednou chceš svůj balon ztracenej je v dětsví nebi Všechny věci cos měl rád na tebe tam tiše čekaj Až se tvůj čas naplní letíš proudem roků zpátky Někde najdeš svůj balón nech ho zatím - ať si lítá

Time is a hole Time is a whip Better if he was not You want your balloon Lost in the childhood of heaven And he flies on and rises higher It's flowing back many years It's only time the market opens Things disappear - where they are I want my balloon Sweet and cracked soul Sure I say - that's him I know I liked him Any other known thing Kaugummi and dusk Dresden and schone schuhe And here Simson Motorrad My rubber Indians From the street unter den Linden Later, I drank there Just when he was a feuer werk Dark beer with syrup slices in dumplings with dumplings cigar Kara were fine One way the world has changed, I want my balloon back I want my balloon back I want my balloon back You want your balloon lost in the heavenly sky All the things you liked to wait quietly there When your time is full, you're flying back over the years Somewhere you will find your balloon let it go - let it fly

Do you know any songs I should learn? What's your favorite song in another language? Does it help you make friends?