May 19, 2020 • 20 mins
Today's compilation episode is all about the podcast guests’ favourite songs to sing at KTV, the Chinese version of karaoke. Out of all the questions asked on Mosaic of China, this one elicited the biggest array of emotions: joy, pride, embarrassment and… sheer terror. There’s a reason why karaoke is so popular in China and other East Asian societies with a Confucian heritage: it’s an important catalyst for group social harmony. Unfortunately that doesn’t always guarantee group *vocal* harmony. But since no-one really cares about that… what would be *your* go-to song to sing at karaoke? Please contribute to the communities on WeChat, Instagram and Facebook. Chapters 00:00 - Trailer & Intro 00:44 - Main 18:56 - Outro Instagram: www.instagram.com/oscology Facebook: www.facebook.com/mosaicofchina WeChat: www.mosaicofchina.com/wechat
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
[Trailer]Angie WU: ‘Don't Cry for Me, Argentina’.
OF (00:04):
Oh you’re kidding! AW
I impress people. And I just need that onesong, then I'm done.
[Intro]OF: Welcome to Mosaic of China, a podcast
about people who are making their mark inChina. I'm your host Oscar FUCHS.
So this is the second special compilationepisode from Season 01. And this one contains
(00:26):
all 30 of the guests’ answers to the question“What is your goto song to sing at KTV?”
KTV being the shorthand name for karaoke inChina. I'll keep my intro short this time,
but I'll be back at the end of the episode,where I'll reveal a little extra surprise.
[Main][Voiceover]
Roz Coleman, the theatre producer from Episode 22.
(00:48):
[Clip]RC: KTV has completely changed the way that
I think about karaoke here. The American style- the Western style, let’s call it - is
to, like, take this microphone, get up, pranceabout like everybody's looking at you, like
you have to do some sort of performance, likeyou have to make it into some sort of big
deal or something. When actually you couldjust sit there, choose a load of songs, whoever's
(01:10):
the best one at singing it - or wants to singit - can sing that song, sit back, do the
song to a really high quality level, as ifyou're playing a game, and then pass the mic
to the next person. If you get bored, youdon’t have to finish the song. And so, one
of the things that we have a tendency to doat KTV is just to rush on in there, get everything
on order, and then choose all of the onesthat we know. And then somebody can just take
(01:30):
it, like, if they want to take it. I thinkthe time that I most ingratiated a room was
doing a duet with my mate, Ben, to BonnieTyler's ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’.
Oh, a classic. RC
But I'm really happy to like, again, justlet go of the experience and be, like, just
pick any ones we actually know the words to,and we'll all jump in.
(01:51):
[Voiceover]OF: Yang Yi, the broadcaster from Episode
21.[Clip]
YY (01:58):
OK, here's a song in Chinese called 最炫民族风 [Zuìxuàn mínzúfēng]. And It’s a miracle
song.OF: OK…
Well, this is not my favourite song, but I think it is my go-to song, you know, at
karaoke. Because it's a very good song forwarming up. And for me, I think entertaining
my friends is a very important thing for me.You know, sometimes when we go to KTV, the
(02:22):
first 20 minutes is very embarrassing, right?Someone is picking their own songs, someone
is ordering drinks and food, someone is chit-chatting.And no-one is focusing on singing. So this
song is, you know, a very good way for everyoneto pay attention to you.
OF (02:40):
Sabrina Chen, the dance programme curator from Episode 26.
[Clip]SC: Bohemian Rhapsody. One of the reasons
why I like this song very much is becauseit's similar to a musical. Because I used
to work in a musical company too.OF: Angie Wu, the jewellery craftsman from
(03:00):
Episode 18.[Clip]
AW (03:01):
So… ‘Don't Cry for Me, Argentina’. OF
I’m very good with that. OF
or at least one eighth Argentinian?AW: No but also because the song falls into
my voice range. And I can do that high pitchreally nicely. But usually after that song,
I cannot sing anymore. But I love it. Andalso people know I’m from Argentina, so
(03:25):
they love to hear me singing this song. That'show I impress people. And I just need that
one song, then I'm done.[Voiceover]
OF (03:34):
Jorge Luzio, the marketer for Sprite from Episode 05.
[Clip]JL: Surprisingly, it's a Chinese song,飞得更高
[Fēidé gèng gāo]. I don't know if youknow, but at most companies, in the first
year that you arrive, you need to performat the annual dinner. So I needed to perform,
and they said “What can you do?” And Isaid "Well, I think I like singing”. So
(03:56):
they said “Oh yeah, yeah, let’s put youto sing.” And I said “Oh my God, I need
to…” And then, I was on a business tripin 广州 [Guǎngzhōu], and I was listening
to this song. And I said “Oh this song isso beautiful”. And they told me what the
song was about, it was about overcoming problems.And we were having this super troublesome
(04:22):
project at that time. And so I said “Oh,this is so perfect”. So the song is about
that, ‘我要飞得更高 [Wǒ yào fēidegèng gāo].’
[Voiceover]OF: Stephane de Montgros, the events company
CEO from Episode 19.[Clip]
SDM (04:38):
I think the one song that I vaguely remember, is 对面的女孩看过来 ([Duìmiàn de
nǚhái kàn guòláii]. It brings me backto my first time in Asia, which was in 2000.
So I was doing Chinese over the summer, andthen I did an internship in Singapore. And
that song had just been released that summer.So it just brings me back to that kind of
(04:59):
like, being a baby, not understanding anything,trying to make sense of what was around me.
And obviously, I think the more you move forward,the more you know that you don't know anything.
[Voiceover]OF: Astrid Poghosyan, the violinist from Episode
04.[Clip]
AP (05:17):
People think that I have to sing really well. Because I'm a musician, I have perfect
pitch, and all my life is all about beingin tune. So when I'm in KTV, I'm trying to
sing as out of tune as possible. And I tryto go for those songs, the sad ones like Michael
Jackson, “You Are Not Alone”. And I'mtrying to do it in a super out-of-tune way,
(05:39):
and I really enjoy it. But I'm the only oneenjoying it, I believe.
[Voiceover]OF: Abe Deyo, the tour manager from Episode
27.[Clip]
AD (05:48):
S.H.E., Superstar. I’m not gonna sing any of it. Not on here. But that was my go-to.
OF (05:55):
And does it impress people? Or was it like “Oh god, he's bringing that one out
again.”AD: Oh it impressed. Because, well it’s
a Chinese song.OF: Yeah.
AD (06:02):
You know, a Taiwanese band. Yeah. OF
to learn.AD: It’s pretty easy.
OF (06:07):
It’s a pretty easy one? AD
every word. It's easy to fake a lot of it.OF: Oh is it?
AD (06:15):
And you get to the chorus, “She’s my superstar.”
[Voiceover]OF: Yael Farjun, the historical researcher
from Episode 12.[Clip]
YF (06:24):
‘Killing Me Softly’. That's the only song that I actually remember all the lyrics
to. And for some reason they have it in KTV.I try to avoid KTV, to be honest, as much
as I can. But if I do go, and I'm forced tosing, then this is the song that I probably
will choose.[Voiceover]
OF (06:42):
Michael Zee, the Instagram influencer from Episode 07.
[Clip]MZ: Oh, so I've actually never done KTV in
China. I've only ever done karaoke in Japan.My last memory of karaoke in Japan was this
(07:03):
enormous skyscraper that was like 10 floorsof rooms. And they had costumes, you could
pick a costume to wear whilst you sing. Andso I was a beer bottle, a giant beer bottle.
And Mark was wearing the Björk swan dress.And we were with a big group of people from
France. And I remember this French team, theywere like, "Oh, we're gonna be so good at
(07:28):
this”. And then when we actually got inthe room, they were really bad. And really
kind of like “Oh, you guys sing”. AndI remember putting on Nirvana. And they just
went wild. And I've got a video of them head-bangingto Nirvana, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.
Nini Sum, the artist from Episode 16. [Clip]
NS (07:52):
Linkin Park. Yeah, because I don't really go to KTV. The last time I went there was
maybe several years ago. And when I was inhigh school, Linkin Park was really popular.
So it was like me and some classmates, andthey are doing the rap parts, and I’m doing
the singing parts. It’s a long time ago.OF: I kind of want to see you do that now.
(08:16):
You're very softly spoken, but I can see thatyou have a punk side to you that would come
out pretty strong.NS: Yeah.
[Voiceover]OF: Emily Madge, the aquarium conservationist
from Episode 14.[Clip]
EM (08:29):
Um, so I'm not much of a singer at KTV. I'm usually the one sat down watching, drinking
the wine. But I would go ‘Hey, Jude’.OF: Oh.
If I had to. OF
Yeah, it gets everyone going. Everyone joins in with the “Laa, laa”s.
OF (08:45):
Really? EM
Yeah. EM
one.OF: Right, yeah. When you don't remember how
annoyed you are at the 10th “Laa, laa, laa…”EM: Yeah. And everyone's too drunk to remember
me singing.OF: That's actually a very good point, because
then everyone sings on top of you, and youcan just slide away and go back to the wine
in the corner.EM: Exactly.
Oh very good. EM
[Voiceover]OF: Noah Sheldon, the documentary filmmaker
(09:08):
from Episode 09.[Clip]
NS (09:09):
My favourite KTV song is, if you want get everyone going, you can always do Tiny
Dancer.OF: Very good.
I think that’s… OF
Everyone loves that. [Voiceover]
OF (09:22):
Greg Nance, the ultramarathon athlete from Episode 23.
[Clip]GN: Oh, Led Zeppelin's ‘When the Levee Breaks’.
It's a beautiful song. And it's fun to introduceit, because none of my Chinese friends have
heard that before. And so when available - it'snot always - but that's what I like. What's
always available, that I've been talked intoa number of times, and I've sort of had to
claim it as a result, is a lady named NatalieImbruglia sung ‘Torn', which is like a 1998
(09:46):
super pop hit or something. And colleaguesmake me sing that one when we go out, because
I do give a pretty good rendition. Thank you,Natalie.
Oh, wow. Well, of course I know that because I'm a Brit. And we were fed a diet of Australian
soaps. And she is an Australian soap star.GN: Oh, there we go, OK.
Which most Americans don't realise… GN
No. OF
(10:08):
Episode 06.[Clip]
GL (10:10):
I don't know if you know, there's an animation serial called 喜羊羊 [Xǐyángyáng], it’s
like happy sheep everywhere.OF: Oh, I have seen it, yeah.
Yeah, that's the song, every time I will sing that. It's like a kids song, singing
about cabbage and, like, vegetables and carrotsand everything. So I just love those lyrics.
it’s like “I'm singing about all the vegetablestogether, because I’m a sheep”.
(10:34):
[Voiceover]OF: Nick Yu, the playwright from Episode 13.
[Clip]NY: I went to KTV many many times with my
colleagues, with my friends. My voice is notthat good. But I have one song, it’s from
a movie. In Chinese, the name is 大实话[Dà Shíhuà]. That movie is about a member
(10:57):
of the Communist Party, 焦裕禄 [Jiāo Yùlù].He's real famous in China. He died in the
1950s. That story really touched lots of peoplefor many generations. But in that film they
have a song. That song is really difficult,but I love it.
(11:18):
[Voiceover]OF: Sebastien Denes, the inclusion advocate
from Episode 11.[Clip]
SD (11:25):
It's not a fancy one. It’s John Denver, ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’.
OF (11:30):
Oh the classic. SD
a lot of meaning. In the first years in China,it was a song that was referring to home in
France. And over the years, home is now here.[Voiceover]
Lissanthea Taylor, the pain expert from Episode 28.
(11:54):
[Clip]LT: November rain
No. LT
The whole nine minutes? LT
we have to start at the start.OF: Oh man.
Lexie Comstock, the cookie supplier from Episode 20.
[Clip]LC: OK, so my go-to is Alanis Morissette,
‘You Oughta Know’.OF: Oh.
LC (12:16):
It’s just a great one. But I'm gonna say the best move I've ever pulled at KTV
- and I love KTV, we actually haven't beentogether we should totally go.
OF (12:23):
Why has that not happened? LC
ever did was, I went to a KTV with peopleI wasn't that close with. And so at, like,
2am everyone's pretty drunk. Like, peopleare singing their intense songs. And at 2am,
I put on Enya’s ‘Only Time’. Like “Whocan say?” And it was so funny, because everyone
was like “Who is this girl? Like, what isshe singing?” And I was taking it really
(12:46):
seriously. And everyone's kind of drunk bythat point. So like, half the people didn't
remember, but the people who do were like“What is that?” So that was really fun.
[Voiceover]OF: Maple Zuo, the comedian from Episode 02.
[Clip]MZ: I love Adele, very deep voice and very
emotional…OF: Yeah but very hard to sing.
MZ (13:06):
I go to KTV always on my own. OF
So I can scream. I'm really bad at singing, but I like to scream “I can find someone
just like you”.[Voiceover]
OF (13:17):
Simon Manetti, the business leader from Episode 17.
[Clip]SM: Probably The Bee Gees. What is it… “You
can tell by the way I use my walk, I’m awoman’s man, no time…” What is it? What
is it?OF: Er… ‘Stayin' Alive’.
SM (13:33):
‘Stayin' Alive’! Sorry. I just screamed there, I just got so excited. So you can see,
it just comes out.OF: Wow.
Yeah, there you go. [Voiceover]
OF (13:42):
Vy Vu, the fitness community leader from Episode 08.
[Clip]VV: This is really embarrassing, but anything
by Mariah Carey. As soon as a song comes on,I'm just belting it.
This is a very adventurous and ambitious goal. And I believe you to be a very adventurous
and ambitious person. I think that speaksvolumes about you, that question.
VV (14:05):
Oh gosh. Don't invite me to KTV. [Voiceover]
OF (14:09):
Octo Cheung, the fashion designer from Episode 30.
[Clip]OC: I think most Hong Kong people like Eason
Chan. We can find lots of Hong Kong culturein the lyrics. So the one I love is called
歲月如歌 [Sui Yuet Yue Goh].[Voiceover]
(14:30):
Sanford Browne, the biochemist from Episode 29.
[Clip]SB: If I had any ability to sing, I would
not be working in Research and Innovation,I would be a lounge singer, because that is
my desire in life. But sometimes you're givengifts, and that is not a gift at all that
I have, in any way shape or form. That said,if there was one song… An older one, 小苹果
(14:55):
[Xiǎo Píngguǒ], “Small apple”. It'sa few years old. It was a dance song here.
And well, you have to see the video as well.[Voiceover]
Philippe Gas, the Disney resort CEO from Episode 01.
[Clip]PG: I cannot do anything but think about Beauty
and the Beast. I've been very involved inthe new Broadway show that we have here, Shanghai
(15:17):
Disney Resort, Beauty and the Beast. And Ihave spent so much time both in New York and
here with the team working on that so it sticksto my mind right now, I would say. Beauty
and the Beast.[Voiceover]
Lori Li, the private club GM from Episode 10.
[Clip]LL: I think… Because sometimes I go with
(15:37):
Chinese friends, sometimes I go with Westernfriends, I'd have to pick a song, which both
groups can understand. So I will pick ‘YesterdayOnce More’. So everyone can sing together.
And it used to be a very sad song. But when10 people sing it together, it’s very joyful.
(16:01):
[Voiceover]OF: Eric Olander, the journalist from Episode
03.[Clip]
EO (16:06):
This is quite revealing. I've spent a significant chunk of my adult life in Asia
- Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, China - I don'tdo KTV. I don't do it for the betterment of
society, and I don't do it because you don'twant to hear me sing.
OF (16:23):
Oh, but I do. EO
could do, you know, like, shower singing like.oh god, your whole character will be judged
on how hip you are, on what song you sing,you know. I… I'll say American Pie. “My,
(16:43):
my, Miss American Pie."OF: Eric, it's beautiful, what’s wrong with
you?EO: I mean, I'll be on that front line podcasting,
but not singing.[Voiceover]
Gigi Chang, the translator from Episode 24.
[Clip]GC: I don’t, really. I mean, either some
sort of 80s Hong Kong TV theme song. Or I’lltry very miserably and impossibly to sing
(17:11):
this Chinese band called ‘New Pants’,新裤子 [Xīnkùzi]. But yeah, it’s impossible.
I’m very bad at karaoke.[Voiceover]
Tom Barker, the diplomat from Episode 25.
[Clip]TB: I have done 노래방 [Noraebang], which
is the Korean version of KTV. I sing in theway that a diplomatic personality should,
(17:33):
so dogs howl and screech in the distance.So I try not to do it very often. But my song
of choice is Psy’s ‘Champion’, whichis a song he did, I think in 2004 or 2005,
right before he got banned from Korean mediafor smoking marijuana.
Well, you're certainly burnishing your Korean credentials right there. Which is funny,
(17:53):
since we're not in Korea, actually, Tom.TB: No well I need to find a good Chinese
song.[Voiceover]
Srinivas Yanamandra, the compliance leader from Episode 15.
[Clip]SY: I think people will ban me if I go to
KTV, and start singing. So don't venture intothat.
Do you sing at all? Like, when you're whistling down the street, or..?
SY (18:15):
No, when I started in fact, I didn't do much karaoke. But I happened to do karaoke
a couple of months ago. And people startedthinking that the machine got corrupt, because
they said “When we started doing the karaokea few weeks before, it was working fine”.
And when I started singing, they said “Whyis this voice not getting picked up?” And
they all got surprised as to why this is happening.Then they understood that it is not a problem
(18:40):
with the machine. So they let the individualgo out of that room.
OF (18:44):
I'm trying to link this back to what you said before about machines harassing people.
And people…SY: Maybe it is ‘people harassing machines’.
[Outro]OF: Well, that was fun. I hope you enjoyed
that compilation as much as I enjoyed puttingit together. And you may have already heard
me talk about this elsewhere, but I actuallymade a special version of this episode. That
(19:09):
version includes excerpts of the music thateach of the guests mentioned. And I'm really
happy with the way it turned out, actually,it's a lot of fun listening to the music as
the guests are talking about it. Sadly, Icouldn't publish that version publicly because
of copyright issues. But if you'd like tohear it, then you certainly can. Please get
in touch with me on social media, and I'llshare it with you privately. You can message
(19:32):
me through Instagram on the handle @mosaicofchina_and Facebook on the handle @mosaicofchina,
or send me a note on WeChat. To connect withme there, just find me on my ID: mosaicofchina.
And when you receive it, please don't passit to anyone else. It hasn't been designed
for that. It should just be seen as a personalgift from me to you.
(19:52):
The next compilation episode will be releasedin two weeks; time and it'll be an anthology
of the things that still surprised the guestsabout life in China. See you then.
[Clips]PG: Thank you very much.
MZ (20:05):
Thank you. EO
AP (20:06):
Thank you too. JL
GL (20:08):
Thank you. MZ
VV (20:09):
Thank you so much. NS
LL (20:11):
My pleasure too. SD
YF (20:13):
Thank you. NY
EM (20:15):
Thank you. SY
NS (20:17):
Thank you for having me. SM
AW (20:19):
Thank you. SDM
LC (20:20):
Thanks for having me. YY
RC (20:22):
Thank you so much for having me. GN
GC (20:25):
Thank you TB
SC (20:26):
Thank you. AD
LT (20:27):
Thank you so much. SB
OC (20:29):
Thank you.
[Trailer]Angie WU: ‘Don't Cry for Me, Argentina’.
OF (00:04):
Oh you’re kidding! AW
I impress people. And I just need that onesong, then I'm done.
[Intro]OF: Welcome to Mosaic of China, a podcast
about people who are making their mark inChina. I'm your host Oscar FUCHS.
So this is the second special compilationepisode from Season 01. And this one contains
(00:26):
all 30 of the guests’ answers to the question“What is your goto song to sing at KTV?”
KTV being the shorthand name for karaoke inChina. I'll keep my intro short this time,
but I'll be back at the end of the episode,where I'll reveal a little extra surprise.
[Main][Voiceover]
Roz Coleman, the theatre producer from Episode 22.
(00:48):
[Clip]RC: KTV has completely changed the way that
I think about karaoke here. The American style- the Western style, let’s call it - is
to, like, take this microphone, get up, pranceabout like everybody's looking at you, like
you have to do some sort of performance, likeyou have to make it into some sort of big
deal or something. When actually you couldjust sit there, choose a load of songs, whoever's
(01:10):
the best one at singing it - or wants to singit - can sing that song, sit back, do the
song to a really high quality level, as ifyou're playing a game, and then pass the mic
to the next person. If you get bored, youdon’t have to finish the song. And so, one
of the things that we have a tendency to doat KTV is just to rush on in there, get everything
on order, and then choose all of the onesthat we know. And then somebody can just take
(01:30):
it, like, if they want to take it. I thinkthe time that I most ingratiated a room was
doing a duet with my mate, Ben, to BonnieTyler's ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’.
Oh, a classic. RC
But I'm really happy to like, again, justlet go of the experience and be, like, just
pick any ones we actually know the words to,and we'll all jump in.
(01:51):
[Voiceover]OF: Yang Yi, the broadcaster from Episode
21.[Clip]
YY (01:58):
OK, here's a song in Chinese called 最炫民族风 [Zuìxuàn mínzúfēng]. And It’s a miracle
song.OF: OK…
Well, this is not my favourite song, but I think it is my go-to song, you know, at
karaoke. Because it's a very good song forwarming up. And for me, I think entertaining
my friends is a very important thing for me.You know, sometimes when we go to KTV, the
(02:22):
first 20 minutes is very embarrassing, right?Someone is picking their own songs, someone
is ordering drinks and food, someone is chit-chatting.And no-one is focusing on singing. So this
song is, you know, a very good way for everyoneto pay attention to you.
OF (02:40):
Sabrina Chen, the dance programme curator from Episode 26.
[Clip]SC: Bohemian Rhapsody. One of the reasons
why I like this song very much is becauseit's similar to a musical. Because I used
to work in a musical company too.OF: Angie Wu, the jewellery craftsman from
(03:00):
Episode 18.[Clip]
AW (03:01):
So… ‘Don't Cry for Me, Argentina’. OF
I’m very good with that. OF
or at least one eighth Argentinian?AW: No but also because the song falls into
my voice range. And I can do that high pitchreally nicely. But usually after that song,
I cannot sing anymore. But I love it. Andalso people know I’m from Argentina, so
(03:25):
they love to hear me singing this song. That'show I impress people. And I just need that
one song, then I'm done.[Voiceover]
OF (03:34):
Jorge Luzio, the marketer for Sprite from Episode 05.
[Clip]JL: Surprisingly, it's a Chinese song,飞得更高
[Fēidé gèng gāo]. I don't know if youknow, but at most companies, in the first
year that you arrive, you need to performat the annual dinner. So I needed to perform,
and they said “What can you do?” And Isaid "Well, I think I like singing”. So
(03:56):
they said “Oh yeah, yeah, let’s put youto sing.” And I said “Oh my God, I need
to…” And then, I was on a business tripin 广州 [Guǎngzhōu], and I was listening
to this song. And I said “Oh this song isso beautiful”. And they told me what the
song was about, it was about overcoming problems.And we were having this super troublesome
(04:22):
project at that time. And so I said “Oh,this is so perfect”. So the song is about
that, ‘我要飞得更高 [Wǒ yào fēidegèng gāo].’
[Voiceover]OF: Stephane de Montgros, the events company
CEO from Episode 19.[Clip]
SDM (04:38):
I think the one song that I vaguely remember, is 对面的女孩看过来 ([Duìmiàn de
nǚhái kàn guòláii]. It brings me backto my first time in Asia, which was in 2000.
So I was doing Chinese over the summer, andthen I did an internship in Singapore. And
that song had just been released that summer.So it just brings me back to that kind of
(04:59):
like, being a baby, not understanding anything,trying to make sense of what was around me.
And obviously, I think the more you move forward,the more you know that you don't know anything.
[Voiceover]OF: Astrid Poghosyan, the violinist from Episode
04.[Clip]
AP (05:17):
People think that I have to sing really well. Because I'm a musician, I have perfect
pitch, and all my life is all about beingin tune. So when I'm in KTV, I'm trying to
sing as out of tune as possible. And I tryto go for those songs, the sad ones like Michael
Jackson, “You Are Not Alone”. And I'mtrying to do it in a super out-of-tune way,
(05:39):
and I really enjoy it. But I'm the only oneenjoying it, I believe.
[Voiceover]OF: Abe Deyo, the tour manager from Episode
27.[Clip]
AD (05:48):
S.H.E., Superstar. I’m not gonna sing any of it. Not on here. But that was my go-to.
OF (05:55):
And does it impress people? Or was it like “Oh god, he's bringing that one out
again.”AD: Oh it impressed. Because, well it’s
a Chinese song.OF: Yeah.
AD (06:02):
You know, a Taiwanese band. Yeah. OF
to learn.AD: It’s pretty easy.
OF (06:07):
It’s a pretty easy one? AD
every word. It's easy to fake a lot of it.OF: Oh is it?
AD (06:15):
And you get to the chorus, “She’s my superstar.”
[Voiceover]OF: Yael Farjun, the historical researcher
from Episode 12.[Clip]
YF (06:24):
‘Killing Me Softly’. That's the only song that I actually remember all the lyrics
to. And for some reason they have it in KTV.I try to avoid KTV, to be honest, as much
as I can. But if I do go, and I'm forced tosing, then this is the song that I probably
will choose.[Voiceover]
OF (06:42):
Michael Zee, the Instagram influencer from Episode 07.
[Clip]MZ: Oh, so I've actually never done KTV in
China. I've only ever done karaoke in Japan.My last memory of karaoke in Japan was this
(07:03):
enormous skyscraper that was like 10 floorsof rooms. And they had costumes, you could
pick a costume to wear whilst you sing. Andso I was a beer bottle, a giant beer bottle.
And Mark was wearing the Björk swan dress.And we were with a big group of people from
France. And I remember this French team, theywere like, "Oh, we're gonna be so good at
(07:28):
this”. And then when we actually got inthe room, they were really bad. And really
kind of like “Oh, you guys sing”. AndI remember putting on Nirvana. And they just
went wild. And I've got a video of them head-bangingto Nirvana, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.
Nini Sum, the artist from Episode 16. [Clip]
NS (07:52):
Linkin Park. Yeah, because I don't really go to KTV. The last time I went there was
maybe several years ago. And when I was inhigh school, Linkin Park was really popular.
So it was like me and some classmates, andthey are doing the rap parts, and I’m doing
the singing parts. It’s a long time ago.OF: I kind of want to see you do that now.
(08:16):
You're very softly spoken, but I can see thatyou have a punk side to you that would come
out pretty strong.NS: Yeah.
[Voiceover]OF: Emily Madge, the aquarium conservationist
from Episode 14.[Clip]
EM (08:29):
Um, so I'm not much of a singer at KTV. I'm usually the one sat down watching, drinking
the wine. But I would go ‘Hey, Jude’.OF: Oh.
If I had to. OF
Yeah, it gets everyone going. Everyone joins in with the “Laa, laa”s.
OF (08:45):
Really? EM
Yeah. EM
one.OF: Right, yeah. When you don't remember how
annoyed you are at the 10th “Laa, laa, laa…”EM: Yeah. And everyone's too drunk to remember
me singing.OF: That's actually a very good point, because
then everyone sings on top of you, and youcan just slide away and go back to the wine
in the corner.EM: Exactly.
Oh very good. EM
[Voiceover]OF: Noah Sheldon, the documentary filmmaker
(09:08):
from Episode 09.[Clip]
NS (09:09):
My favourite KTV song is, if you want get everyone going, you can always do Tiny
Dancer.OF: Very good.
I think that’s… OF
Everyone loves that. [Voiceover]
OF (09:22):
Greg Nance, the ultramarathon athlete from Episode 23.
[Clip]GN: Oh, Led Zeppelin's ‘When the Levee Breaks’.
It's a beautiful song. And it's fun to introduceit, because none of my Chinese friends have
heard that before. And so when available - it'snot always - but that's what I like. What's
always available, that I've been talked intoa number of times, and I've sort of had to
claim it as a result, is a lady named NatalieImbruglia sung ‘Torn', which is like a 1998
(09:46):
super pop hit or something. And colleaguesmake me sing that one when we go out, because
I do give a pretty good rendition. Thank you,Natalie.
Oh, wow. Well, of course I know that because I'm a Brit. And we were fed a diet of Australian
soaps. And she is an Australian soap star.GN: Oh, there we go, OK.
Which most Americans don't realise… GN
No. OF
(10:08):
Episode 06.[Clip]
GL (10:10):
I don't know if you know, there's an animation serial called 喜羊羊 [Xǐyángyáng], it’s
like happy sheep everywhere.OF: Oh, I have seen it, yeah.
Yeah, that's the song, every time I will sing that. It's like a kids song, singing
about cabbage and, like, vegetables and carrotsand everything. So I just love those lyrics.
it’s like “I'm singing about all the vegetablestogether, because I’m a sheep”.
(10:34):
[Voiceover]OF: Nick Yu, the playwright from Episode 13.
[Clip]NY: I went to KTV many many times with my
colleagues, with my friends. My voice is notthat good. But I have one song, it’s from
a movie. In Chinese, the name is 大实话[Dà Shíhuà]. That movie is about a member
(10:57):
of the Communist Party, 焦裕禄 [Jiāo Yùlù].He's real famous in China. He died in the
1950s. That story really touched lots of peoplefor many generations. But in that film they
have a song. That song is really difficult,but I love it.
(11:18):
[Voiceover]OF: Sebastien Denes, the inclusion advocate
from Episode 11.[Clip]
SD (11:25):
It's not a fancy one. It’s John Denver, ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’.
OF (11:30):
Oh the classic. SD
a lot of meaning. In the first years in China,it was a song that was referring to home in
France. And over the years, home is now here.[Voiceover]
Lissanthea Taylor, the pain expert from Episode 28.
(11:54):
[Clip]LT: November rain
No. LT
The whole nine minutes? LT
we have to start at the start.OF: Oh man.
Lexie Comstock, the cookie supplier from Episode 20.
[Clip]LC: OK, so my go-to is Alanis Morissette,
‘You Oughta Know’.OF: Oh.
LC (12:16):
It’s just a great one. But I'm gonna say the best move I've ever pulled at KTV
- and I love KTV, we actually haven't beentogether we should totally go.
OF (12:23):
Why has that not happened? LC
ever did was, I went to a KTV with peopleI wasn't that close with. And so at, like,
2am everyone's pretty drunk. Like, peopleare singing their intense songs. And at 2am,
I put on Enya’s ‘Only Time’. Like “Whocan say?” And it was so funny, because everyone
was like “Who is this girl? Like, what isshe singing?” And I was taking it really
(12:46):
seriously. And everyone's kind of drunk bythat point. So like, half the people didn't
remember, but the people who do were like“What is that?” So that was really fun.
[Voiceover]OF: Maple Zuo, the comedian from Episode 02.
[Clip]MZ: I love Adele, very deep voice and very
emotional…OF: Yeah but very hard to sing.
MZ (13:06):
I go to KTV always on my own. OF
So I can scream. I'm really bad at singing, but I like to scream “I can find someone
just like you”.[Voiceover]
OF (13:17):
Simon Manetti, the business leader from Episode 17.
[Clip]SM: Probably The Bee Gees. What is it… “You
can tell by the way I use my walk, I’m awoman’s man, no time…” What is it? What
is it?OF: Er… ‘Stayin' Alive’.
SM (13:33):
‘Stayin' Alive’! Sorry. I just screamed there, I just got so excited. So you can see,
it just comes out.OF: Wow.
Yeah, there you go. [Voiceover]
OF (13:42):
Vy Vu, the fitness community leader from Episode 08.
[Clip]VV: This is really embarrassing, but anything
by Mariah Carey. As soon as a song comes on,I'm just belting it.
This is a very adventurous and ambitious goal. And I believe you to be a very adventurous
and ambitious person. I think that speaksvolumes about you, that question.
VV (14:05):
Oh gosh. Don't invite me to KTV. [Voiceover]
OF (14:09):
Octo Cheung, the fashion designer from Episode 30.
[Clip]OC: I think most Hong Kong people like Eason
Chan. We can find lots of Hong Kong culturein the lyrics. So the one I love is called
歲月如歌 [Sui Yuet Yue Goh].[Voiceover]
(14:30):
Sanford Browne, the biochemist from Episode 29.
[Clip]SB: If I had any ability to sing, I would
not be working in Research and Innovation,I would be a lounge singer, because that is
my desire in life. But sometimes you're givengifts, and that is not a gift at all that
I have, in any way shape or form. That said,if there was one song… An older one, 小苹果
(14:55):
[Xiǎo Píngguǒ], “Small apple”. It'sa few years old. It was a dance song here.
And well, you have to see the video as well.[Voiceover]
Philippe Gas, the Disney resort CEO from Episode 01.
[Clip]PG: I cannot do anything but think about Beauty
and the Beast. I've been very involved inthe new Broadway show that we have here, Shanghai
(15:17):
Disney Resort, Beauty and the Beast. And Ihave spent so much time both in New York and
here with the team working on that so it sticksto my mind right now, I would say. Beauty
and the Beast.[Voiceover]
Lori Li, the private club GM from Episode 10.
[Clip]LL: I think… Because sometimes I go with
(15:37):
Chinese friends, sometimes I go with Westernfriends, I'd have to pick a song, which both
groups can understand. So I will pick ‘YesterdayOnce More’. So everyone can sing together.
And it used to be a very sad song. But when10 people sing it together, it’s very joyful.
(16:01):
[Voiceover]OF: Eric Olander, the journalist from Episode
03.[Clip]
EO (16:06):
This is quite revealing. I've spent a significant chunk of my adult life in Asia
- Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, China - I don'tdo KTV. I don't do it for the betterment of
society, and I don't do it because you don'twant to hear me sing.
OF (16:23):
Oh, but I do. EO
could do, you know, like, shower singing like.oh god, your whole character will be judged
on how hip you are, on what song you sing,you know. I… I'll say American Pie. “My,
(16:43):
my, Miss American Pie."OF: Eric, it's beautiful, what’s wrong with
you?EO: I mean, I'll be on that front line podcasting,
but not singing.[Voiceover]
Gigi Chang, the translator from Episode 24.
[Clip]GC: I don’t, really. I mean, either some
sort of 80s Hong Kong TV theme song. Or I’lltry very miserably and impossibly to sing
(17:11):
this Chinese band called ‘New Pants’,新裤子 [Xīnkùzi]. But yeah, it’s impossible.
I’m very bad at karaoke.[Voiceover]
Tom Barker, the diplomat from Episode 25.
[Clip]TB: I have done 노래방 [Noraebang], which
is the Korean version of KTV. I sing in theway that a diplomatic personality should,
(17:33):
so dogs howl and screech in the distance.So I try not to do it very often. But my song
of choice is Psy’s ‘Champion’, whichis a song he did, I think in 2004 or 2005,
right before he got banned from Korean mediafor smoking marijuana.
Well, you're certainly burnishing your Korean credentials right there. Which is funny,
(17:53):
since we're not in Korea, actually, Tom.TB: No well I need to find a good Chinese
song.[Voiceover]
Srinivas Yanamandra, the compliance leader from Episode 15.
[Clip]SY: I think people will ban me if I go to
KTV, and start singing. So don't venture intothat.
Do you sing at all? Like, when you're whistling down the street, or..?
SY (18:15):
No, when I started in fact, I didn't do much karaoke. But I happened to do karaoke
a couple of months ago. And people startedthinking that the machine got corrupt, because
they said “When we started doing the karaokea few weeks before, it was working fine”.
And when I started singing, they said “Whyis this voice not getting picked up?” And
they all got surprised as to why this is happening.Then they understood that it is not a problem
(18:40):
with the machine. So they let the individualgo out of that room.
OF (18:44):
I'm trying to link this back to what you said before about machines harassing people.
And people…SY: Maybe it is ‘people harassing machines’.
[Outro]OF: Well, that was fun. I hope you enjoyed
that compilation as much as I enjoyed puttingit together. And you may have already heard
me talk about this elsewhere, but I actuallymade a special version of this episode. That
(19:09):
version includes excerpts of the music thateach of the guests mentioned. And I'm really
happy with the way it turned out, actually,it's a lot of fun listening to the music as
the guests are talking about it. Sadly, Icouldn't publish that version publicly because
of copyright issues. But if you'd like tohear it, then you certainly can. Please get
in touch with me on social media, and I'llshare it with you privately. You can message
(19:32):
me through Instagram on the handle @mosaicofchina_and Facebook on the handle @mosaicofchina,
or send me a note on WeChat. To connect withme there, just find me on my ID: mosaicofchina.
And when you receive it, please don't passit to anyone else. It hasn't been designed
for that. It should just be seen as a personalgift from me to you.
(19:52):
The next compilation episode will be releasedin two weeks; time and it'll be an anthology
of the things that still surprised the guestsabout life in China. See you then.
[Clips]PG: Thank you very much.
MZ (20:05):
Thank you. EO
AP (20:06):
Thank you too. JL
GL (20:08):
Thank you. MZ
VV (20:09):
Thank you so much. NS
LL (20:11):
My pleasure too. SD
YF (20:13):
Thank you. NY
EM (20:15):
Thank you. SY
NS (20:17):
Thank you for having me. SM
AW (20:19):
Thank you. SDM
LC (20:20):
Thanks for having me. YY
RC (20:22):
Thank you so much for having me. GN
GC (20:25):
Thank you TB
SC (20:26):
Thank you. AD
LT (20:27):
Thank you so much. SB
OC (20:29):
Thank you.
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