Sunday, February 18, 2007

Climb Every Mountain

Last night a crack team of operatives set out for reconnaissance around Châtelet. We had a list of 5 karaoke establishments and no idea if any of them were good. "At the end of this night," I promised, "we will be the Karaoke Experts of Paris."

Our first address was showing a football game. The second had transformed into a Japanese restaurant. The third was now Lebanese. The fourth had simply given up, and the fifth required an hour wait before its opening.

We settled in at a lesbian bar to wait for karaoke and the arrival of a support squadron. Second lieutentant Samantha had promised to bring in some "professionals." When they arrived, we mounted our attack upon the joint across the street.

L'Annexe revealed itself to be a sad little basement with a 12 euro cover charge. As Rhino observed, karaoke in Paris is considerably more elusive than a club échangiste.

Crushed, we retreated from the karaoke battlefield and set out on foot for a party near the Canal. We pillaged along the way, unleashing our pent up musical energies upon the sleeping residents of the Marais. After working our way through several not-so-golden oldies, we made a big finish with this bit of artistry from the Sound of Music:



As the Reverend Mother from that blessed musical once said to Maria, "Whenever God closes a door, he somewhere opens a window." Last night's mission was not a defeat. If we hadn't been turned away from FIVE supposed karaoke establishments, the Roaming Club Karaoke (RoCK!) would never have been born.

*Note: the videos featuring my voice and facial distortions will remain carefully guarded. But the many others featuring Rhino and Christina are available for free and upon request.

11 comments:

rhino75 said...

I think the full quotation is: "Whenever God closes a door, he somewhere opens a window - and then shuts it again very quickly because there qare some very loud people singing in the street!" Let's ROOOOOOOOOCCCKKKKKKKK!!

Anonymous said...

so sorry I missed it!! you will be relieved to know that roman catholicism is alive and well and thriving in burgundy... I verified.

Anonymous said...

Funny. Only you and one of my oldest friends still calls me Samantha... Sam baby! Sam!

That party was so for young twenty-something wannabe rockers but I remember having good laughs with friends I invited to crash and it was fun for that reason alone. And, what fun to meet real Romans!

Btw, Das Pop is playing this Friday at Le Baron, and Saturday at the Fleche D'Or.

Le Meg said...

Insubordiation! On the karaoke battlefield, Second Lieutenant Samantha, there are no nicknames. You will address me only as Captain Le Blagueur dot Blogspot.

Anonymous said...

Blognerd Meg, I am crossing the Rubicon. Arm thyself because I will come to bare my broken voice all over Total Eclipse of the Heart and then you will have to go back to calling me Nardac, which is already an appellation bestowed by state.

Anonymous said...

I once got asked to leave a karaoke bar. I was in the middle of performing some golden oldie by Cher. Now I come to think of it, perhaps it was my song choice and not my singing abilities afterall...

Unknown said...

lol Captain Le Blagueur dot Blogspot, can I come along too? My rendition of 'Roooxane' is known to cause animals to keel over half a mile away.

Anonymous said...

You were right, that Rhino can sing! Next time, I'm joining you too and we'll turn into the Scissor's Sisters

Anonymous said...

Hey... there's a good show on tonight at the Generale... it's the Crystal Castles. Their way cool and it'll be fun. I don't know if we can sing along to any of their lyrics but we can scream gibberish to the noise!

Anonymous said...

Oh, my sweet! How this brings back fond (or disturbing perhaps?) memories of you singing Sound of Music and me locking myself in the bathroom in an attempt to get away...so glad its still one of your favorites!!

Le Meg said...

Amy Brown, my college roommate! The friend with whom I spent 497 hours watching Cure videos!

That Sound of Music vinyl (instrumental version) was admittedly sadistic. You didn't deserve that. Or the maggots in the sink. Or the wine stains on the couch. Or...wait, why are you still friends with me?

:)