If you’re from Boston you either recognize that sign or in the least, feel a sense of familiarity, but don’t know why. I felt the same way when the idea of taking a trip here was first introduced to me. “There’s a karaoke bar on Cambridge Street?” I thought. But when I got there it was like I had an epiphany. Upon arriving at what I had driven by about a million times thinking – I wonder what that retro place next to that shady gas station is like and then letting the notion slip from my mind – I realized I had hit a milestone. I would finally find out what was behind the doors of the infamous landmark that is Do Re Mi Karaoke in Allston Rock City. Let me explain…
This week my friend Kim emailed my friends and I to remind us of what we all did for Saint Patrick’s Day last year - dinner at Corrib Pub in Brighton; drinks at the Green Briar – and then she asked us if we wanted to relive that tradition. Her email reminded me that though I was meant to meet my friends that night, I actually never made it.
I had gone to dinner downtown with clients from Japan to celebrate a campaign that had just come to a close. After dinner my clients were asking us if we knew of any good karaoke places in Boston. Having seen Lost In Translation I guessed that their vision of karaoke was much different than singing on a stage at a bar in front of a bunch of drunk people adorned in green shamrocks. So I told them that while there may have been one or two places in Boston that had what they were looking for, I had no idea where they were. One of my clients replied, “don’t worry, we have a guy looking into it.” The next thing I knew I was in a cab with my manager on my way to an adventure I never expected, especially on Saint Paddy’s Day.
Enter Do Re Mi Karaoke, a studio equipped with 19 private suites, late 60′s decor and hundreds of songs available in 13 different languages. We grabbed some sodas and sat in our private suite which had a long, circular couch, and we took turns passing the mic. My clients all chose Japanese songs, which were accompanied by music videos circa 1980.
When I first walked in I was determined to not sing because part of me still felt like I was in a “work” setting and I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of clients and a co-worker. However, I realized that while it was a random night for me (though I wish it was something I did every single weekend), it was a common activity for my clients and grabbing that mic and singing my heart out was nothing to be ashamed of. So I did, again and again.
Hahaha that’s amazing!! My friend went to Japan and he couldn’t stop talking about how much karaoke he did while there.
I’m trying to plan my friend’s bachelorette party and realize there’s a serious lack of karaoke in Boston! I looked at Do Re Mi, but the group wants to be in more of a public setting… But I totally need to go here some day!
How much fun!!!!!!!!!! I love when life takes you in unexpected turns. My 1st real experience with karaoke was in China many years ago. I never realized just how serious it’s taken in Asia. The place you went to sounds a lot like the KTV’s I went to in China and Japan. Glad you found the nerve to sing your heart out!!!
Isn’t karaoke fun? I love it. I chuckled when you said those Japanese people wanted to go to karaoke. A lot of Asian people ( east asian esp ) will want to do nothing but karaoke for their leisure activities lol which explains why you can find so many karaoke places with private karaoke suites in varied sizes all over Asia.
I can’t control myself to not sing too. Usually I pick the most embarassing nineties pop hits, like Spice Girls.
I had completely forgotten that was on St. Patrick’s Day! I still laugh about that night … the pleather wrap-around sofa and the remixed tunes with 80s videos. You did great and at least you didn’t try to do the Gorillaz justice … I think that’s when it all went down hill!
I’ve always wanted to go to Do Re Mi, but their lack of alcohol frightens me. I need at least a littttle wodka with my karaoke.
Hahaha I didn’t even put two and two together that it was St. Patty’s day when that happened! Hilarious!
Thanks to Andi I found you and am I ever glad I did. Another traveler to my heart, jumping right in and experiencing different cultures as the locals do.