Life in Finland - Karaoke culture

Everyone loves karaoke, but apart from the Japanese the Finns I believe love singing badly in a bar while drunk better than any culture

I have to admit that I only got into singing in a karaoke when I came to Finland. I have found that in Finland karaoke is a great way of making friends with people you would otherwise never talk to. I think this is the same in any country because anyone who is brave enough or sometime talented enough to get up and sing seems to have the admiration of us all.

How does karaoke work in Finland?

I can't say I have done karaoke all over the world but generally the person who wants to sing chooses a song and writes it on a slip of paper and hands it to the karaoke DJ. Once you are called out or your name comes up on the screen it is your turn to sing.

Is there anything unusual about Finnish karaoke?

Depending where you go, but some of the more traditional bar encourage dancing during the song. This is more common when someone sings Finnish waltz or tango, such as Saarenmaan valssi. If you have never heard someone sing in Finnish it is interesting to hear, I would argue that the Finnish language has its own kind of beauty. Finnish karaoke songs in my opinion are heard at their best when song well and the song is slightly more modern.

Some of the best Finnish karaoke songs are:

• Rafaelin enkeli by Pekka Ruuska
• Itkisitkö onnesta? by Leevi and the Leavings
  
• 1972 by Anssi Kela
  
• Älä tyri nyt by Jukka Poika
  
• Vapaa by Erin
  
• Anything by J. Karjalainen

Finally...

One trick I have learnt when going to karaoke bars in Finland especially Helsinki is that if you just want to sing one or maybe two songs the established karaoke bars will do, However, some smaller bars have karaoke on Friday and Saturday evenings. They are not as full as the karaoke bars so you will have a better opportunity to sing and often many times during the evening. Also, quite often the alcohol is far cheaper. 

Whenever you travel to Finland have a go at a Finnish karaoke, it so much fun and you will make friends fast regardless if you are a great singing or not. As the advert say, just do it.