Commentary: Why are Singaporeans so obsessed with KTV?

If music is โปรโมชั่น slotxo the food of love, then KTV lounges are a glutton’s paradise for many in Singapore.

It seems no matter our station in life, there are specific things that instantly evoke a surge of affection for being Singaporean. These include hearing the Singaporean accent in a foreign country, seeing a “mama shop” (a sundry shop at HDB estates) still standing, and belting out old school pop songs in a KTV lounge with friends.

Despite KTVs being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recent news about the police raid of illegal KTV outlets revealed our inexplicable, and apparently undying, passion for karaoke.

On Apr 3, police busted into illegal karaoke joints, arresting patrons for allegedly flouting rules under the Public Entertainment Act and Liquor Control Act 2015, as well as for their suspected breach of COVID-19 measures.

Netizens were quick to zoom in on the most significant detail of the story: “Nearly all had been in the middle of Mandopop songs from singers including Jacky Cheung and Jay Chou when the police burst in.”

A circulating photo even showed a patron being questioned by the police, with the TV in the background having a song on pause. The song?

Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson — another KTV favourite.

The jokes wrote themselves. One commenter said: “Rumour has it that the person insisted on finishing the song first before he was to be led away by police.”

Now, in the middle of a pandemic, this is serious criminal activity – those caught were not only breaking the law for a song but consumed alcohol without a permit, had more than eight people gathered and one person with an outstanding warrant of arrest, according to the police.