The shower is not the only place a musical guy or doll can let that inner Whitney Houston roar. New York City, home to some of the most talented singers in the world, also offers musical refuge to the not-so-vocally-endowed in its abundance of karaoke bars.
Yello Bar
Located on 32 Mulberry Street, is a karaoke and dinner venue that has all the right elements to get you in a musical mood. The drinks are cheap, providing liquid courage at an inexpensive price, and it's also one of the only karaoke bars in New York that recession-i-fied their song prices by making your musical debut completely free. Yello Bar's signature chicken wings draw in a crowd that's hungry for the essentials: satisfying bar food and plenty of live entertainment that can be both comical and musically endearing.
- Location: 32 Mulberry Street, New York, NY
- Phone: 212-964-3410‎
- Website: www.yellobarnyc.com
Sing Sing Karaoke
Sing Sing Karaoke, located in the East Village at 81 Avenue A, attracts a versatile crowd, ranging from the sloppy howls of a drunken 21st birthday bash, to the girl-next-door slouching in the corner with Christina Aguilera's vocal range. Behind the bar is a screen that projects song lyrics, an open invitation for the crowd to sing along to your song, making you feel as though you're performing to a mob of fans. If belting amongst strangers isn't your forte, Sing Sing rents soundproof rooms – for just $5 per hour - that can hold up to 22 people.
- Location: 81 Avenue A, New York, NY‎
- Phone: 212-674-0700‎
- Website: www.karaokesingsing.com
Planet Rose
Up the block, at 219 Avenue A is Planet Rose. Smaller than Sing Sing and Yello Bar, Planet Rose provides a more intimate scene for brave vocalists. Unlike other karaoke lounges, Planet Rose employees sing along with the buzzing crowd and often have a personal set list of songs they rock out to, acquiring a group of fans along the way. The intimacy -- on top of the funky animal print furniture stylized to create a relaxed, fun, and encouraging environment -- makes a night at Planet Rose a palpable bonding experience for the talented and talentless alike.
- Location: 219 Avenue A, New York, NY
- Phone: 212-353-9500
- Website: www.planetrosenyc.com
New York City is an island that tends to surface its residents' hidden talents, so when venturing through Manhattan, why not try something you never thought you would other than outside the constraints of your shower curtain? Among the hundreds of karaoke bars in New York, all containing different qualities and varying levels of customer talent, you may find your singing sounds better after a few drinks and the comfort of a supportive crowd wailing along to your tune.
