Obscure Karaoke Adventures at Chopsticks Express II in Portland

So last weekend, as I sometimes am wont to do, I went with some friends to do karaoke at Chopsticks II Express here in Portland, Oregon.

My biggest karaoke weakness, besides the fact that I tend to sing out of my range, is that I don't vary my songs too much. You can always count on obscure 80's, Michael Jackson imitations, or William Shatner imitations if I am going to do a song.

Not too long ago, I did Elton John's Rocket Man in the style of William Shatner. It went on pretty well, all things considered-- some people were singing along with the song, not aware I was doing Shatner, but 6 or so people caught on and the ones that enjoyed it seemed to really enjoy it.

Last weekend was a disaster of Shatner proportions. A few years ago William Shatner released his second album, Has Been. The best track from it was a cover of British synth-pop band Pulp's Common People. Common People is an obscure song to begin with and my attempt at doing homage to Shatner's cover of it went down like a lead baloon. The few people that did know the song were glaring at me, shouting at me to "sing it correctly."

I stumbled back to the table, defeated. A friend of a friend gave me a cursory look. "What a weirdo," she said.

What a weirdo, indeed. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Chopsticks Express II