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Ibiza KTV: Almost sophisticated

By William Wang: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CRI, March 4, 2013

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"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is the obvious song choice in this Ibiza room. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com/William Wang]

In China, karaoke bars and KTV are one and the same. Guests book private rooms where they can scream out the hits without the judgment of strangers. In Beijing, KTV bars run the full gamut, from opulent hi-tech environments down to seedy cramped quarters which more focus on the renting of women than the singing of Jay Zhou. Reporter William Wang visits some of the city's most talked about KTVs to see who's hitting the high notes.

The spaces held within Sanlitun Soho's massive towers often seem eerily quiet. The complex is still relatively new, with large chunks still awaiting life to be blown into them. To arrive in Soho's Ibiza on a Saturday night, it's apparent that the breath of life has breezed in, as evidenced by a lineup of people waiting to squeeze into one of 76 themed karaoke rooms.

When Ibiza opened in 2011, it made a respectable effort to make KTV classy. In keeping with Sanlitun Soho's jet set stylings, the decor definitely leans toward the posh side, though some rooms more so than others. Prices aren't the cheapest in town, but they are surprisingly reasonable: during peak hours, three hours for a five person room will run you 188 yuan.

At its best, Ibiza's rooms will plunge you into an alternate reality. The James Bond room forgoes flash and centers exclusively on one classic silhouette, emblazoned on the back wall. The rest of the room falls into glowing shadows, elegantly understated and modern. The black leather couches are luxurious enough for 007 himself. The only thing missing is a white cat to stroke on your lap.

The S&M room is a shoe-in for popularity, replete with blindfolded mannequins chained to the mirror, and wall panels laced together like a corset.

Other themes such as basketball, cars, diamonds or cartoon characters are also done with a surprisingly mature aesthetic, catering to the professional Sanlitun clientele. Even the requisite Hello Kitty room strangely lacks kitsch. Its overwhelming blackness almost feels ironic, if not sinister. Kitty herself is reduced to a crossed legged silhouette sporting high heels.

In all the themed rooms, the alternate reality effect is amplified with more alcohol intake and later hours. Five am is closing time, a bleary hour whereupon people either find a bed or head back to the office.

Ibiza at its worst is in rooms that are Plain Jane mundane. Comfortable, sure; but interesting, not. A vase of fake flowers on the table? A framed picture of flowers on the white wall? Maybe the designers ran out of creative steam for the smaller (and cheaper) rooms. A few rooms have cordless mikes, but the majority of customers will have to watch their feet to avoid tangles of cords. According to Ibiza manager Xie Tiecheng, cordless mikes are still in the testing phase.

Guests who can't read Chinese will need a server to point out the basics, but after that, sailing should be smooth. Hi-tech treats include options such as changing song pitch, adding or muting the original track's vocals.

The reporter checked for 10 songs (see image #5) and managed to find seven of them, though it did take some digging. Song organization in most KTVs is sadly more complicated than typing in an artist or song title, and Ibiza is no different. Play lists are updated regularly, referring to ranking lists like the Billboard 100. It is true that the choice of tracks from recent years is enough to push any party through to morning.

Something seems to be working. According to Xie, during peak hours, every room is filled; guests who failed to book ahead resign themselves to loitering in the reception area until a room opens up. Even from the lobby, you can't escape the sound of music blasting.

Perhaps that's the Ibiza connection. There are no DJs here, or club kids dancing on the beach at sunrise. But Ibiz and Ibiza KTV both offer the possibility of dreamy escapism. And a theme room with sandy shores or jet plane windows could be the perfect illusion to croon yourself away to some faraway place.

Ibiza KTV Sanlitun Soho, Building 3, 5th floor. From Tuanjiehu subway station Exit D, walk 10 minutes west.