I don’t know if you’ll agree with me, but sometimes Vancouver can be a lonely city. People are always busy studying, working hard, and never have time for anything, so when you realize it, you’re… alone.

But there’s one thing I feel makes Vancouver come together, and it doesn’t have a specific place, time, or day. You just need a microphone, a television, and good company: Karaoke.

Here in Vancouver, I discovered the power of karaoke. It really brings people together and makes complete strangers have fun together.

(KAIRONVOSS/Pixabay)

As I said, it can be too lonely here sometimes. My friends and I are always busy, but when we find a moment to spend together, we love going to karaoke. I’ll be honest, karaoke was never my favorite thing. Before moving here, I had gone to karaoke maybe twice.

When I say karaoke, I’m not talking about the kind where you rent a room and sing with your friends. Okay, I know that private room thing is cool too, but I’m talking about the kind in bars, where it’s open for anyone to grab the microphone and sing in front of everyone.

The first time I went, I had a lot of fun seeing all those people having the courage to go there and sing. I sang along, it was really cool, but I refused to go up on that stage, I would never do that to myself.

The second time, that atmosphere excited me so much, everyone there, without even knowing each other, was cheering for each other, the whole bar was singing and vibing to the music, so I gave myself a chance to try.

Vancouver, when it comes to coming together, never disappoints. When I went on stage, me and 2 other friends sang “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. For those 3 minutes, I felt like I was on the stage of my own concert, making people vibrate. It was such a freedom feeling, I truly think that sometimes the singing is the least important detail; the connection that is created there wouldn’t be created in any other way.