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Intimate karaoke nights at Circuit Lounge, Kololo

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It is always the case that smaller, cosier pubs are better suited to host karaoke nights than large ones. So long as it is quiet enough for intimate conversations, and fancy enough not be mistaken for a kafunda, it is a great venue for karaoke. Such pubs attract small familial celebrations such as birthdays because who wants to take their birthday to a kafunda, right? Small groups of friends that are not interested in drunken nights, but rather great evenings characterised by music, food and laughter like to go such bars.

Circuit Lounge is one such pub. It is a small, cosy pub in Kololo, where loud music is almost considered an abomination. You can barely hear it from the parking lot. It is a place that you go to have conversations over food and a beverage of choice or a cigar if you happen to be a cigar kind. The patrons that come here are not looking for a night of loud music and crowds. There are places for that all over this town. Because it is small and quiet, it is perfectly suited for karaoke nights, people find it easier to grab the mic, sing along to their favourite song if there are not too many eyeballs trained on them.

Someone figured this out and decided to make karaoke part of the weekly menu at Circuit Lounge. Every Tuesday evening, the small pub opens its doors to music lovers, who want to try and impress their friends with their vocal abilities. The host of the night, a gorgeous girl in her early 20s, who also happens to have a fantastic voice, starts off the night by doing a few songs by artistes such as Billie Eilish or Sabrina Carpenter or such other musicians loved by boujee Gen Z ladies.

When Cythia sings, that is the name of the host, the heat in the small pub rises and by 9 o’clock, people are already in a virtual queue waiting to sing their favourite tunes and their hearts out. The good thing about this pub’s arrangement is that it is first come first served. At first, the songs of choice are the usual go-to karaoke sing-alongs like Whitney Huston’s I wanna Dance with Somebody or Queen’s ”Bohemian Rhapsody” or ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” or Afrigo’s “Sikulimba”.

However, as the people get more riled up or tipsy, or both, things get crazier and crazier. Drunk patrons remember that actually, their favourite song is not a Whitney Huston song but rather, a Konshens song. Because it is often the case that the song you danced to most is the song you like most. Many take the route of reggae and choose mostly Bob Marley songs while other look to Chameleon and Bobi Wine for inspiration as the night progresses. But still a good number insists on dirty dancehall songs just to make people laugh. And when the next singer develops cold fit or has stepped out, the host takes the stage again to bring sanity to the house with good, clean music.

While the loudest cheers come from groups whose member is currently singing, every once in a while, the person seated alone in the corner sings so wonderfully that everyone claps for them. Clearly some people were meant to be musicians but took an unfortunate detour to become accountants or journalists. The most entertaining performances come from young couples still experiencing what can only be termed as ‘young love’. When someone is in love, they tend to win over fans in these karaoke sessions, no matter how bad they sing.

So long as they are directing their croaking at their significant other, it is all good. There is something so endearing about allowing oneself to be so vulnerable in public for the sake of love. And when they mix that with playfulness or shyness, nothing beats that. It bears repeating that the host makes karaoke nights at Circuit Lounge superb. She knows her music and she has the voice to pull it off.

Because of her, many patrons that would rather sit back and just enjoy tend to be inspired to get up and sing as well. And when one struggles to keep a tune, she comes along and sings with the person to keep them on track. This is the one trick that makes this pub a special karaoke space.

Many pubs host karaoke nights. Only few have actual hosts who are also versatile enough to carry any tune in case the singer falters. They got that part absolutely right. Interestingly, the karaoke night is more characterised by laughter than it is by singing. People tend to crack up while watching their friends try to sing. Which makes Tuesday nights at Circuit Lounge worth it.


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