喜歡唱歌朋友的好幫手 / A Beloved Companion for Singing Enthusiasts
KTV 多年來一直是全球許多地區的一種受歡迎的娛樂形式，特別是在台灣，大街小巷有著各種不同型式的 KTV 店家，像好樂迪或錢櫃這樣的連鎖店，學生時代，可能大家都有去 KTV 唱歌的經驗，可能是學生比較精力旺盛，我和朋友們唱唱去好樂迪 KTV 唱整夜，因為好樂迪 KTV 有提供包夜歡唱的優惠方案，有幾位好友，常常唱到手上的麥克風不放，就是要唱到爽，唱到天色漸亮，太陽慢慢升起，我們才一起去吃永和豆漿早餐店，一口燒餅、一口豆漿，吃飽喝足後，再回家補眠。
隨著大家慢慢步入社會，有了各自的生活後，我們像以往徹夜歡唱的機會，漸漸地越來越少了，剛畢業進入社會時，大概每年農曆過年時，還有機會去 KTV 唱歌，當有些朋友有了家庭，及有了小孩後，我們就不會玩過夜，而 KTV 這樣的活動，也就漸漸地淡出我們的生活。
不過，去年過年，去其中一位朋友家聚會時，事先他就把老婆及小孩送回婆家，邀了我們幾位認識多年的學生時代好友，然後他搬出來一套家庭 KTV 伴唱機組合，讓大家歡唱，真是讓我們大吃一驚，這位朋友本來就喜歡唱歌，剛好前幾年疫情時，有一段在家上班的期間，在那段期間，因為不能外出群聚，而他就看中了家庭式 KTV 組合，所以才買了一套，放在家中娛樂，剛好，那年過年聚會時，可以秀一下他苦練已久的新歌，而我們這群朋友，已經超久沒唱 KTV，不過，唱著我們熟悉的歌曲，那種感動及友情，瀰漫在我們心中。
前幾天，聚會前，我跑去信義區亂逛，剛好路過某個展場攤位，看到有家攤位賣行動伴唱機，好奇地和店員聊了一下，店家在展場主打的是行動伴唱機，也是最近最熱賣的產品，因為在台灣疫情算是過了，人們回歸正常生活，社交生活完全解封，今年我也和朋友們外出不知道吃了幾輪，而店家他們主推的行動伴唱機重量輕、方便攜帶，而台灣最近露營很盛行，而很多人都帶著一套行動伴唱機上山下水，一邊露營、一邊歡唱，仔細想想，很有道理，符合趨勢，我知道更方便的還有 Hive 朋友推薦的全民 K 歌 APP，其實，我心中還是最希望，能和學生時代的好友們在 KTV 中一同歡唱，唱著我們的回憶。
KTV (Karaoke Television) has been a beloved form of entertainment in many parts of the world for years, especially in Taiwan, where you can find various types of KTV venues in every corner, including popular chains like Holiday KTV and Cashbox Partyworld KTV. During our school days, it was common for us to gather with friends and sing our hearts out at KTV venues. Perhaps it was because we had the energy as students, but we used to go to Holiday KTV and sing all night long. Holiday KTV offered all-night singing packages, and a few of us would sing until we couldn't hold the microphones any longer. We sang until dawn, and as the sun gradually rose, we would head to a Yunghe Soy Milk breakfast store for a scallion pancake and a sip of soy milk. After satisfying our appetites, we would finally get some rest at home.
As we entered the workforce and started building our own lives, opportunities for all-night singing, like we used to, became rarer. In the early years after graduation, we might still manage to go to KTV for some singing sessions during the Lunar New Year. However, as some friends started families and had children, our late-night gatherings became a thing of the past, and KTV gradually faded from our lives.
Last year during the Lunar New Year, at a gathering at one friend's house, he sent his wife and child to her parents' home beforehand and invited a few of us, old friends from our school days. To our surprise, he had a home KTV karaoke machine set up for us to enjoy. This friend had always been fond of singing, and coincidentally, during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic when he was working from home and couldn't go out for gatherings, he decided to purchase a home KTV system. So, he brought it out for the Lunar New Year gathering, allowing us to experience his well-practiced new songs. For our group of friends, who hadn't been to KTV in a long time, singing the familiar songs together brought back feelings of nostalgia and friendship.
A few days ago, before the gathering, I happened to pass by a booth at an exhibition in Xinyi District. They were selling portable karaoke machines, and I was curious, so I struck up a conversation with the salesperson. The booth's highlight product was the portable karaoke machine, a trending item in Taiwan. With the pandemic under control and life returning to normal, social activities are no longer restricted. This year, my friends and I have been going out for meals quite often. The shop's main focus was on portable karaoke machines, emphasizing their lightweight and convenient portability. Camping has become very popular in Taiwan, and many people bring a portable karaoke machine with them when they go camping, singing and enjoying their time in nature. Upon reflection, this trend makes perfect sense.
I also know there's an even more convenient option - a KTV app recommended by my Hive friends, where you can sing karaoke songs with anyone, anytime. However, in my heart, nothing beats the idea of singing at KTV with my friends from school, reliving our memories together.
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