I met my younger self for karaoke.
Doing the "I met my younger self for coffee" trend, with a twist
She was 15 minutes early. I was on time.
I found her listening to her pink iPod shuffle. She looked up and saw me wearing a pair of wireless earphones. She walked up to me, her eyes gleaming.
“Our dream came true!” she exclaimed as we recalled the time we had a picture of futuristic wireless earphones as our laptop wallpaper growing up. I took off my earphones and let her try them out.
We entered our karaoke room. It was my millionth time at a karaoke place, while it was her first time.
I told her that she would experience more karaoke sessions as she gets older — some she will dread, and some she will enjoy — but they will always be a staple bonding activity with friends and family. Regardless, she expressed her excitement and couldn’t wait to experience karaoke already.
The first song she picked out was Mad by Ne-yo. It was her current song on repeat. I told her that I attended his concert a while back, and got to hear him sing it live.
I let her listen to my current song on repeat. “You’re going to love this,” I said, and started playing Superpowers by Muni Long.
We talked about our favourite headsets. She said that her cousin’s been showing off his new Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, and she’s thinking of getting one. I told her that many headphones and earphones will come and go, but comfort and fit will always be my number one priority.
For the next song, she was looking for Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift. I explained that I listen to a newer version of the song now. She said Taylor’s new album, Speak Now, is her favourite album. I told her I never got over it, and we both sang to our hearts’ content.
She also told me that she really liked Lady Gaga’s electropop songs, although she does not quite understand why. I told her it’s not a coincidence, and that Lady Gaga still makes great electropop music more than a decade later.
We talked about the music we listen to. She loves popular songs, while my music library has expanded over the years.
“Wow,” she said in amazement. “I never thought about exploring other music genres before.” I laughed and told her to enjoy the experience — she was still too young to have figured out her taste in music.
It was my turn to play a song I liked. I played Tequila by Dan + Shay, and told her to watch out for this artist in a few years’ time.
She liked it and compared it to the country songs on Dad’s MP3 player that she still enjoys listening to. I told her that our love for country music hasn’t changed — it only gets better.
She told me about her growing obsession with a new boyband called One Direction, and played one of their underrated songs — Another World.
Knowing everything that would happen to the band in the years to come, I held back from telling her the crucial moments. Instead, I told her that I still love the boys and am still a Directioner at heart.
We then proceeded to sing the entire Up All Night album, lyric by lyric, just like the old days.
I told her about my favorite girl group, BINI, which she initially mistook for a K-pop group. Then, I played the song that first got me into listening to them — Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi (Let's Stay Out a Little Longer).
I explained that they’re homegrown icons from the Philippines and that their perseverance to stardom inspired me during a rough patch in my life.
Crush by David Archuleta was one of her favourite love songs, and we both lip-synced dramatically to the lyrics. I told her I missed listening to this song, it never lost its charm and I suppose it never will.
For my current favourite love song, I played One Life by James Bay. Her face lit up as she listened to the song. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. “My body feels so light listening to it. I want someone to sing this to me someday!”
It was getting dark and we realised that we have spent over two hours singing karaoke and exchanging songs that we liked.
For our final songs of the night, we shared our current life anthems — songs that reflect our mantras and ones we wanted to share to inspire each other for our lives ahead.
Her first song was Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie. She said that while she’s never fallen romantically in love yet, she felt this would be a song she’ll always look back on when she experiences the ups and downs of romance as she gets older, to remind herself to keep moving forward.
“I know that you’re already a bigger girl than I am, but I want you to remember who you are in case you have to cry again.” She said firmly.
Next was Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. She said that she always gets good vibes whenever she listens to this song and hoped that I would remember to embrace my fun, youthful side, even as I grow older.
For my go-to life anthems, I chose What Is This Feeling? by Reese Lansangan. It was an old favourite from a few years back, but it never fails to inspire me to be optimistic about the future.
“Don’t lose hope,” I assured her, “As long as you’re kind and your heart and desires are in the right place, you’ll end up where you’re meant to be.”
Last but not least, I let her listen to There It Goes by Maisie Peters. I liked the message of the song, because it describes how letting go of heartbreak and pain will always lead to better days ahead.
“Trust the process,” I told her. “Every life experience will lead you to the best version of yourself.”
Before we knew it, our karaoke session was over. Our voices and bodies were exhausted from singing and jumping as if we were holding a mini concert, but our hearts were happy from singing our favorite songs and vibing to new ones.
She thanked me for the fun karaoke session, and asked me if we could do it again next time. “Of course, we can even do a jamming session next,” I answered.
“You’re the best!” She hugged me tightly, and said she couldn’t wait to sing with me again.
I’m glad I met her today. I know her love for music will only grow stronger, and she’ll figure out her vibe in no time.
I hope she falls more in love with music every day.
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