ROSLYN KARAOKE NIGHT BANNED AFTER POWER BALLAD INCIDENT
The organiser won't say which song. Regulars won't stop saying which song.
A Wednesday karaoke night at a Roslyn hall has been shut down after what the organiser calls "a power ballad incident" last week.
The night has run since 2011 and usually pulls about twenty from Gonville and around. It ended just after 9pm when one bloke picked a song the committee now refuses to name. Punters said the room went quiet, then very loud, then quiet. The committee met the next morning.
Regular Moana Whareaitu, 58, has been going every Wednesday since her divorce and is gutted. "I won't say who sang it or what it was. The high note wasn't the problem. What happened after the high note was the problem."
Dennis Whitworth was less discreet. "Bloody Total Eclipse of the Heart. And I'll leave it there because his wife was in the room, and she is not in the room anymore, if you follow." Dennis wouldn't say which room she is in now.
The committee chair called the ban "a cooling-off measure" and said it wasn't about any one song, performer or marriage. Asked when karaoke might come back, she said "once things settle". Locals reckon that means somewhere between March and never.
The machine is in a cupboard behind the tea urn. The song book, per one committee member, has been "edited."
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Reader Letters
couchgremlin
Munted night but funny story.
Trev_Hornby
Total Eclipse of the Heart? Come on, that's a classic! I don't see why they would ban the whole karaoke night over one song. People just need to lighten up a bit, eh? It's all about having a bit of fun, not taking it so seriously.
Garry (Halswell)
Honestly, karaoke nights in Roslyn have always been a bit of a gamble. Back when I was younger, these kinds of events used to end in a good laugh, not a community uproar. It's just singin', folks. Maybe the real problem is forgetting how to properly have fun.
Claire_Young
@Garry (Halswell) Not everything was 'better back in the day'. Times change, and so do our tolerances for tone-deaf singing after a long day.
conspira_kev
Council is behind this, mark my words! They don't want people gathering and having fun without their oversight. First the karaoke, next they'll be banning flat whites in town! WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS!
Sandra McKenzie
Total Eclipse of the Heart did end more than just karaoke, if you know what I mean. Maybe some folks need a break from the drama.
ropeable_dave
@Sandra McKenzie mate, that's not even what they said. It's about the whole atmosphere thing apparently. You can't blame a song for all that!
Pat_Hodges
You know, in my day, these sorts of things were sorted out over a couple of beers and a yarn. Growing up in Gonville, we had music, mouthy sorts, and more but we just laughed it off. Times have changed, eh?
Jeanie_Carter
Did anyone actually stick around to see what else was in the songbook? Could've been a whole 'munted' playlist for all we know. Sounds like a good laugh got out of hand!