By Wonsuh Song
In today’s world, people effortlessly cross borders and cultural divides to connect with one another. Yet even within the same country or local community, there’s a common obstacle we tend to overlook: the generation gap. Whether it’s in current events, lifestyle habits, or entertainment, generational differences are easy to spot—particularly when it comes to musical tastes.
Recently, after attending a Korean-themed event held in Japan, I found myself heading to a karaoke bar with several international participants. Their ages ranged from about 10 to 14 years older than me. With such a gap, one immediate question emerged: “What songs can we sing that everyone will enjoy?”
Surprisingly, the solution turned out to be quite simple. All I had to do was ask, “Which year did you start college?” and then look up the year’s biggest hits on YouTube, queueing them up in the karaoke system. For instance, if someone mentioned they were part of the 1982 entering class, I’d focus on famous tracks from 1982; for someone who started in 1984, I’d pick up the hits from 1984. Although these songs might be unfamiliar to me, they instantly bring back vivid memories for those who experienced their youth around that time.
The fact is, in karaoke, people enjoy themselves most when singing songs they know well, and for listeners, it’s easier to share in the nostalgia. When there’s a 10-year (or more) age difference, the older group likely listened to artists I never really encountered in my younger days. Take Patti Kim or Cho Yong-pil—both iconic Korean singers of past generations—as examples. Their songs might feel new to me, yet once they’re added to the playlist and everyone begins to sing along, the atmosphere changes dramatically. Faces light up with excitement, and a lively energy fills the room.
Interestingly, this approach works just as well across different cultures. In the past, I used the same method while going to karaoke with friends from Japan, the UK, Greece, Spain, and France. With my British friend, we took turns singing Queen and The Beatles, and with my Japanese friends, I recall belting out X JAPAN classics to rousing cheers. Even if the lyrics are in a language not everyone speaks, the passion and emotion in the songs help create an instant sense of unity.
Of course, some people might be concerned about singing songs they’ve never heard before. However, the real point of karaoke isn’t to perform every note perfectly, but to share the experience—listening together, enjoying it together. It’s less a place to show off one’s vocal skills and more an opportunity to exchange memories and emotions through music.
Through these karaoke sessions, I’ve relearned two essential truths. First, music is a fundamental emotional connector at the heart of the human experience. Second, it carries a near-magical ability to transcend generation gaps—and even cultural differences—to bring people closer. Each song serves like a little “time travel ticket,” inviting us to revisit and share the eras in which we grew up.
Ten or even twenty years from now, I may end up in a karaoke room again with people significantly younger or older than I am. If so, I’ll still be asking them, “Which year did you start college?” and queuing up the classic hits from that time. As we sing those songs, reliving memories and laughter, the karaoke room becomes a place where generational boundaries dissolve in the shared joy of music.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Lecturer at Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
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