“Monday nights in Barcelona mean one thing—Anti-Karaoke. The energy is electric, there’s enthusiasm galore and the sound system is incredible.” - Easy Jet Inflight Magazine
Anti-Karaoke® is a fusion between a rock concert, a Broadway musical, and a crazy house party. Created by the North American comic Rachel Arieff, Anti-Karaoke takes place every Monday in Barcelona and the last Wednesday of the month in Madrid.
Oh yeah, it's also a karaoke. A karaoke like no other, where the participants literally turn into rock stars and, over the course of 3 hours, create an exciting show where no two nights are ever the same. Indeed, dear friends, Anti-Karaoke is an effective antidote to the dreary karaoke rooms that plague humanity like Celine Dion's repertoire.
In contrast to typical karaokes, Anti-Karaoke offers sound quality equal to that of a live concert, a repertoire of more than 500 of the greatest songs from the history of rock and pop (all versions in English and sonically faithful to the originals), a table full of costumes onstage to enable spur-of-the-moment transformations, and 100% rock-n-roll attitude.
During the two-and-a-half years of its existence in Barcelona and Madrid, Anti-Karaoke has become one of the most intense party nights in all of Spain. Each night a community of 300-600 curious and creative people turn out -- all drawn by the friendly, participatory atmosphere of the show.
Anti-Karaoke is definitely an alternative to the typical nightlife of cities like Barcelona and Madrid, where the options are confined to discotheques, bars, and concerts.
Foto: Jorge Alvariño
In a single night at Anti-Karaoke, it's not uncommon to see spectacular performers rocking hard...
...and encourages the audience to let loose and express themselves onstage.
Photo: Jorge Alvariño
In Anti-Karaoke, there is no room for shame or self-consciousness.
The show is never about good or bad singing, looking cool (or not), or judging people. It's about having fun with the music you love, no matter what side of the stage you end up on.
What's important is not aptitude, but attitude.
The philosophy of Anti-Karaoke is that the stage is a mirror of real life. In Anti-Karaoke, as in life, we must "rock with available materials". In other words, we must do our best with what we have. We may not be rich or beautiful or possess a great voice. But if we're willing to take risks and make a sincere effort in spite of our fears, extraordinary things can happen.
The truth is, Anti-Karaoke is a show where the audience often ends up singing just as much as those onstage.
The weekend begins on Monday!
Video: Eldelasfotos
Frequently Asked Questions (Updated 21-7-2007)
When and where does Anti-Karaokehappen?
BARCELONA::
Every Monday at 10:00 pm (doors open at 9:30). It ends at 1:00am, after which begins the DJ session Nasty Mondays. Stay for Nasty Mondays at no extra charge.
The show takes place at the centrally-located Apolo Club, off the Avenida Paralelo and right next to the metro stop L3 (Parallel). Address: 111 Nou de la Rambla. View map.
MADRID:
In Madrid, the last Wednesday of every month: March 25, April 29, May 27, June 24, & July 15 (July falls a week early 'cause the club closes for summer vacation).
Hang around for post-Anti-Karaoke DJ sessions at both clubs at no extra charge. Stay all night, rock til you drop!
Can I reserve a ticket for the Anti-Karaoke?
Sorry, no reservations are available for these events. The show is on a first come, first serve basis, so make sure you get in by showing up when the doors open.
What is the sound system like at Anti-Karaoke?
Since it's at a rock club that actually gives a shit about how things sound and has invested in quality equipment, Anti-Karaoke sounds fantastic! When people sing, it sounds like a real rock concert. Plus, we've been careful to select high-quality song versions that sound like the originals. None of those crappy midi versions that are all too typical in karaokes. But don't take our word for it. Watch the videos.
Are these Spanish songs?
Nope, all the songs are in English, except for La Bamba. Of course, you can sing in any language you want, what do we care?
How many songs do you have?
We have over 500 high-quality versions of songs to choose from! From Guns N Roses to Depeche Mode, to Janis Joplin to Prince, to Queen and AC/DC to MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, from Stevie Wonder to Frank Sinatra, from Bowie to The Weather Girls!
I wanna see a list of the songs!
Great! Click here for the complete list, along with many videos.
Okay, I've seen the song list. But why don't you have [insert title of any song that's not on the Anti-Karaoke song list]?
There are many reasons why we don't offer certain songs. Maybe we hate the song you're talking about (sorry, no offense). Maybe we don't hate it, but it doesn't go well with the vibe of the show. Or maybe we just can't find a good version of the song. There are many songs we'd love to offer at Anti-Karaoke, but we haven't been able to include them because we can't find decent-sounding karaoke versions. Our rule is, if it doesn't sound good, f*ck it. We cannot bear crap versions of our favorite songs.
Why the hell do you use a music stand with printed lyrics instead of TV's like every other karaoke?
'Cause we don't need TeeVees. TeeVees hypnotize people and they end up singing to the damn TeeVee instead of the audience of 300-600 people right in front of their faces. We live in a TeeVee-dominated world and we have declared Anti-Karaoke a Tee-Vee-free zone. And the truth is, the show's much better without 'em. We sing our favorite songs by reading the lyrics printed on paper from a music stand... just like Mozart, Picasso and Napoleon used to when they did karaoke. Punk rock!
Can I wear a costume?
You are enthusiastically encouraged to dress up for Anti-Karaoke -- as your favorite rock star, your 5th grade math teacher, the Pope, a pimp, a gimp, whatever. In addition, onstage you will find wigs, hats, and various accoutrements for spontaneous costuming on stage.
Is there a host?
Yes. The host is the creator of Anti-Karaoke, Rachel Arieff.
How do I sign up?
Just show up, fill out one of the forms on the table with your name and the song you wanna sing, and give it to our dear maestro in the sound booth. Rinse and repeat.
Is there food?
The clubs don't serve food, but right outside you'll find lots of bars, restaurants and take-out joints at reasonable prices.
I still have unanswered questions, dammit.
Email Rachel the Anti-Karaokeatrix at
Anti-Karaoke BARCELONA continues EVERY MONDAY this summer at the Apolo Club... even in August!!
Anti-Karaoke BARCELONA moved to the Apolo Clubin January 2009. Click for more info.
ANTI-KARAOKE in MADRID: Next AK-Madrid: Wednesday July 15
10 pm - 1 am - Admission 7€. El Sol, C/ Jardines 3, Madrid
Exciting News!
See videos of Ernesto the Naked Man from last Monday's AK-Barcelona! And yes, he naked- crowd-surfed. Video of Ernesto "solo" Ernesto's duet with Rachel, with naked crowd-surfing!
Song list UPDATED June 28th 2009! Pantera, Ministry, Korn, P.J. Harvey... Check out list
The Anti-Karaokean Chronicles now available in English as well as Spanish! Also...
Enjoy the beautiful retrospective of the last year in Madrid by Jorge Alvariño.
The Bathroom Wall: the inside shit is the blog of Anti-Karaoke. Read behind-the-scenes stories about Anti-Karaoke and its participants! Written by our official AK historian, Dyk Tornado.
"Arieff, who's been visited by groups such as The Cult and L.A. Guns, hopes that her next special guest will be Carmen de Mairena, with whom she shared a taxi."
- El Mundo, 16 February 2007.
Click on the fotos to see them queen-sized -- the proper way to view Miss Carmen! View gallery of the evening.
Purchase your official Anti-Karaoke T-shirt to wear to your crappy job. You know your boss will love it!
On sale during every show at Apolo Club in Barcelona & El Sol in Madrid for 10€. Being hung over at work was never so much fun!
Click on the image below to see all available styles.
Photo: Jorge Alvariño
Foto: Jorge Alvariño
Photo: Jorge Alvariño
