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• Hitting the high note with karaoke in CU

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Marcy Hitt, Brian Cummings, Samia Woodward, and Erica Halconb singing on Tuesday's Karaoke night at Bentley's Pub in Downtown Champaign. (Photo by Anne-Marie Cheely, Buzz Photographer)

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Related Venues

Cowboy Monkey »
Address: 6 Taylor St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 356-0006
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Bentley's Pub »
Address: 419 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 359-7977
Show on map

The Clark Bar »
Address: 207 W. Clark St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 355-0510
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If you find yourself looking for something to do during the week, CU’s karaoke bars won’t disappoint. Not only does CU have more than enough to satisfy people wanting anything from heavy metal to blues, but it’s a great way to meet some new people.

CU has over six locations where you can sing your heart out, all with hundreds of songs to choose from. Bentley’s Pub, Cowboy Monkey, White Horse Inn, Geo’s, and the Clark Bar are just some of the places that offer karaoke nights.

“We keep it pretty current, we’ve added over 215 songs over the past two weeks," said Chris Ohlson, who works at Bentley’s Pub. "The guy has been doing it for 10 to 12 years, and there’s a lot of people that have been doing karaoke for a long time. We also get people to suggest songs they want to hear and then we add them to our library.”

When going to karaoke, expect things to get a little rambunctious, as most of the bars get packed on those nights.

“It’s pretty crowded, everybody’s having a good time. There are lots of different people of all ages,” said Ohlson. "There’s never a shortage of singers here."

In case you’re craving something besides conventional karaoke, Cowboy Monkey will give you a night to remember. It only offers karaoke on the third Thursday of every month, so be sure to save the date, because you won’t want to miss out.

“Most of the bars just have a DJ. Ours is usually a full packed house with over 300 songs and a live band. You can go up and sing with the band — it’s more exciting than regular karaoke,” said Matt Selinger, general manager of Cowboy Monkey.

So if you’re going to Cowboy Monkey, then be ready for anything, since they’ll often throw in a few special effects.

“It’s really crowded, the band is just shot at the end. Last time Jean Simmons got completely dressed up as KISS and threw fireballs. It was seriously messed up,” said Selinger.

So whether you’re looking for a crazy night out, or just a way to loosen up after a hard day’s work, karaoke might be just what you need.

Kevin Liu, a freshman in engineering, enjoys going to Bentley’s Pub or Cowboy Monkey when he has the urge to sing: “I go out and karaoke with my friends every once in a while, especially when I’ve had a long day. It’s a good way to relieve all your stress….you can just belch out at the top of your lungs and no one gives a damn.”