Karaoke is an excellent way to spend a night out on the town, enjoying the company of friends and strangers alike, and engaging in some crowd-wide bonding, provided you’ve chosen an appropriate song.

As a Filipino, I’ve grown up with at least one karaoke machine in every home, the first in my native city of Cagayan de Oro, then later in Manila, and most recently at my family’s place in NYC. It’s ...