The week of the Kavanaugh hearings was a storm of emotions. As a nation, we watched, heartbroken and enraged, as Christine Blasey Ford bravely shared her harrowing experience of sexual assault. That week, I felt like I was slowly unraveling. The news was a constant reminder of the pain, and the anger simmered just beneath the surface.
But amidst the collective grief, a friend, Maya Kosoff, organized a group outing to Montero’s, a beloved Brooklyn Heights karaoke bar. It was a chance to gather with other women, to scream our hearts out, to make our pain communal instead of solitary. That night, howling along to Hole’s anthem, “You should learn when to go, you should learn how to say NO,” felt like a primal scream, a physical release of the fury we couldn’t hold inside.
Now, in the aftermath of another election, I find myself grappling with a similar wave of anger and sadness. This time, however, I’m not just going to let it consume me. I’m channeling my emotions into action: donating to abortion funds, volunteering to support trans individuals, and, most importantly, planning another “Katharsis Karaoke” session.
What is Katharsis Karaoke, you ask? It’s a simple concept: gathering with friends, drinking heavily (optional, but encouraged), and belting out songs. It’s an opportunity to let loose, to scream, to cry, to laugh. To feel it all, together.
It doesn’t matter what kind of music you choose – show tunes, Lana Del Rey, even Nickelback (no judgment here!). The important thing is the shared experience, the connection that comes from expressing our emotions together.
In a world that often feels overwhelming, where the weight of political turmoil can be suffocating, Katharsis Karaoke offers a lifeline. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone in our struggles, that we can find solace and strength in community.
So, let’s raise our voices, let’s sing our hearts out, let’s find our catharsis in the shared act of singing. Because sometimes, the best way to face our anger and grief is to sing it out loud, together, with the people who understand.