You don't sing Bawal na Gamot on Jazz Night at Merk's

IT IS largely unspoken, but there is really such a thing as videoke ethics. It's the code of conduct when singing in parties in front of friends, or sometimes, even strangers.

Like you shouldn't by any means try to sing Stylistics unless you're with very close friends willing to put up with it. And singing only your tried and tested piyesa when there are new faces around because, even in singing, first impression lasts.

It is something learned through the years. Like knowing you're singing out of key when everybody fell silent, looking at their cellphones or just simply looking away.

Same thing with singing the same set of songs over and over again with the same set of friends. It is not something taught in school, but something you either have in you or not.

I came to think about it because last Wednesday I sang on stage, accompanied by Richard Merk's Band, at his place in Greenbelt 3.

I knew trouble was brewing when from the men's room I heard Richard Merk himself calling my name. Turned out my fellow sportswriters volunteered me to sing just when I stood up. So I was there inside the cubicle listening as Merk was calling me out on stage.

``Come on, let's enjoy the band,''' hollered Merk, while I took extra time washing my face.

``Marc, come out already,'' Merk said through microphone. The crowd was laughing, and everybody in the room was into it already. When someone walked by, Merk would ask ``Is that Marc?''

I was planning to sneak out and go home but I left my phone on the table. ``Can somebody check out Marc if he's still alive?'' Merk joked.

Finally, it seemed like Merk gave up and began singing another song. So I slowly walked back to the table, but people from other tables were already greeting me with knowing smiles. It was as if they knew it was me.

And true enough, when Merk finished singing, he called me up. Now here's one thing I know for sure, when you're called up on stage by a celebrity and everyone in the crowd was looking at you, you stand up and take the mic.

He interviewed me briefly, and asked what song I'd like to sing. Now here's where the ethics come to play: I said ``For Once In My Life.''

Merk said: ``Magaling 'to,'' probably because I picked the type of songs they're singing all night. Well, I chose it because I have sang it countless of times already, and the margin of error – when you factor in stage fright and blinding spotlight – is considerably low compared to any other song.

And, of course, you don't sing Aegis on Jazz Night at Merk's.