Stepping inside Red-I Lounge, 2201 S. Wentworth Ave., is like walking onto the set of a really, really twisted porno. The spacious interior reeks of cigarette smoke. The walls are lined with shiny red couches. The ceiling twinkles with barely-there lighting.

And somewhere in the rose-colored abyss of this Chinatown hideaway, a poorly-dressed Asian man belts out a frightful rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “I Will Survive.”

Why? Because it’s karaoke night at Red-I, and some overzealous patrons just don’t know when to shut up. Then again, at a nightclub this outlandish, watching the American Idol wannabes – or, um, becoming one – is half the fun.

To entice our inner divas, Red-I boasts an expansive karaoke collection, including hits from Madonna, Bon Jovi and Britney Spears. But the song options are somewhat deceptive; many of the “available” media files don’t work.

On any given weeknight, local club-goers hog the mic until about 10 p.m., whereupon the lounge morphs – and I use the term loosely, because, well, the bar doesn’t physically morph – into a pseudo-hopping dance club. For those still longing to let loose, however, Red-I offers private karaoke rooms (seating up to 11 people) for a reasonable $50/hour. Additionally, the bar’s food selection – featuring an assortment of pan-Asian snacks – is remarkably satisfying.

But don’t start pre-gaming just yet. Though at $6 each, Red-I’s cocktails might be pricier than, say, your $12.99 bottle of Skol, but they’re deceptively alcoholic. Watch your intake, or you might end up passed out on one of the oh-so-inviting loveseats.

Red-I Lounge is open Sunday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Cover is $5 after 10 p.m.