To find people singing at family gatherings and expecting an admiring audience hideously embarrassing?

[Snoot]

I think it's attention seeking and makes me want to claw my own ears and eyes out! It's not the kind of thing my own family would do in a million years. I expect to have to watch children perform but not grown adults! As an in-law I cannot comment openly but OMG I dread it so much I'd avoid the situation if at all possible.

I don't mind it as long as it happens naturally and they are actually a good singer. I hate it though when it's a case of 'Sshhh, ssshhh, everyone, your Auntie Nora is going to sing a bit of a song. BE QUIET AUNTIE NORA IS SINGING'.

cfc I love a good rendition of Raglan Road.

Ah yes. We are pretentiousness free. It's more the joyfully pissed up celebratory togetherness type of singalong.

Not the 'look how talented and amazing we are'. All though we are, clearly.

Irish family. Always singing at parties and on nights out. Nobody really shows off about it, and singing isnt comoulsory, but most people have a song up their sleeve and there are always a few people with voices on them. I love listening to a good singer. I admire them.

If these occasions are booze free well then that's unforgivable.

There is minimal booze which if you're from my family doesn't touch the sides . I'm aware there is a culture clash, eg in-laws' Christmas, singing around the piano, log fire, turkey tough as hell, my family's Christmas, varied seasonal music on the hifi, goose for dinner, a lot of booze!

No booze?

Kill them.

yanbu

my dad has to do his mick jagger impression usually to brown sugar and my nephew a song and dance both are utter pants

it is not even embarrassing its just tedious but my aunts love it

Snoot are u having a Christmas panic attack?

LadyHarriet I think I might be! Seriously though, about that Valium...

Do they wear Xmas sweaters with it?

No Xmas sweaters, dresses for the ladies, modest heels and make up expected.

'Modest heels' - love it!

It's definitely the pretentious snoresville element that would put me off.

I'd be fine with classical music but not with the dreary tossiness thrown in.

YANBU.

But I have overactive embarrassment and cringe when my sister sings- she's an amazing singer btw I just can't imagine doing that (because I'm crap at singing) so I get all hot and embarrassed for her for no reason. I think it was called vicarious embarrassment or something?

So I hate if because I get all quiet and overly emphatic for no reason at all!

My SIL does this, it's so utterly cringe worthy, she's uber religious and will burst into baptist stylie warbling at family events.
Her oldest dd gets married soon and I just KNOW she's going to sing at the church or something and I'll want to rip my ears off

They have a dress code?!

Yanbu.

Wine helps me through the cringing though.

Yes! Wanting to rip your own ears off, that's exactly it!!!

Dress code unspoken but real. As is participation in cringe-worthy party games . Again sober.

Still sitting at the dining table, no escape. "Chinese whispers" FIL huffing in your ear. Ewww. Another wanting to rip your own ears off moment.

YANBU

I get the vicarious embarrassment too and I have a real problem affecting a listening face that says 'this is great!,' I look like I'm afraid and/or constipated.

I remember sitting in a bar as the only person without Irish heritage while people sang songs I didn't know and wept. So awkward but no one noticed because they were all so involved!

Chinese whispers????!!

cant you feign illness or injury???

Im guessing it will be all wrapped up and everyone will be asleep by 11pm though huh?

YANBU - having been to an event where there was a 'star' within the family, it was completely cringeworthy and anything said was to be complimentary to the singer. The singing was ok-ish, but they weren't good enough to make it a day job. Unfortunately, the 'singer' is still trying to make it big...

However, irish singing shindigs are the coolest thing in the world. Maybe it's all the fascinating instruments? Either way, it always felt like a party, not a worship of a family 'star'.

Piano recitals and Chinese whispers, and all aided with little or no booze? Sounds hellish.

I bet they play sardines too and you have to politely grin and bear it as Great Uncle Basil rubs his elderly member up against you in the larder.