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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to say that choirs full of people who can't sing (Rock Choir) are awful?

433 replies

PleasantPheasant · 21/01/2017 22:06

Honestly? I love singing, I think everyone should sing, and sing in groups - it's great. But why all the performances, crap choreography, shitty leaders who also can't sing and are presumably failed musicians. Why can't the ladies (and men) - very few of which can actually sing or understand rhythm, harmony, pitch... - just do it for fun and leave it at that? Why do they think they're amazing singers and their performances are great. From what I've seen they are largely outside, with shit backing music, crap acoustics making the whole thing even worse. AIBU?

OP posts:
whatsthecomingoverthehill · 23/01/2017 13:17

I've been subjected to Andre Rieu on numerous TV programmes, but don't feel the need to moan about it. Actually that's wrong, it's utterly overblown schmaltzy crap that makes we want to punch my ears. And that's before I see his gurning.

TheNaze73 · 23/01/2017 13:19

Andre Rieu appears to be permanent on, on the Sky Arts channel.

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2017 13:55

I've sung in choirs all my life, big choirs singing with commercial orchestras and local small choirs. I would encourage anyone to join a choir for the fun, the company and the wellbeing as well as the music.

That said, I didn't enjoy the RC model. There was zero musical education to help the inexperienced singers - everything was by rote with some fairly poor quality backing tracks. Focus was appearances and fees and selling tickets. I never got a clear answer on percentage of take going to the headlined charity. No guidance was given on behaviour when singing at a large event (a first IME).

Members were new singers who believed they were getting professional musical guidance. They made no real progress in my time there and deserved a much better musical experience.

My experience is not universal but I've heard it enough that I won't try another RC. I suggest new singers look first for a choir which covers some familiar and new music. Classical choirs cover a huge range (including crossover) and singing music brings it to life. If the local RC gives the best musical experience then go for it but look at other options.

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2017 13:57

it's utterly overblown schmaltzy crap

Whilst I agree with overblown and schmaltzy the quality and musicianship is not crap. Its not my taste but that is a different issue to being poor quality music and performance.
I'm amazed at how much the tickets go for though - there is money in well executed schmaltz.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 23/01/2017 14:10

Coffee, for a professional setup I don't think it is very good. Technically and so on they are not on a par at all with top orchestras. (Which is hardly surprising, because how many professionals would want to play that stuff all the time?)

MrsHathaway · 23/01/2017 14:12

Andre Rieu is kind of mesmerising. I love all the frocks.

When DC3 was very young and I got stuck on the sofa out of reach of the remote I watched an entire AR concert. It took me an hour to realise he was speaking Dutch and not just German with an odd accent. In my defence, the concert was in Austria.

There was a bit where he got a tiny little child up on stage to play along on his little 1/4 violin I may have sobbed so I can see where the "schmaltz" accusation would come from.

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2017 14:31

Whats I wouldn't pretend for a second they are the Berlin Phil but the individuals are mostly constrained by the styling and orchestration - it doesn't give much scope for demonstrating skill. I've head a few play individually without realising they were part of the Rieu Machine which changed my original views. They certainly were not untrained or out of tune.

Personally, I'm convinced that the Rieu orchestra was initially set up by someone who has shares in all the world's remaindered stock of 1980s flouncy ball gowns.

RhodaBull · 23/01/2017 15:14

A few years ago dh and I determined to watch everyone's Christmas Special. Winner was Andrea Bocelli. Marvellous. But I have to give a special mention to Andre Rieu's one from his castle in the Netherlands, topped off with a rousing rendition of In Der Weihnachtsbackerei.

The thing is, naff though Andre Rieu may be, the musicians are not terrible. There is a world of difference between an orchestra that doesn't play highbrow works and a group of people in a choir who actually cannot sing. Singing in a choir can be a fun, therapeutic activity. But it's all the "We're great! We're so proud of ourselves!" and clapping stuff that is a bit off-putting.

motherinferior · 23/01/2017 15:25

There's nothing wrong with being in a not very good choir. But there is also space in life for other choirs.

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/01/2017 15:32

I've been reading this thread and see their is rc in my area, I might go along for a taster, but the whole point for me would be to meet new people and sing fun, familiar songs, I don't want to inflict it on anyone else, I'm shit at it and I know it, so if there's some onus to perform where people might not want to hear then it won't be for me.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 23/01/2017 16:07

I have more of a problem with Rieu because it could be better (though I guess he wouldn't have got very far in more highbrow classical so he's certainly found and exploited his niche). And he plays a bloody strad! Give it to someone who could make the most of it fgs. (And before anyone says, yes I know most strads are locked away and hardly ever played, but if it is to be played make the most of it!)

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2017 16:51

IHaveBrilloHair

Check out other local choirs as well. A lower profile community choir might well suit you, where they do perform but very much just for friends and family without the ticket sales focus I experienced.

In all honesty if their focus is around the music rather than the social side then the social tends to follow naturally. Don't ask me why. The RC I joined seemed to be all about RC with the music being an extra rather than the core interest which brought people together. Don't exclude your local RC - its plain from comments here that they vary significantly, just look at others as well.

whatsthepointofmorgan · 23/01/2017 17:01

Like Glee on HRT..

I agree. All people over the age of 50 should know their place, stay in their house sand never, under any circumstances make the mistake of joining something. They definitely shouldn't be enjoying themselves.
Hmm

motherinferior · 23/01/2017 17:04

Actually I find the implication that those of us over 50 are only up to RC pretty insulting too.

C8H10N4O2 · 23/01/2017 17:15

And he plays a bloody strad!

Well..he isn't the only performer I can think of currently who doesn't make the most of a strad. Although again I'm veering into personal preference I guess.

whatsthecomingoverthehill · 23/01/2017 17:31

And I am being slightly tongue in cheek. It's all part of the show after all...

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/01/2017 17:31

I dunno CH, I'd just like to meet new people and have fun singing along, the way I might do in my car but with a social aspect.
I though about Church but the hymns are slow and boring, I don't know them and I'm atheist, that's never going to work.
I at no time do I want to perform for anyone, ever.

RhodaBull · 23/01/2017 17:35

Me too. I like singing and I can read music and can find something to enjoy in most genres.

But I'm afraid I don't want to wear a t-shirt and click my fingers to Bad Moon Rising.

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/01/2017 17:35

From what I've read on here though, I'm thinking RC might be all about the money, like Jo Jingles, charging a fortune for toddlers to make a racket, but with more wrinkle cream which I could do with

whatsthepointofmorgan · 23/01/2017 17:39

It goes towards the salaries of the leaders, who are all professionals, and the running of headquarters, who organise our events, from small appearances in local churches to 10,000 members singing together at the NEC in Birmingham, for example.

According to the OP, the leaders are all

shitty leaders who also can't sing and are presumably failed musicians.

greenfolder · 23/01/2017 17:50

The only rock choir i have seen was at our local fireworks. They added something, raised some money for charity and had a ball.

Rooiboscz · 23/01/2017 18:01

Why do the participants in these choirs all seem so proud of themselves? I think it's the smugness that really irritates me. It's cringey to be so pleased with something so utterly rubbish. It's embarrassing for everyone.

When children sing in a choir, they're not self-conscious and that's just wonderful. What childhood is all about. When it's adults, it's not cute, charming or funny. It's just really, really naff.

Wellthatsit · 23/01/2017 18:02

brill, you might find it difficult to find a choir that doesn't perform.
Some choirs might let you join but skip the concerts, but I would suggest a nice gentle 'everyone welcome' sort of choir first. Rock Choir is quite in your face I think.
And if your choir leader is any good, you will develop the confidence to sing in a concert.

Rooiboscz · 23/01/2017 18:04

I love singing at home, when it's just me and the cat. I belt out vintage Mariah Carey and it's cathartic.

Singing in a choir must be fantastic. Really good fun. So, keep at that and please, please don't make the public watch.

starystarynightinmysky · 23/01/2017 18:06

You'd be surprised. I know of one Rock Choir Leader who was indeed sleeping with my best friends husband. Not saying you are, but she most definitely was. The husband left my best friend and their two children (2 & 3 at the time) for this lovely woman.