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

[PleasantPheasant]

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?

THe people being mean are those berating the OP and accusing her of all sorts that she hasn't done.
Community choirs are a different thing altogether. They're generally not run for profit unlike RC who are very much a money making business.

People can have all the fun they want singing and enjoying company and song etc. Of course. It's the particular RC type performances in public places at events you've not paid to see them that I took from the OP to be not to her- or indeed many people's- taste.
As for someone reporting the OP- please do stop being such a precious ❄️

Perhaps some choirs are better than others. My mum's choir is really very good and they take all-comers, men and women, any age. I enjoy their concerts. My mum is always very careful though to say I don't have to come and to downplay their talents, she is obviously anticipating a critical audience like the OP!

OP, why didn't you start a thread called "I'm unhappy in the choir I'm in"? instead of being nasty about others?

You say you're being personally attacked? Report, why don't you.

Your labelling of the choir as middle-aged women was not an objective fact, but sneering and signalling unpleasant cultural assumptions about such women. That is an attack.

Yabu. And pointlessly mean. what are you accomplishing by bringing down others like this?

Singing is so therapeutic, and I think the rise of these choirs is a great thing. I'm not in one, but often think about it. Presently I get my singing fix from my toddlers music group. pretty sure we don't sound perfect either, but we all enjoy our selves and leave feeling happier.

And when our local choir like this were singing in our local shopping centre, my kids and many others from right across the generation were beaming from ear to ear watching them.

In a world of so much nastiness and hatred, in a world where too often we struggle with isolation and loneliness, I find it hard to see the need to sneer at these groups.

I can see this is a really touchy subject for most of you. I had no idea singing and choirs would bring about such heated responses.
I have already said I clearly ABU to say what I said, though I stand by my own opinion, I shall keep it to myself.
I apologise to those who said I had stolen their confidence and made them re-think their plans to join a choir. Honestly, do it, and don't let anyone, much less me, "make" you feel things.
For the rest of you, let's just put this to bed.
For those reporting me for being a miserable sneering joyless bastard all of the time - just ah.. no words.
Oy with the poodles already...

The fact that you think you've said very little to offend speaks volumes OP.

In your posts you've managed to belittle middle aged women who dare to want yo sing for an audience when we all know they should be hiding away, people singing for the sheer joy of it, choir leaders who apparently are all about themselves and are also in your words 'presumably failed musicians' which in itself is offensive to so called failed musicians whatever they are. You're also slagging off people who feel confident enought to try a solo because they're apparently so attention seeking and the countless others who choose to spend money on a hobby they love because Rock Choirs are money grabbing bastards.
Read your posts back. Ask yourself why it bothers you so much.

girlandboy, you don't have to do the performances. I go along to sing and socialise, but have never signed up to perform :).

Why have I never heard of rock choir. I so miss caterwauling singing.

It is a very spiteful thread.

I can't tell you what Rock Choir has done for my confidence and happiness.

It is certainly true that in my choir most of them are middle aged as I'm the youngest by far I believe. However, we have a lot of men too. And I bloody love those people. They are a great bunch of people and we have so much fun. What is wrong with being middle aged anyway?

The ones like me who can't sing very well know we can't sing very well. We don't pretend to be good, we just don't give a shit. Too busy having fun.

Do you have any idea what it's like to have a husband go to war? Do you have any idea how much support the MWC gives to women who sometimes don't see another adult for days while their husband or partner are away?

Yes Bosnia.

It's not all about the singing, it's about the support, friendships and companionship that these choirs give. If you don't like it turn it off

They can sing all they bloody want just pointing out they aren't that great at it (and I have a friend who is in it) - just cos the Media want to cash cow it.

I also spend my days surrounded by overpaid. entitled military who could double their 'sea time' with a trip on the Torpoint Ferry. (the service I have the littelist respect for)

Op, I believe there are two morals to this story 1) think before you post 2) don't post hurtful comments then get offended when people retaliate. If you live by the sword you die by it

YANBU at all!

Nothing wrong with singing for fun.

But PLEASE don't perform and expect the public to enjoy it.

My local choir is awful. They're called Babes in Arms (bleurgh) and 'sing' the most schmaltzy crap. We're all supposed to be supportive, as though they're a load of charity cases. In fact, they're just really, really amateurish and it's embarrassing. The soloists are phenomenally bad, and yet they expect a) people to pay for tickets and b) applause.

I can't paint very well, but I enjoy doing it. I go to a class and have a lot of fun, as it's social as well as creative. However, I wouldn't put on an exhibition and expect friends and other members of the public to show an interest.

These choirs are just a celebration of under-achievement and mediocrity.

My instrument playing/singing mad dd has this on her bedroom wall:

"music gives a soul to the universe
Wings to the mind
Flight to the imagination
And life to everything"

• Plato

Maybe these women feel that way OP? I imagine these women just want to have a good time. Maybe they desperately need to have a good time in their lives. Singing and music is connected to the soul. You cannot feel sad when you're singing/dancing.
It is everyone's right to sing, who decides who "has a good voice" anyway? My mum loves Annie Lennox, Adele and Emily sande - none of their voices/music appeal to me at all. So I just don't buy their albums/turn over radio. If u don't wanna listen to particular singers s'easy really.

If people don't practice their singing, how are they going to improve?

The exception would be people who are genuinely tone deaf and it sounds like this might be their only reasonable chance of experiencing mass singing. It seems a shame to make them feel bad about it.

Bushy that's really lovely, thanks for sharing it with us.

The OP isn't suggesting that people shouldn't sing in choirs though. Why is everyone reading that incorrectly?

Rooiboscz now that was a mean post, probably meaner than the OP by naming the choir.

Who is forcing you to buy tickets or applaud? Be ill, say no, do something else that night.

Funnily enough I've been to lots of amateur art shows. I often don't rate the art, but I don't feel the need to name the artists or mock their work.

This is one of the funniest threads I have read for a long time.

I agree with the OP that a lot of choirs sound crap.

But they can practise singing without doing public performances though.

Do they actually learn and technique or musicianship at these choirs (doesn't sound it from what I've heard)?

So Pheasant what are acceptable hobbies and activities for middle aged women?

I can't paint very well, but I enjoy doing it. I go to a class and have a lot of fun, as it's social as well as creative. However, I wouldn't put on an exhibition and expect friends and other members of the public to show an interest

But maybe that's because you're too insecure in your ability/can't be bothered rooiboscz don't judge everyone else by your own standards!!

Why do you go and watch your local choir if they're so bad?

A lot of people who listen to us really enjoy it. They join in with us and we get loads of compliments.

I don't expect the public to enjoy it. But so many do and the ones who don't can walk away.

Just booked myself a taster session :o

The OP hasn't said that singing in a choir isn't an acceptable hobby though. It's the expectation that other people will want to listen to it that's the problem.

RC often perform at other events like the rugby matches or other public places where people that see them haven't necessarily chosen to see them...
I still think people are overreacting to the OP as if She is saying people should stay in the house and duck tape their mouths shut if they aren't musical protégées. She isn't saying that at all. She isn't even saying they shouldn't be in choirs.
So no you're not being unreasonable OP. I have your back. I'm sure there are many songs we could suggest to heal this rift? Give peace a chance?