To hate it when people sing?

[Ilovemybrick2]

I don't mean choirs or humming a happy tune as you do your dishes. I mean randomly breaking out into song.

This might just be my mad family but I'll try and explain

So my mum and her immediate family members do have very nice singing voices and are known in their local area for this.

However they do this thing where they basically start singing and everyone has to stop and listen.

So for example, everyone is at one of their houses for auntie's 60th. Someone will say something that inadvertently reminds someone else of a song (say uncle Pete says the chicken in thyme is lovely, aunt Sally will break out into Wild Mountain Thyme)

And then she'll do this haunting a capella rendition and everyone is expected to stop what they're doing and listen to her, marvelling at her talent or whatever the fuck. Or in my case, wishing she'd be quiet.

Another example - the other day I was giving my mum a lift somewhere with my baby and older child in the back. Baby started fussing. Mum launched into haunting rendition of some fucking song she sings in her choir. Baby fussed more. I had a conversation with older DC regarding baby's rattle, where it was and if DC could reach it. All the time mum is warbling away soulfully. I asked her if she could stop singing a minute so I could hear DC. She then got really ratty with me and snapped "I'm allowed to sing if I want!". But I know that she was pissed off because the car didn't fall silent at the power of her voice, instead we went on a verbal hunt for the fucking rattling dragonfly toy.

Seriously, they do this all the fucking time and it makes me cringe to the point where I want to claw out my eardrums. I feel like a mortified teenager.

AIBU? Am I being petty or is this genuinely annoying as fuck?

I'm not even sure what annoys me about it, I think it's the soulful attitude

Haha you are hilarious OP. You should do some hauntingly beautiful standup comedy and make everyone fall silent to listen to you. 😂😂😂

Oh god this made me laugh OP!
YANBU - totally cringe worthy - you have my full sympathy. As it is my son and I fancy ourselves as singers and will spontaneously burst into song on occasion BUT it's only ever just the 2 of us and even while I thoroughly enjoy it I realise how totally cringe it would be for anyone else to listen to 😁

Oh god @ShirleyPhallus yes! When we were at school there was this really INTENSE girl who would randomly start quoting huge sections of Dawsons Creek of all things at us (!!!!) always with the wide open staring and holding eye contact and getting in your face .

I don't think I dare Google her just incase she's a mass murderer now or something.

I like a bit of a sing song in the car or whilst cooking but would never expect anyone to want to stop and listen.

I know someone exactly like this though and have been chastised for not immediately stopping what I was doing to stand and marvel at their dulcet tones (they’re actually not as good as they think they are), and can confirm that it is utterly infuriating. You have my sympathies OP.

I'm going to Google these songs /scenes.

When I was a teenager, I got so I'd know a song was coming (fucking big hint when some eighth cousin would phone saying they'd be late as the traffic was bad and within five minutes Mum or one of the others was wailing away at Loch Lomond) and I swear it made me feel panicky, actual I want to run away panic. I know that sounds mad

Apparently it's rude not to stop what you're doing and listen when someone is singing, but not rude to belt one out when you can clearly see someone is watching a crucial episode of Doctor Who.

This all comes from them being featured as local singing sensations back in the 60s and being toted round to sing at the opening of a few new silage tanks or whatever in the name of God counted as fun back then

It went to their heads and now here we are

We have a video of an Aunt singing god knows what for 10 minutes it is toe curlingly bad the notes so long and she is very intense !

Your family are insane. My Dad occasionally does this and everyone walks off, tells him to shut the fuck up or comments about dementia.

This is the normal, healthy British response. This is the spirit that made the UK great.

Where will we be if we start saying encouraging, positive drivel when people draw attention to themselves? America, that's where.

Shirleyphallus I'd boil my own head if they started in on Shakespeare. I couldn't cope at all. That would be the end.

I don't know why this thing is so embarrassing, it's just people speaking (or singing) but it really really is.

And yes to whoever said but what if everybody sang... Singing is quite a dominating thing to do when you're the only one doing it and I don't think they realise how much it invades your mind space

Donquixote I couldn't agree more.

i never forget in toddler group where we used to sing, nursery rhymes, a particular mum, music teacher i think, put a whole spin on it, totally ruined it

It must be like living in a musical. Actual hell.

If I start singing in the carr my dh/ sons automatically turn the radio on. I take the hint. [Grin]

Lol lol lol at drawing attention like Americans!!!!

Oh and something else I’ve just remembered - people who do this inevitably have some fans. Usually a great old aunt who thinks they’re SUPER fun and such a laugh. You know the type “oh sue? She’s such a giggle. Lovely singing voice”.

They’re exactly the sort of auntie who will record the performance on a shaky, rubbish phone and then MAKE YOU WATCH IT LATER

All the time nodding and feeling more awkward while they look at you just waiting for you to explode in to rapturous applause

Shirleyphallus jesus Christ yes. you must be a third cousin, surely? Are you the one who ran off on her husband even though he did the dishes and was a good provider?

My mum breaks out into song all the time too. ANY excuse. However I mostly just roll my eyes or make a sarcastic comment and it's enough to stop her.

Yours sound desperate for attention and adulation. Just start laughing at them or ask them, why do you always have to sing in such a dramatic fashion when we're sat in the car? It's a bit self indulgent, please stop!

get yourself some bagpipes. Play them at random intervals. Whenever someone starts to sing, insist on playing an accompanyment.

@donquixotedelamancha YAAAAssss!!! 💯 this!!

This would make an excellent comedy sketch

Ooh, I'm a bit of a (bad) singer. I burst into songs if my kids say something that reminds me of the lyrics to anything. But I only sing a line or two. Obviously singing the whole song and making them listen in rapturous wonder is the way to go!

YANBU. It does sound tiring! My kids tell me to shut up, and I take it in good humour. And there's no way I'd interrupt Doctor Who for a song!

love the bagpies idea,

or a violin, a drum,
if you dont want to join in singing >

Are you me, OP?

I feel exactly the same - I came from a family home which was very flamboyant and as a result, I am a massive introvert. My mum used to sing loudly as she pushed me round the supermarket in a trolley, something I can vividly remember from the age of 2 and it still makes me cringe now

i am the same MrsBeliever, but just one line, singing tourettes I think

Oh Gawd. This is (almost) me

NOT in a "I'm singing so you must all stop/listen/praise"way. Absolutely not. I'm not that vain.

But, I do sing randomly. And it doesn't take a lot. Usually if I hear a phrase or similar that's in a song I know. And 99% of the time it'll be from a musical. Honest to goodness, the majority of the time it's automatic and I've done it so often and for so long, it's subconscious and I don't realise. I'm aware enough not to do it anywhere inappropriate though you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be singing it in my head!

DS is now 11. We went to parents evening at his new (secondary) school. We knew he'd be heading over with his mates and I had strict instructions to 1. Not use teen language and 2. Don't sing 😂

I promise there's no long term damage afoot as he's also told me he secretly loves it and he'd rather I am how I am instead of "stuffy". AND he cried from Bring Him Home onwards when we saw Les Mis. So there

There is nothing more cringeworthy than people who are very very pleased with themselves

Like another poster said, it’s just not British!