People singing along to concerts

[SpookyBlackCat]

Ok, it’s been a really long time since I went to a concert but I sometimes watch videos of concerts and I’ve noticed more and more that it’s the audience that’s singing and you can’t hear the actual artist.

Concert tickets are so expensive these days. I get that it’s fun to sing along but surely people would rather hear the musician sing. I’m I just being old fashioned here?

Not at all.

I pay to hear the artist, not the tone deaf woman behind me.

I've stopped going to a lot of events now because it's so bad. Never used to be!

I don’t know when you were last at a live music performance but at rock/pop type concerts the sound system is very, VERY loud. There’s no chance of drowning it out by singing along. At a more intimate venue, “unplugged” performance or even musical theatre it can definitely be annoying to have the person next to you singing. But in general I wouldn’t judge a live music experience based on a video recording. If it’s an amateur video someone has shot with their phone then it will of course pick up voices singing close to the microphone. If it was professionally produced they can emphasize the audience singing to a greater or lesser degree as a style/presentation choice but that doesn’t mean that’s what it sounded like live.

I don't go to the kind of concerts where it is acceptable to sing along anymore.

I don't really have anything against it at a rock/pop gig, but people belting it out when going to see musical theatre is not really acceptable.

I think some artists use the audience to sing the parts of songs with the notes they can no longer hit due to age. Usually the higher notes. Or notes that are only met under studio tweaking. That's why some artists are not very good live compared to their recordings.

I've expected it at rock or pop concerts and you can always hear the artist over the audience but we were at a musical and there was a woman singing along badly which really annoyed me.
Apparently this is quite common nowadays so I guess it's just a determination in what's acceptable.

I’ve been going to gigs for nearly forty years now and singing along has always been part of the experience! Musical theatre, then no, not acceptable but concerts, it absolutely is.

That’s because you’re watching a video and the phone recording is next to someone singing. I’ve never heard the person singing next to me over the artist. I’m not going to lie, I hate people recording gigs and do tend to sing for the benefit of the recording.

Yeah, the video you’re watching will be making it seem like the person singing is louder than they really are, compared to the act.

I have never been to a rock / pop concert, but I thought it was a normal thing to do at one of those. I wouldn’t expect audience participation at a musical and I don’t think I have come across that. But I have been to musicals where people start that steady clapping, now that really winds me up, I want to hear the singing not clapping!

OH, gosh, singing along to a musical is just awful.

I sometimes watch the official videos of live performances and that's where I have noticed it more and more. I actually think it's a fair comment that artists are using the audiences to cover their own issues or maybe just being lazy.
It's fun if it's just one song or one verse but song after song of the audience mostly singing. i just don't get it.

I went to see the Rock Orchestra recently, rock and metal songs played on violin, cello, brass etc. many songs completely instrumental. Talented musicians.

Totally ruined by a number of the audience singing the lyrics loudly and mostly badly over the top of the music. I won’t go to any more events like this.

I saw Self Esteem last weekend and the singing along was positively joyous.

it's almost as irritating as an idiot standing in front of me holding their phone in front of my face for the duration of the event.

I've never been to a rock gig or pop convert where people didn't sing other than unplugged, acoustic sets. There's something great about hundreds/thousands of people singing in one voice.

If it's folk/acoustic/musical theatre events them I wouldn't expect audience singing along.

Oh I'll sing good & loud at a proper rock/pop concert especially for the people who must record every minute & get it all onto their social media to prove they've been out & are doing life right. It's the least I can do for them blocking my view with their phone😉
At a quieter musical or small venue I wouldn't sing along though.

i definitely sing along at rock/pop concerts you cant really hear it-wouldnt do it a theatre show

I went to ed sheeran last night, nice guy next to us sang, videoed and uploaded online. Kicking myself I didn't add him, because I've no videos and he got loads, would love to have them. We chatted and were friendly so I'm sure he wouldn't have minded the add

Search Instagram and you may find them.

Oh I wouldn't have a clue, I'm not on insta

100% agree. I've been going to gigs for 20 years. The best part is singing along and having fun.

Ita probably louder If you are watching it on someone's phone recording.

The artists sometimes get the audience to sing too which would obviously be louder.

I've never heard anyone around me over the music at a gig or a concert and I go to loads!

On the other hand, I find people who go to gigs and concerts and sit there in silence a bit weird too and especially when they think it makes them more appreciative and superior than those dancing and singing.

But one thing I cant stand is people who get absolutely drunk at gigs/concerts and are staggering round all over the place.

And singing along in theatres (unless it's a specific sing along show) is also a no no

It's half the fun! Went to see Morrissey last week and everyone sang themselves hoarse.

Singing along at a concert is preferable to havinv idiots in front of me holding their phones up blocking my view.

I fucking hate people who hold up phones and iPads to film concerts.

Just to clarify, a lot of bands and singers upload videos of songs from their concerts to YouTube. So, they are filmed from the stage. I don’t watch videos of people filming from the audience. I didn’t realize that was a thing.

I guess if Nirvana had done their unplugged concert in 2023, it would be to a sea of phones with the audience singing along.