Have I become a horrible older person?

[Goldx2]

I know most of you will disagree with me but I’m just hoping someone will understand.

I am a 66 yr old F. I went to see Olly Murs & Take that in concert the other night. Olly was on from 19:30 until 20:15 then Take That from about 20:45 for 2 hrs.

2 girls in their 20’s in the row behind me (directly behind me so in my ear) had obviously learnt every word to every song and were thoroughly enjoying themselves singing along.

Now here was the problem. They weren’t just singing along , they were singing at the tops of their voices literally shouting throughout every song. It really spoilt the concert for me. About 30 mins before the end I snapped and asked them nicely to tone it down. My sister & my friend said I shouldn’t have done that. AIBU?

I honestly hate this attitude. Who wants to go to a gig to sit in silence? And you're ruining somebody else having a good time. Just stay at home and put Spotify on lol.

do you have children @BlackCat007 ?

how old are you?

Yes. Old.

There is a happy medium between sitting in silence and screaming down someone’s ear you know 😂

You shouldn't.

It's one thing singing along (emphasis on 'singing') at the encore or when the band encourages it but it's not ok to spoil the event for others.

And I bet it wasn't cheap

But to be fair, I wouldn't go to an arena concert because I want to hear and see the act, not watch on screens from miles away

I would hate this too. But I'd just accept its the nature of the beast and they weren't doing anything wrong, and it was my bad luck they were behind me. I'm mid 50s and my age has taught me that other people don't act for my convenience and that if I'm going go places where there's a lot of them, and I drop unlucky, that's too bad.

Who wants to go to a gig and pay to hear you caterwaul sing rather than the act?

Then again, Olly Murs…

I just think even if the kid has SEN you put something in front of their feet so they don’t impact the chair in front!

I’m sure she knew - that’s why she avoided my eye!

Or if they can’t behave don’t take them

I don't think you are horrible for not liking the probably bad singing and for saying so, but to be honest you should have expected it, given the kind of music that Olly Murs and Take That do.

I’d probs rather have the girls singing than Olly Murs to be fair. Love TT though x

Er, the OP said how old she was if you read her post.

Idk the particularly family but just a small inconvenience to yourself helps with a lot of children!

People singing along at concerts. Insufferable.

People singing along at Olly Murs and Take That concerts. Tolerable.

do you really not understand the different between a cinema/theatre and a gig/concert?

I mean OP isn't unreasonable to ask anything, particularly given she said politely, but if I was one of those girls I wouldn't have lowered my volume at all. tbh you're lucky they didn't kick off - not that they should have but it wouldn't be unusual for drunk people.

OP sounds like those women who swim slowly in the pool in a weird position with their head above water to avoid it getting wet, and then glare at people swimming normally for splashing them.

It's a concert. Singing out loud is part of the enjoyment for most people. If you don't like it, don't go next time. Although tbh your friend and sister were probably so embarrassed they won't ask you to go with them!

Blackcat007 isn't the OP.

YANBU in principle, but shouldn't you be listening to grown up music by now? (ducks) 😂

I would feel the same and probably would have said something but felt quite awkward. We went to the theatre a couple of years ago and a woman loudly shrieked with laughter every five minutes. It was all I could hear and totally spoilt the night.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't like being around the general public at large because I don't like what has become acceptable as a society in terms of acceptable behaviour. Standards also seem to be rock bottom especially when it comes to customer service.

We still go out a lot but I'm very choosy where we go these days. When we go to the cinema it's a local independent. It's a beautiful 1920s art deco place and the customers aren't the type who would be kicking the back of your chair. Usherettes show you to your seat and you can have a drink in a proper glass. Matinee tickets are £6 and evening tickets are £11 so not stupid prices.

I don't think I'm getting old and grumpy. I think I've always been like this but less likely to put up with stuff now.

Back in the day I used to do this deliberately to people who pushed in front of me and blocked my view of the stage. You'd better believe I knew every last word of every song, and my singing was shit too. It often got them moving away. Not sorry. I'd shut up then. It is annoying, OP. And now that I'm old and decrepit and need a nice seat, I can still be bugged by other people. I don't say anything to them. I daresay I'm unconsciously doing something to wind someone else up too.

I confess to being easily annoyed by a lot of things, and also worrying about environments I can’t control, after having had two very annoying brothers growing up!

Ai

You paid good money to be entertained by professional performers - not to be deafened by a couple of screech-owl Harpies.

Thumbs up!

Where did you see them OP? I’m going to see them at Nottingham Forest ground next month and tbh I’m not expecting it to be a particularly quiet experience.