AIBU to dislike loud buskers in Underground stations?

[Bertiebiscuit]

Am i being unreasonable to really dislike most of the busking that goes on in the underground stations. It's almost always blokes ruining pop songs, on electric guitars that are far too loud, as if London transport isn't noisy enough with scores of people shouting into their phones, broadcasting the person they are talking to, or playing loud music without headphones,plus the noisy trains and the loud station announcements. Amateurish versions of outdated pop songs are just noise pollution imo, i don't understand why people give them money. I have had to resort to earplugs when i travel as i find noise levels so painful especially in the underground tunnels where the noise seems to be magnified. I don't hate music, very occasionally a well played accoustic Spanish guitar is worth stopping and listening to, quite soothing, but this very rare. Mostly the buskers are just adding to the stress tbh

I agree about buskers in general. If I want to listen to live music, I’ll make arrangements to do so and choose the type of music I want to listen to. To be honest, I just generally hate having music forced on me anywhere - I hate any music in shops and anything more than very gentle background music in restaurants, otherwise everyone has to shout over the music.

The worst for me was being in the Lake District and a busker setting up by the lakeside, spoiling a nice relaxing view.

ETA: I do wonder if it’s age related - I find the world in general to busy and loud for me.

I love the buskers in the underground stations but totally understand why someone else wouldn't.

I hardly ever see (hear) them these days.
The officially marked out busking spots (which I believe you have to have a licence to play there) are always empty.
I miss them.
🎸🪗🎺

I quite enjoy a bit of music and performance in the underground - I've never seen people on platforms or at ground level so they aren't usually competing with announcements or people on phones. Puts a spring in (some) people's step and livens up a bleak space.

I understand that some people don't like it, but that's my personal reaction.

Ugh; we went past a busker called “mrtiktokUk” or something like that, absolutely terrible felt like my ear drums were going to bust. Yanbu.

I mostly don’t like buskers because they just sing or play along to a background tune at top volume. It’s like loud karaoke.

Not half as annoying as the ones that congregate under the cloisters of the building I work in and keep it up for an entire afternoon on at least one day most weeks. Even better when we've got one under our building and another one noodling away at something else under the building across the way and I'm trying to hear myself think. I recommend a good pair of noise cancelling earphones @Bertiebiscuit I never use public transport without mine, because I'm told that barristers are expensive and apparently nobody cares that I often find it utterly overwhelming. That way, all I have to deal with is the smells, the invasion of my personal space, kids/ dogs roaming around, delays/ cancellations, the manspreading nailbiting nosepicking knee jigglers, the filth and the extortionate fares. Much easier 😁

Some buskers are awful but the ones on the Tube are usually pretty good. They have to audition to get a busking licence for the underground. I particularly love the ones who play an accordion - a rare instrument, difficult to play.

Agree with PP, TfL vets buskers carefully. I love the guy at Green Park.

Nah, I quite like it really.

Plus it's only a few nano seconds as you pass by to your platform.

I think they should have to be acoustic, no recorded music to accompany them.

Yes!

My favourite busker is the woman who is (or at least was) in the tunnel between the Bakerloo line and the Central line at Oxford Circus. She was a tiny woman, often dressed quite eccentrically, but brilliantly stompy and with a very unique voice. Always cheered me right up.

I love the buskers.

There are some that play some wild energising Albanian / Gypsy music that I love.

We’re only in earshot for a few minutes going past, waiting for a tube, do we have to ban everything?

Try walking from the tube to the lizzie line at Tottenham Court Road, with horrible electric guitar versions of Oasis tunes, unbearable

You are not unreasonable to dislike that or anything else. We are all entitled to our likes and dislikes. But I think complaining because they don’t always play Spanish acoustic guitar, which you’re quite happy with, is unreasonable.

I think volume can be an issue and should be controlled, but overall I think YABU.

They are part of our history. You don’t have to like them

My mum used to busk so that she could afford to feed us (she is a very talented musician and this was all she could do when we were faced with no income). We would have gone hungry if it weren't for her ability to busk. I have absolutely no problem with any buskers, good or bad, trying to earn a living. Perhaps if you view it as someone's livelihood or the difference between them eating or not eating that night, then you may become a bit more tolerant of it.