This morning during my commute, I had Foreigner’s "Hot Blooded" stuck in my head. I blame both American Idol (I’m still trying to decide just how bad of an idea it was for Robbie Carrico to sing it earlier this week) and this. Arriving at my stop, I was jolted from my public-transportation coma and back to reality, where, for a split-second, I was overcome with the fear that I’d accidentally sung or hummed a line aloud. (The rendition in my head had been that vivid, and the people sitting around me were now that quiet.)
I told PopWatch’s Annie Barrett, pictured*, about my fear, and naturally, she didn’t share it. She likes it when she finds herself or others spontaneously "boppin’" on the subway because they’re that into their music. Sometimes, she’ll even purposely mouth the words to a song she’s listening to just because she enjoys watching other commuters play name that tune.
So, settle this debate: On a scale of 1 to 10, how embarrassing is it to be caught spontaneously singing in public?
* Both Annie and I would again like to thank the gentleman who saw us shooting this photo on the corner of 53rd and Broadway earlier today and offered to take the picture so I could be in it as well. You see, sir, Annie was being serious when she said, "Thanks, but we’re deliberately doing it this way. It’s a professional photo shoot."
Not buying the bit about the professional photo Mandi, you just want to keep your identity hidden from us…
I don’t know if this is a compliment, but upon clicking on this page, I thought the picture was of Courtney Love.
Depends on how good of a singer you are, lol….
My Mom sings out loud in stores in her “Mom” way, and it used to embarrass me so much. I would forever be ‘shushing’ her. To my dismay, I find myself doing the exact same thing. I have become my mother.
I love looking over at a car in the next lane and seeing or hearing someone belting out the tunes for all they’re worth. Perhaps it’s because it makes me feel less silly for doing it myself.
Whenever I see someone singing on the street, I think of joy. It’s such a happy overflowing. As much as it often annoys me, I have to say I love it, because people only do it when life is good.
I have to stop myself from singing/mouthing the words on the subway or walking on the sidewalk. I feel a litte freer if I’m on my block, but there are so many songs that can only be sung out loud.
I do bop by head and tap my feet as discreetly as I can.
It’s irritating as sh*t when you get stuck next to someone on the subway who decides to sing out loud!
Is your car considered “public”? Cause if it, then I’ve given whole concerts for people in other cars.
I have sung to myself in cars [I don't drive] and the person who drives always says, “What? Did you say something?” and I always so “No…” but I watched the TV show “Fame” growing up. I always thought students bursting into song and jumping and dancing on desks was a regular occurrence. In fact, I was written up about singing and dancing in the halls in my freshman year of high school by one of my baffled teachers…and my own mother did not help my case by saying [truthfully, I suppose] that I had a “tendency to exhibit bizarre behavior by dancing down the hall and bursting into song” and it took me a while to realize that I’ll never be Erica Gimpel…and if I am, it will only be in my dreams.
Catch myself doing it occasionally while driving (possibly dangerous cause some people will think you cussing them out – which will set them off)
I wish I was friends with you guys. That picture is hilarious.
Let’s see–If it’s me, it’s a 10 on the embarassment scale. If it’s someone else, it’s about a 3. Had to laugh at “Nose”‘s posting. My kids want to die if I even hum in a store. But it can be really cute if someone, depending on age, song, etc, is singing in public. And I vote that singing in your car doesn’t count as “in public”.
I do it at work sometimes (my iPod is used to pass the times when the paperwork slows down) and I try to keep it from going public but sometimes it slips out. It’s a little embarassing and I constantly look for people who might have heard me. I’d rate it a 7 on a 1-10 scale in terms of embarassment. But I have a pretty good voice from choir classes in high school so at least I don’t make other people’s ears bleed. My co-workers will ask what I’m listening to most times.
very embarrassing…especially when you break out into HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT in a room of people quietly chatting.
Depends on the setting. In Puerto Rico, it seems everyone does it, so I feel no shame belting out salsa classics while walking to the beach. In DC, which is much more conservative, singing in the streets guarantees many “you’re totally crazy” stares from people.
I grew up singing out loud while walking (it made trips seem shorter), and think the car’s a great setting for belting out tunes. But while walking in public now, it takes a lot of chutzpah to do it. But every now and then I’ve just gotta do it, despite the looks from people.
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