Joyful Noise
Went to hear music the other evening, and while we waited recorded music was played. At one point, on came Elvis singing, Can't Help Falling in Love, and before you knew it all the boys there at the club began to sing along. Me included. And it was fun. When the artist, the subject of our intentions, finally came on stage to rousing applause, we all sang along to his songs, too. And it was surprising how many of us knew at least some of the lyrics.
And I realized that the same thing has occurred at almost all the shows I’ve seen recently. They include audience participation whether the artist likes it or not. I guess people like to sing along. Although some people don’t like it. My late wife once informed me, as I sang along at a show we attended, that she was there to hear to the artist not me. Good point, but when you know a song and you like it, it’s hard to keep quiet. Although maybe it’s a generational thing because as a youth I don’t recall a lot of sing-alongs at concerts I attended.
Anyway, if audience participation is a new thing, I think it is a good thing and satisfies some urge toward communal activity, a desire to do things as a group, to feel part of something larger than ourselves. It was why I liked to sing at church. And it’s why I like to join the big choir and sing popular songs at concerts these days. And I like to hear other people singing along too because you know the sound is born of happiness and joy and that’s a thing to be celebrated. It’s the sound of love.