Going for a song

The NZ Youth Choir's winning ways have hit the news, but as the popularity of community singalongs shows, you don't have to be a good singer to join a choir.

- PAUL LITTLE

Do you hear the people sing? If not, you might want to get your hearing checked, because at sports events, cinemas, neighbourhood halls and theatres the length of the country, and on America's Got Talent, the community singalong is back in full-throated force. Once an entertainment staple, the good old-fashioned singsong was until recently relegated to Wednesday afternoons at the retirement village. Suddenly, it's cool again. Even New Zealand Opera is crowdsourcing the crowd for its next production.

It's not clear exactly why. Perhaps enforced separation during Covid lockdowns has made us keen to get together to share in a joyful experience. Perhaps we were just waiting to be asked. What is clear is that in all versions, singalongs have a few things in common: inclusiveness, permission to perform (which might have been traumatically extinguished at school) and a massive feelgood factor, physically and mentally. No wonder everyone is practising good choral hygiene.

It probably helps that you don't need a lot of equipment or prep. You might just need Fiona McDonald up the front with a ukulele. McDonald has been hosting regular singalongs in Auckland community halls since May. You get the impression that, despite stellar years in cooler-than-cool bands such as Headless Chickens and Strawpeople, she is now having the most fun she's ever had making music.

There's only one requirement for a song to be in her shows: “It has to be a banger,” says McDonald. “Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U is a slow, sad love song. But do we all love it? Do we all know it? And can we all sing it? We can.” Expect also to join in on the comfortably familiar likes of Sylvia's Mother, Jolene and, of course, Ten Guitars. And yes, you can bring your guitar or banjo along.