Singing is good for you, there’s no question of that. That it benefits our physical and mental health has been proved in countless studies. But why do we love singing along to our favourite songs in public?
It seems an obvious question with the obvious answer that it makes us feel better – but why?
There’s the social aspect of course. People will pay hundreds for rock concerts then scream the tunes so loudly they can’t hear the band, but will still go away saying it was one of the best experiences of their lives. Doing it in the shower doesn’t quite have that same magic; you need to be with like-minded souls sharing what this music means to you. We’ve all had that moment when you find that other person who knows all the lyrics to some obscure song and you immediately irritate everyone in the vicinity by going through the whole thing.
Then there’s the idea that singing and chanting excites certain parts of the brain responsible for social bonding and deep memories, so it makes sense to do it around other people, or you’re just bonding with the showerhead (and that’s your own business).
Merryhub Productions are fully exploring this phenomenon at Melbourne Fringe, with their suite of 'Singalonga' shows focusing on the well-known music of Abba, Queen, Meatloaf, Monty Python, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Elton John, as well as Tom Lehrer. Their perennial Edinburgh Fringe and Adelaide Fringe favourite is the 'Singalonga Pub Quiz' which does what it says; it’s a singalong and it’s a general knowledge pub quiz. As Betty from Adelaide said, “This show is great fun. Perfectly balanced for people like me who like to relax, sing along and feel good as a result!”
In other words, it has that wonderfully elusive quality where you can feel part of the show without drawing any attention to yourself. Brilliant!
The 'Singalonga Pub Quiz' works on another level. While MerryHub’s themed shows appeal to fans of a particular genre, 'SPQ' (for short) covers a vast range of songs from pub standards like 'Coming Round The Mountain' through musical theatre bangers like 'New York' or 'Consider Yourself' to pop and rock classics from The Beatles or The Killers. And apparently, the playlist and questions vary every day so you can come again and again if you like, and get a whole new show!
There's no big money behind any of these shows, just a passion for entertaining that united Adelaide musician Antony Hubmayer and Edinburgh regular Mister Meredith. . . And judging by the glowing reviews each year, this passion certainly shines through.
The suite of 'Singalonga' shows are being presented at the Speakeasy Theatre from the 13-19 October as part of the Melbourne Fringe.
