# Why do we sing along? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756 "2003-10-31T23:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/1 "2003-10-31T23:38:25Z")
Why do humans feel the urge to sing along to songs? I mean, when I’m listening to a song that I know really well, I start singing along almost automatically. And if I make myself stop, I feel an even stronger pull to start again. What instills that urge in us? (I’d put this in GD, but it seems too unimportant for that) ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/2 "2003-11-01T00:17:34Z")
It just feels good! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/3 "2003-11-01T00:18:33Z")
Because that is exactly what music appeals to within us, or to put it another way, that is what music is _for_. ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/4 "2003-11-01T03:10:52Z")
Because I can generally sing it better than the person on the radio 😛 Seriously, I just feel great after I’ve been driving a while singing at the top of my lungs. It just takes away a great deal of stress for me. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/5 "2003-11-01T04:38:26Z")
Because it allows us, for the duration of a song, to take on the coolness of the singer without having to do all that training and recording and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/6 "2003-11-01T18:50:19Z")
“Because it allows us, for the duration of a song, to take on the coolness of the singer without having to do all that training and recording and stuff” That would tend to imply that it is a conscious, willing desire. “Because that is exactly what music appeals to within us, or to put it another way, that is what music is for.” I like that explanation, **Mangetout** , but I don’t think it really gets to the heart of the matter. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-sing-along/210756/7 "2003-11-01T20:26:15Z")
To a certain extent, it’s a vicarious experience for people. For 3 minutes (or 5 or whatever), you can feel the emotions of the song - you can feel the elation, you can feel the sadness, you can feel the anger. It can make you feel alive, energized. By singing along, you are no longer a spectator to the emotions of the song - you are a participant. It’s kind of another example of thrill-seeking for people where they seek experiences and emotions that they would not necessarily feel in their normal lives. That’s my half-assed assessment.