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So why do people sing in the shower? It's a really interesting question to ask actually.
Undoubtedly, it is certainly notable that the number of people who are likely to sing in the shower and/or in the bathroom is curiously high.... But have you ever stopped to ask what the scientific reason behind the phenomenon is?
Upon being teased by the question,
I chose to do some research via the world wide web (thank you Google).
After all of my searching was said and done, I am led to uncertain conclusions. I have thus far found inconclusive evidence to say that there is one sole explanation behind why people sing in the shower. However, I did find a handful of probable explanations that may lead people to exercise their vocal cords more freely in a bathroom setting. Here are the two main ones:
1) The bathroom setting is an acoustically pleasing environment.
- a. Hard surfaces and lack of cushions or padding to muffle sound causes sound to reflect off of many areas, enriching one's voice. (tile, panels, ceramic, lack of carpeting, metal,
- b. The confined, small space of the bathroom - and even smaller being the shower - produces a richer sound, improving volume and vocal qualities.
2) People feel more relaxed and comfortable in the bathroom environment.
- Warm water, bright lighting, sweet smells, and a fresh-clean feeling - What more could one ask for?
- I don't know about you, but this reason definitely makes logical sense to me. A practical example, showering is easily one of the most relaxing and comforting part of my day.
- Physical relaxation leads to mental comfort. Comfort leads to a willingness of vocal expression - As an expression of happiness in many cases.
- One person on Yahoo Answers explained it this way when giving another reason why the bathroom is a comfortable environment: "The quiet solitude creates a space in which our spirit can freely express itself." Or, to put it another way, a shower's privacy allows people to relax and let loose."
On top of these reasons, an assortment of other theories and logical guesses exist. Some people seem to support the idea that sound waves reflecting off of water droplets also creates a more pleasing sound to the singer. Others have entirely different ideas - References to how the water falls out of the shower head, how warm water and humid air relaxes our muscles and vocal cords, and a variety of other supporting concepts exist.
There you have it. Mystery explained!
I am personally led to believe that it is a combination
of the two main reasons that I have supported here:
People feel more relaxed and comfortable to express themselves through singing, and the bathroom/shower provides an, overall, acoustically pleasing environment.
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Reader Response:
What do you think?
What are some reasons that singing in the shower/bathroom is so prevalent?
Haha nice scientific analysis! I think you need to set up a controlled experiment for some more detailed findings....
Sorry, just had to say that, the mental picture of having a row of showers in a laboratory with a bunch of random people singing is just cracking me up!
haha
it cracks me up too!
I heard that the feel of rain on your skin releases endorphins that make you happy and the shower simulates the same experience.
wow never knew tht
i always wondered why though :D
Mental image of laboratory singing very funny!
I think the real reason people tend to sing in the shower is the perceived privacy, further enhanced by the masking properties of the white-ish noise made by the running water.
Personally I get a similar urge to sing while vacuuming or mowing the grass, just because it feels like noone's going to hear it over the noise, thus no fear of embarrassment to stop me.
Ya... I like the sound of my voice when I sing in the shower.
Was once told that singing at the beach by the waves makes
Your voice sound good, too. I've tried but it doesn't work.🌅
im not sure i agree with that
wow yall really had a lab of people.......wierd