Aisle be singing

You’re at Rouses, pushing your cart in search of rutabaga. You round the corner and encounter a startling thing: a woman is singing loudly. It happens now and then, drawing smiles from people who catch the joy of public song, while making others squirm. 

So why do some people break into song in public places?

Part of the answer is simple. A body of research finds that singing can reduce stress, lift spirits and create feelings of connection. For some people, the tune slips out because it feels good, and because music is one of the faster ways humans have found to light up the air around them.  

There is also the earworm problem. Researchers call it involuntary musical imagery, which is a way of saying a song gets stuck in the mind. One common response is to hum or sing a bit of it out loud, whether the setting invited that or not.  

The rest comes down to inhibition. Some people keep the song inside or are unaware they are singing. Others are are unconcerned about whether aisle seven counts as a stage. Public singing can be mildly unnerving. But often it is just mood, music and a thin social filter colliding near the produce.