Sing dela Sing: Alle singen all night long

“Everyone sings—all night long”

The motto of Sing dela Sing really sums it up: group karaoke for anyone who doesn’t like singing alone. A simple concept that holds the promise of wonderful moments of joy.

Once a month, Berlin-based musicians Gunter Papperitz and Cem A. Süzer sing their way through all vocal ranges and age groups with their audience—a far cry from church choirs and singing clubs. The FAQ is bringing this wonderful event to Vorarlberg. In this interview, Gunter Papperitz reveals why it’s going to be so much fun.

Gunter, your sing-along evenings in Berlin are almost always sold out. Why is singing together so much fun?

“Singing can be absolutely dreadful when you’re made to perform in front of others or humiliated. I remember having to sing in front of the whole class at school. And if you can’t do it or your voice is breaking, it’s totally mean. Even when you’re standing all alone on a karaoke stage, it can get embarrassing very quickly.”

And how is it for you guys?

“Most people go home after a Sing dela Sing night thinking, ‘Wow, that actually sounds really good—and I thought I couldn’t sing.’ I think that’s the reason why Sing dela Sing works so well. With us, everyone can jump right in. You don’t have to learn anything, and there are absolutely no prerequisites. Plus, everyone gets a sense of accomplishment pretty quickly. Because when everyone sings together, it never really sounds that bad.”

So is it easier to sing in a group?

“As I said, singing in front of others can be really uncomfortable and embarrassing. After all, people prefer to sing in private—like in the car or in the shower. A professional singer recently told me that she loves singing in the car best, because there she’s completely alone and can finally sing however she wants without having to worry about whether anyone is listening. We have moments like that at Sing dela Sing, too. We want to create a space where you can simply do whatever you feel like doing. There’s a large group where you can let loose, but also blend into the background or hide. We want singing to be associated with something positive.”

Sounds a bit like a big group therapy session?

“Oh, that makes it sound bigger than it is. I’m really just a pianist who sits up front and is good at guiding people in their singing. That’s all there is to it. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that anyone gets their problems under control because of this, or that I’ll soon be able to get paid by health insurance (laughs).

Sing dela Sing is an event that brings many people together, but everyone experiences it differently. Some are totally euphoric, others totally relaxed. There are people who practically drag themselves over to us after work because they’ve already bought tickets. And even though they have absolutely no desire to sing, after three songs they’ve forgotten all the stress of the day and are singing their hearts out.”