Reasons why a number of strangers would break out into song

One of my characters seems to have this ability to turn Real Life into a musical number but I want it to seem like something that would naturally happen rather than something that just seems to spring out of nowhere.

They all got drunk. You'd be surprised how often that happens in my life.

You must have a very interesting life. :D

Do you NEED to be natural in breaking out in dance? They could dance if they want to. They can leave their friends behind... BECAUSE THEIR FRIENDS DON'T DANCE AND IF THEY DON'T DANCE THEN THEY'RE NO FRIENDS OF MINE! S-S-S-S-A-A-A-A-F-F-F-F-E-E-E-E...

Maybe a particular song comes on the radio, one person starts singing, then someone else, and soon you have a critical mass?

Once got the whole class to break into song and dance with I will survive. My life is awesome like that.

Flash mob?

(sighs) so jealous of you...

Once I read some legends about fairies that play really awesome music that compels passerby to dance until they die.

An eccentric billionaire strolls into the street, proclaiming that anyone whose singing tickles their fancy will win a hundred million dollars.

Barring that, fairies sounds like the most logical explanation.

Improv Everywhere does that sometimes.

: I heard that too. Maybe you can have humans invent compelling music.

If an authoritarian dictatorship was recently overthrown, then a song mocking said dictatorship could probably be broken into by a large group.

In other words, Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead? (Oh, that trope isn't actually what I thought it was.)

edited 2nd Apr '11 2:36:19 PM by Yej

Alternately, an insane dictator who loves musicals forces the populace to learn the terrible songs and dance routines he writes and perform them in his palace square at designated times each day. Those who do not comply must face the dreaded Ministry of Music.

We will meet in a place where there is no silence...

You know, I've been wondering why a number of strangers break into songs. I don't get it! IT KEEPS HAPPENING TO ME!

I wonder if you could create a closed community (like a cult) and slowly create a culture that implements the Musical World Hypothesis in Real Life by just improvising lyrics and melodies on the spot.

First off, don't think of musicals as this whole other world. It isn't, really. People strike up conversations (duets), talk to themselves or the audience (solo pieces), talk in a crowd (ensemble pieces), and repeat things (choruses). Only instead of speaking to convey the same information that would be used in a play, they sing it.

That's how people suspend disbelief when watching a musical, at least for well-written ones—it follows the same basic principle as well-written plays, using music as a framing device for the plot underneath it, instead of an excuse to rely on catchy melodies and dance numbers as filler.

I would suggest writing dialogues, monologues, and really any scene where you want singing in the same way you'd write a regular story, before arranging them to fit into a musical format.

edited 2nd Apr '11 9:42:51 PM by Leradny

Oh, and Sand Josieph, I didn't realize you changed your avatar until I read your quote. XD