There are many possible reasons why some people say they cannot sing. Some would like to learn it, most would not. Those who would not, often deem amateur singing a freaky or ridiculous pursuit, similar to, say, nudism.

A welcome side effect of those horrible "casting shows" is that the prestige of singing has risen considerably. Unfortunately, many watchers get the idea that it is reserved to people who "got talent", and that all others will be ridiculed actively. School teachers still have a lot of work to do; so have other role models and mass media.