There's a feeling of power you get from leading or performing a song. For a short while, everyone follows and supports you until you give up that power to the next singer. It's like one huge pat on the back.

I don't think some microcosms of US culture have the same aversion to public amateur (finally spelled it right) singing as middle class white folks. I worked at a shelter in DC one Thanksgiving, and an African-American woman sat down at the piano and started playing "Stand by Me," and everyone sang along. During military exercises in Korea we were cooped up in the hosital for long periods with nothing to do. I walked down the hall and heard a bunch of people (mixed ethnically, but instigated by an African-American man) singing '60s soul songs.

Maybe if we turned the electronic noises off long enough, we'd have to sing.