Sing or surge
According to reports, New York cabbies are spicing up their shifts by offering karaoke during rides. Riders are handed a mic at the meter drop and expected to belt out hits until they reach their destination. “If you dont sing, its a $20 silence surcharge,” joked one driver while queuing up Frank Sinatra.
Passengers are embracing the trend with mixed results. Some belt Broadway classics through Midtown traffic, while others mumble through Bon Jovi in broken falsetto. One viral clip shows a Wall Street executive sobbing through “Livin on a Prayer” while stuck on the FDR.
Cabbies claim karaoke rides reduce road rage and boost tips. “I dont mind honking if my passengers in key,” said one. The MTA, however, expressed concern: “We cant compete with singing cabs. Our subway delays dont come with a soundtrack.”
TikToks #CabKaraoke trend has exploded, with influencers rating drivers playlists and holding contests mid-ride. Some drivers even offer themed nights: disco Fridays, emo Mondays, and Taylor Tuesdays. “If you hit a high note, your tolls are waived,” boasted one veteran driver.
Critics call it dangerous. “My Uber never asked me to scream Beyoncé while merging onto the BQE,” said one rider. But others argue its the purest form of New York chaos. “Traffic plus karaokeits therapy on wheels.”
Tabloids sang along. “CABBIEOKE” screamed the Post. The Daily News countered: “TRAFFIC TUNES.”
Mayor Adams praised it as “mobile culture.” Governor Hochul muttered, “If I hear Cats in a cab, Im banning microphones.”
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/nyc-taxi-drivers-introduce-karaoke-rides/
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/nyc-taxi-drivers-introduce-karaoke-rides/.
By: Annika Steinmann.
