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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Ian Sample Science editor

FORGOTTEN HISTORY: A mega mechanism for bonding why singing together does us good | History Defined

A church choir
People who are more engaged in singing have lower rates of depression and higher levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction than others. Photograph: Sopa Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

For the Columbia Road carol service in Bethnal Green, east London, the power of TikTok proved too much. After footage of December’s first singalong went viral, thousands turned up to ding dong merrily, forcing organisers to scrap the events over fears for public safety.

The cobbled street’s Victorian charm has always drawn the crowds, but the carol service has become an extraordinary seasonal hit. The success mirrors the nation’s newfound enthusiasm for group singing, a trend that follows the rise of the TV choirmaster Gareth Malone and the increasing popularity of rock choir and pop choir.

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