Sounds, part 1

Listen to this group's rendition of "Silent Night"

The scene
The area around 34th Street and Eighth Avenue, on a blustery Saturday afternoon

The players
The professional caroling group Definitely Dickens (definitelydickens.com), an a cappella quartet that performs “a variety of traditional and contemporary Christmas and holiday classics in beautiful Dickens-style costuming”

Photograph: Imogen Brown

Stop 1
Duane Reade
The only New Yorkers who go to the pharmacy on a wintry Saturday morning are those in need of Plan B or flu medicine. But even they can be cheered up with Christmas carols! Or maybe not. As the group belted out “Deck the Halls,” everyone inside continued on their unmerry ways, avoiding eye contact and not stopping to listen. Others lurked around the corner, peeking out just enough to see what the elf was going on. I approached one guy who was comparing NyQuil and Tylenol Cold and asked him if he had a favorite carol he’d like to hear. “What’d you say? My head’s all clogged.” When I asked manager Jean if he’d like some cheer, he responded, “No, I don’t have the time.” Multitask, Jean! Then we moved upstairs near the cashiers, where people were more warm and receptive, and—o holy night!—the sick scrooge from downstairs even smiled on his way out! Success!

Photograph: Imogen Brown

Stop 2
West Midtown Medical Group
At first, we thought dropping by a meth clinic would be in poor taste, but then we thought, Seriously, who needs cheering up more? While the carolers sang “White Christmas,” three patients in the waiting area watched with their mouths agape. No one sang along, and only the employees requested songs (“Jingle Bells” and “Feliz Navidad”), while the security guards accompanied on bells. One scruffy-faced guy in a flannel shirt, when asked if he was enjoying the melodic happiness, shrugged and said, “It’s all right, but it’s not really my thing.” Ismael, a manager, explained the patients’ lack of holiday spirit: “Nobody wants to be here.” Point taken. Peace.

Photograph: Imogen Brown

Stop 3
Apartment building
The quartet rang a random apartment in a shady-looking building on Ninth Avenue, and without asking who it was, the occupant buzzed us in. (Good thing they’re not singing rapists!) A sweet Greek man named Fotios descended the stairs when he heard them singing “Winter Wonderland.” He requested “Little Drummer Boy” and stood there listening with a huge smile plastered on his face. His neighbors weren’t quite so amenable. “Stay away from the apartment with the dogs,” warned Fotios, over the barking. Knocks on five different doors garnered only one response…through a peephole. “I’m not coming out. I have a woman in here who’s 94 years old,” said the lady on the other side of the door. Still, the group sang “Silent Night” at her welcome mat, and an eyeball kept looking out. By “round yon virgin, mother and child,” I spotted smile lines.

Photograph: Imogen Brown

Stop 4
MTA bus
The M34 crosstown bus was named the slowest in the city, so our a cappella–ing crew boarded the slowpoky vehicle to make the ride a little more enjoyable. Driver John was happy to hear the soothing melodies of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and wished the carolers were on board every day. (“I think it would relax the passengers.”) The group took up precious space and blocked the exit, but judging by the amount of smiling and swaying, everyone seemed to enjoy the music. Except for one elderly lady, who shuffled past them with her cane yelling, “Clear the way!” Yeah, well, she can take that fa-la-la and shove it.

NEXT: SOUNDS, PART 2 »

Time Out New York / Issue 638 : Dec 13–26, 2007

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