Has whistling become a thing of the past?

LETHAL LADY · 13-11-2011 03:52AM #1

In days of old, you could not walk into the local newsagents without some merry fellow whistling an old tune. Is it a dying phenomenon.

chin_grin · 13-11-2011 03:58AM

Good!

WindSock · 13-11-2011 03:58AM

I think it is, now people have their personal listening devices and whatnots there are fewer wanting to make little bits of melody to fill the air with.

Still hear it the odd time, but.

Or...maybe it is a tradesman thing and now that there are less of them working or living here, the music has died somewhat.

starbelgrade · 13-11-2011 03:59AM

You can't beat Ennio Morricone for a good oul whistle....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHbo6-3sN2k

The King of Moo · 13-11-2011 04:00AM

No, people are whistling all the time. It's just most people's lips have evolved to whistle at a higher tone, which people with atavistic, old-fashioned ears can't hear.

chin_grin · 13-11-2011 04:03AM

The King of Moo wrote: »

No, people are whistling all the time. It's just most people's lips have evolved to whistle at a higher tone, which people with atavistic, old-fashioned ears can't hear.

Or could be the introduction of mp3 players turned up to eleven that tears my hearing to pieces (it's ok I wear headphones so I'm not 'that' person).

Whistling is so old school. Tinnitus is where it's at nowadays.

The King of Moo · 13-11-2011 04:06AM

chin_grin wrote: »

Or could be the introduction of mp3 players turned up to eleven that tears my hearing to pieces (it's ok I wear headphones so I'm not 'that' person).

Whistling is so old school. Tinnitus is where it's at nowadays.

Sorry what was that?

:pac:

I've destroyed my hearing too, as my response to it being worse is to turn my music up louder so I can hear it!

It wasn't me! · 13-11-2011 04:08AM

I do tend to whistle if I'm going from the car to somewhere or back to the car, or if a bit of a tune pops into my head. Have been known to get looked at like an escaped mental patient for it though.

HeidiHeidi · 13-11-2011 04:10AM

My Dad has Feis medals for whistling!

I think it's sad that you don't hear whistling any more - I do my bit every now and then, but I get very funny looks... it's not quite the thing any more....:o

flanum · 13-11-2011 04:11AM

nope,,, confirmed whistler here!! (electrician in a factory) ... also took up th mechanical aid a few years ago.. the tin whistle... also youll be pleased to know that there is actually a category in fleadhna competitions "whistling".... like lilting, basically whistling a known jig or reel... actually becoming a bit of a re-emerger in county fleadh circles!
it comes under the banner "WHISTLING- FEADAIL".. and heres a list of previous winners right up to 2010... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_All-Ireland_Champions#Whistling_.28Feada.C3.ADl.29

LETHAL LADY · 13-11-2011 04:23AM

Let us not be naive here:eek:

Einhard · 13-11-2011 04:27AM

I can't do the really loud, fingers-in-the-mouth whistle. It's really annoying, especially when I'm out walking the dogs, and even the littlest old lady can do this piercing whistle that commands respect and exudes authority, and there's me trying to compete with that and control my dogs with my puny, pursed lips whistling.

WindSock · 13-11-2011 04:31AM

I whistle sometimes but just the low volumen, high pitched kind with my tongue and teeth, rather than the traditional warbly lips way. And it's usually nothing in particular.

LETHAL LADY · 13-11-2011 04:36AM

WindSock wrote: »

I whistle sometimes but just the low volumen, high pitched kind with my tongue and teeth, rather than the traditional warbly lips way. And it's usually nothing in particular.

Yihaaaaa

floutingmaxims · 13-11-2011 04:41AM

food

patwicklow · 13-11-2011 04:42AM

I can whistle any tune in any note even match the notes and keep up on any key on the tin whistle done it many times on stage its better with a foam covered microphone to get the full effect people say i sould take it further but never did no money to be earned in it.any pub in west London im known as the west London whistler,lol

senorwipesalot · 13-11-2011 11:26AM

Swit swoo

the purple tin · 13-11-2011 11:34AM

senorwipesalot wrote: »

Swit swoo

Has the wolf whistle died out too?:eek:
How will builders compliment women from afar now?

sgb · 13-11-2011 12:01PM

Yes

Just thought I'd post here so I can get thanks from LETHAL LADY

Everybody else did

seanbmc · 13-11-2011 12:13PM

I like to whistle when I'm by myself, usually around the house. Wouldn't be doing it on the bus though :pac:

LETHAL LADY · 13-11-2011 12:34PM

I am whistling today because I just got my tickets to RHCP yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee.:D

Scruffles · 13-11-2011 12:52PM

whistling has definitely never disappeared.:eek:
some people may like doing or hearing it but its also viewed [or heard] differently by surrounding people so be aware of others to.
in own experience,hearing whistling is incredibly agonising due to having a off the chart level of hearing and also having profound hyperacusis.
will react to sound badly because of the deep shockwaves of pain it sends out,the worst that continuous whistling in particular has caused is trigger epileptic seizures as most people ignore support staffs pleas for understanding from those nearby who stand/sit there totaly out of it.

sorry for veering the theme a bit from whistling but people easily understand and accept the issues that deaf/hearing impaired people have with sound but they dont accept those of us on the extreme opposite of the hearing spectrum as well as neuro hearing sensitivity disorders such as hyperacusis though thats partly because of the lack of awareness.
people dont realise that sound can have a accute affect on people.

Jordan 199 · 13-11-2011 03:47PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQ5sEOhbjQ

3ndahalfof6 · 13-11-2011 03:57PM

Jordan 191 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQ5sEOhbjQ

he sure was busting some moves, where did it all go wrong.

Celly Smunt · 13-11-2011 03:59PM

Einhard wrote: »

I can't do the really loud, fingers-in-the-mouth whistle. It's really annoying, especially when I'm out walking the dogs, and even the littlest old lady can do this piercing whistle that commands respect and exudes authority, and there's me trying to compete with that and control my dogs with my puny, pursed lips whistling.

then keep your stupid dogs on a lead?

John Doe1 · 13-11-2011 08:31PM

My dad does it as a sort of nervous reaction type thing, its infuriating!

ejmaztec · 13-11-2011 09:50PM

I whistle the 1812 Overture when there's no lock on a toilet door.

MyKeyG · 13-11-2011 09:52PM

I whistle when it's off to work I go.

Rhyme · 13-11-2011 10:04PM

Up until about two years ago I couldn't whistle at all. Practiced and practiced for ages and now I whistle when I'm idle around college, work or at home or just getting something done. It's a nice challenge to try and follow songs and old tunes beat-for-beat when you're otherwise occupied.

I get very conscious about it around other people though, some people aren't too partial to whistling.

Kojak · 13-11-2011 10:11PM

Whistling is a bit like belching for the upper-middle classes......

Kevin Duffy · 13-11-2011 10:23PM

I frequently whistle. I have a repetoire of quite classy tunes, classical and opera. Some are from Madam Butterfly and my ambition would be to whistle Cho Cho San's dying aria, but it may not be possible, or at least it's beyond me so far. I love to whistle anything from Carmen, but the Toreadors Song is my favourite. In a very good mood, Baby I Love you gets an airing.

Has whistling become a thing of the past?

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