Sing-alongs bring people together for the fun of it
Annelore Camps of Ghent founded Allez, Chantez! to help people discover the joy of singing together
Let it go
Camps is one of the founders of Allez, Chantez!, an initiative from Ghent that brings people together to sing – just for the fun of it. “Basically, Allez, Chantez! is the most open and accessible way for us to sing together,” she says. “We’ve tried to remove all possible obstacles and barriers that would prevent people from singing at the top of their lungs.”
There are other ways to sing in groups, like choirs, she continues, but these require some talent, knowledge or experience. “My friends and I were looking for an opportunity to sing with others but didn’t find what we were looking for, so we started something ourselves.”
The regular group sing-alongs organised by Allez, Chantez! are fairly simple. A music coach leads the crowd in pop songs – mostly in English but sometimes in Dutch – accompanied by a guitarist, pianist or accordion player. Participants receive a songbook – with generally recognisable songs by Abba, Adéle or Boudewijn De Groot – and off they go.
Across generations
“It’s a bit like when you hear a nice tune on the radio and start singing,” Camps says. “The only difference is that you’re in a group. It’s free, and there is no need to register; you just have to show up.”
According to Camps, singing in groups can be a perfect way to build a community. “We have noticed that singing brings with it a kind of vulnerability. By providing an open environment, without pressure and judgement, people open up, not only to their own voice, but to others as well. Singing together makes us more social.”
It’s really heartwarming to see how easily people forget that they thought they couldn’t sing
The very first session of Allez, Chantez! took place in 2014 in Ghent. Today, the singing craze has spread across Flanders. They have also branched out to include team-building formulas, theatre performances and school groups.
The concept has clearly struck a chord with a wide audience, says Camps. “Our sessions bring together a very diverse crowd from different generations. There are 20-somethings singing alongside grandmothers. It’s really heart-warming to see how easily people forget that they thought they couldn’t sing.”
Photo: Els Van Bosbeke
