I got busted over the weekend while driving, shocking, I know. I profess to be a clean-living, no-tv watching goody-two-shoes…but I’ll admit to yet another deep, dark vice.
I’m an “IN THE CAR SUPER STAR.” (I’m trademarking this term, so don’t even think about touching it.) What is an ITCSS you ask? Oh, you’ve seen us, you know the type.
You pull up to a traffic light, inching up toward the line and throw a casual glance at the vehicle and driver next to you. And there I am, windows rolled up, hands and head moving with the music (possibly holding up a pen or marker as a microphone stand-in), belting out “Walk On By” by Dionne Warwick for all I’m worth.
And then I notice you staring open-mouthed at me. I drop my “mic”, snap my mouth shut, and start fixing my hair, pretending that was why my hands were flailing around my head. Shoot. You busted me cold. I’m sorry you had to see it but I can’t help myself.
So, to the handsome guy in the blue Lexus who wheeled up next to me at the light on Bridge Avenue Saturday afternoon, I’m sorry I startled you with my in-the-car caberet.
I didn’t mean to make you laugh so hard that cappuccino came shooting out of your nostrils and on to your crisp white oxford button-down. I can only hope that you didn’t get my license plate number so that you can send me your dry cleaning bill.
Please tell me that I’m not alone. Tell me you ALSO sing in your car…loudly….with or without a microphone prop. Help.
I, too, am an ITCSS. But, see, I wear a hands-free cellphone headseat while driving so it would appear to onlookers that I’m merely talking on the phone instead of rocking out to Metallica.
LMAO at this post, CWG. You have totally busted me! If there is an ITCSS support group, please email me a meeting schedule!
True story: I was pulled over once by the State Police on Rte 78 while singing along with a beat up old cassette tape, oblivious as to how fast I was going. I was so freaked out after noticing the police lights that I didn’t turn down the stereo all the way. When the cop leaned into the car he listened for a moment then asked me, “Is that song what I think it is?” I sure was hoping he had a sense of humor…it was the “Smokey and the Bandit” soundtrack. Fortunately, he thought it was so funny that he let me go with a warning.
@jonsquared: You could probably market cheap fake bluetooth ear receivers for people who have ITCSS syndrome and make millions!
@ jimsmuse – i can see the infomercial now…
Once again, the universe has given a sign as to why our paths have crossed.
I manage my image far too scrupulously to ever be caught engaging in such behavior.
On a related note, one thing my passive-aggressive self likes to do is to noticeably tap my foot or hand, or even mime snapping my fingers in time with the music that someone else is playing inappropriately loudly. This includes drivers who are under the impression that keeping their windows rolled up makes the vehicle soundproof and the earbudded miscreants on the subway whose “personal” stereos are anything but.
A 37 year old man singing “Walk on By” is looked at in a whole different light than a 34 year old woman…trust me!
I’ve been know to do a little pooter scootin boogie in my day.
But I tend to put it into low gear at the lights. 
NO COMMENT, CURLY.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…..not only do I sing in the car but do an exceptionally interesting car dance!
In the car, shower and on the coffee table!
I am a member of this club and I’m proud of it! If you catch me, I ham it up even more. A little interpretive dance, a little head shaking, a lot of clapping. What can I say? I like to give you a good story to tell your friends.
I generally listen to audio books and haven’t yet begun to lip read with the narrator, but it could happen soon – I’m on my third listen of some books.
I thought of you this morning whilst yelling/singing (hey, it was Deftones and singing is a bit of a stretch) and playing percussion on the steering wheel.
cwg says: ha! sorry i didn’t have a new post ready this morning…i was a dirty stay-out…in brooklyn until all hours of the night. i think i’ve had 27 minutes of sleep. *yawn*
I am absolutely am an ITCSS! I have a taste for really cheesy/guilty pleasure pop music. Since some of these songs are too embarrassing to be sung in public, I have almost mastered the art of ventriloquism singing, where I sing but my mouth doesn’t move… well not much.
I also use the steering wheel as an impromptu drum kit. My only concern is having the air bag deploy while really getting into the beat. That would be tough to explain to OnStar.
The coolest thing was once at a stop light I was rocking out to a song on the radio, and the person in the next lane must have been listening to the station because she was singing right along too. It was a great moment.
I am absolutely an ITCSS. I think I do it because I have the volume turned up so loud that with the roar of the road, I can barely hear my own voice, so while I’m singing, I AM Bonnie Tyler. Now, I don’t sing out of tune, but the timbre of my voice probably wouldn’t get me past the first round of American Idol. But in the car I can live in my happy little bubble where I am the best singer in the world.
What else would you do in the car if you didnt become an ITCSS. While on a recent business trip, my girlfriend and I performed like we were at the grammy’s!
I definitely do this but am well aware of when I roll up to a stop light. *shaking head* Sounds like you need a chaperone with you when you go driving.
try singing the high school musical soundtrack with your 6 and 4 year old. It is a good time, they think I am crazy.
Great post babe. Color me guilty as charged.
[...] she talks about all sorts of random stuff, but some of my favorites are the post about F&F, “In the Car Super Star”, and that time she gave away a Coach purse, which I won, but has seemed to curse me for every other [...]
My neighbors totally busted me, but I didn’t know about it until later when they were telling me how completely engrossed I was in whatever I was singing that I ignored their many attempts to get my attention. I don’t *know* what I was singing, but it’s a pretty fair guess that I was working on my Catherine Zeta-Jones version of “All That Jazz” from the Chicago soundtrack, complete with sultry pouting, shoulder rolling, swaying and whatever other Broadway-in-training moves I might have been engaging in. I was SO embarrassed!