What's the best way to ask my colleague to stop singing?

Question

He always hums and sings in a really high-pitched way to every song on the radio and it drives me crazy! How do I tactfully tell him to shut up? (The worst thing is, he IS a singer in his spare time but this humming has to stop!)

Answer 1

Tell him if he doesn't shut the feck up you will put the radio firmly down his gob or up his bum.
Do remember, though he may be genuinely happy, but equally it has to be rather driving you mad if you are pushed to say something.
Of course, you could sing or hum along with him...louder and off key.
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
A Wickedly Happy Christmas to all without a wireless up their bums!

Answer 2

I really like music,and I often don't notice that I'm singing, and your coworker might not realize it either. Perhaps if you simply call his attention to it he might realize how embarrassing it is and stop. You might say something like, "Hey, I can tell you really like that song, but I don't know if you realized that you tend to hum and sing along to the radio a lot. I thought you might want to know."

The way I found out about my habit was when I was walking down the hallway past another office and the person in that office said, "You're not singing today." Her comment made me realize that I must often be singing when I walk down that hallway and she noticed I wasn't singing because it was unusual for me to not be singing. I really hadn't realized that others could hear me singing before that.

If just pointing it out to him doesn't work, you could say something like, "It's hard for me to concentrate on my work when you sing along with the radio. Would you mind not singing, or maybe we can turn it to an instrumental station?"

Answer 3

Very simple, ask him in a inocent way when he is singin, Hey who sings that song?, he will answer, such and such, then you tell him, Well Lets keep it that way !!!
He will ask if his singing bothers you, and at this point you have to be honest and tell him the truth, and basically tell him that you respect his love for singing but that the humming has to stop.
Just be honest.

Answer 4

Hum and sing when he starts, stop when he stops. He'll get the point.

Answer 5

Tell him you appreciate how much he enjoys singing but that it's sort of distracting to you. Tell him it's nothing 'personal' but maybe he can do it outside the workplace, it would be more acceptable. Smile very sweetly and make some comment about how nice his voice is.

Answer 6

Tell him that you have a very weak concentration span and your sorry but you find it hard to concentrate when he sings because it becomes more than back-ground noise , you like his voice tell him not to take it personally (throw in your a terrible singer for good mesure)
but can he please stop singing. Act guilty for a while afterwards so he sees your not trying to embarass him or be mean!

Answer 7

Sing along louder,

Answer 8

Show him your question. Or, ask him to turn off the radio. Or, just Tell Him! (Incidently, people who sing with headphones on but no mike, always Sound Awful!) Hmmmm.... You could record him....

Answer 9

My Goodness! I can't imagine wanting to do that, especially if he is a professional singer. Enjoy it! Singing is the release of a joyful spirit!

Perhaps there is more to this issue....perhaps you should check your motives.

Answer 10

take a run up and kick him really hard in the nuts that should leave him speachless or

send him an anonamous email explaining how bad he sounds or

smash the radio to bits!