I had a revelation this week and I am concerned.
It’s a hidden topic, shaded behind full-fledged, crucial front-page headlines of politics, pandemic, protests and riots.
While friends on social media both subtly and ferociously feel the need to tell everyone who they are voting for and why they hate the other party, others are debating the mandates to wear masks 24/7 while others live to shame those that don’t have their masks pulled up over their eyes and down to their shoulders.
Many may not agree with me, but my concern is backed by my own valid, definitely-not-scientific, research.
That’s right, I partook in good old-fashioned observation, set up a survey on Facebook and Instagram, and also did my due diligence and studied updated Google trends. Extinction may not be near, but I think we have to acknowledge there has been a dramatic decrease whether you’ve noticed or not.
History reminds us that extinction can occur because of environmental forces — habit fragmentation, global change, natural disasters or a decline in population numbers.
What is my concern? The obvious lack and loss of whistling in the past six months!
Will the stress and concerns of living through life’s changes from COVID-19 and social unrest forever cover the sweet sound of human music and exacerbate the extinction of whistling?
Jill Hewlett, a brain fitness expert, suggests that even though whistling is a simple activity that has a powerful and profound effect on your brain, having positive physical, mental and emotional benefits, “whistling seems to be a fading art and running out of steam, in our modern-day society,” she said.
Some experts believe it is due to the demise in working-class laborers, in addition to construction sites being filled with radio tunes and people using earphones and portable music players to listen to music — with no need to make their own. But the mandates to wear masks has also put a recent damper on the old adage “whistle while your work.”
In my definitely non-scientific survey, a mere 21% do whistle regularly, while 79% answered they do not whistle on a regular basis or at all. I was curious when I saw three “do not whistle” answers from three singers, so I specifically asked for a more detailed answer.
Jon Studdard said he likes whistling, but he is always literally singing, listening to music or both. Daughter Phoebe Ritchie succinctly added, “Always singing.” Worship leader Katy Monahan noted, “I can’t whistle very well no matter how hard I try — it’s hard for me — I can’t remember the last time I did! Both my boys whistle almost every day when getting ready for school in the morning. [Husband] Chad and I were literally just talking about how it’s one of our favorite things right now. I’m jealous of their skills.”
In surveying business owner Lester Waskom, of Smith Valley Plumbing Services, who had just finished hooking up the gas to replace our 1959 stovetop, he laughed and noted the reason he doesn’t: “I can’t whistle.”
Ron Johnson, one of the rare whistling 21-percenters, most commonly whistles, “To Dream the Impossible Dream.”
Another of the few regular whistlers, second-grade teacher Madiline Rector, noted she whistles along with the music that is currently playing or a with a random song that pops into her head. She confessed, “I used to [whistle] way more than I do now, but Justin told me I wasn’t very good at staying on tune when I whistled so my confidence took a hit.”
I wonder if anyone else has even noticed the decline in whistling? Is there anyone that hasn’t whistled or hummed one of the most recognizable theme songs in television history — the Andy Griffith Show which began and ended with “The Fishing Hole” whistling theme as Andy and son, Opie, headed to go fishing? Haven’t we all whistled along to Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” or OneRepublic’s “Good Life?”
Professional whistler Robert Stemmons told NPR that whistling improves your mood and lowers stress.
Go forth and whistle a bit today.
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
