TTC commuters react to Pride chime at subway stations

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has rolled out a new chime in celebration of Pride Month, but the release of the jingle isn’t going as planned, with commuters confused and taken aback by the sound.

In late May, the TTC announced that “the sounds of Pride” would fill subway stations with the iconic TTC three-tone announcement chime to be performed by “Singing Out,” considered the city’s largest 2SLGBTQQIA+ community choir.

It’s supposed to sound like this.

 

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A post shared by Singing Out (@singingoutlgbtq)

Instead, many TTC riders have taken to social media to describe what they’re calling an awful sound, not at all in line with what is supposed to be a fun jingle.

One person wrote, “The TTC sound is just awful. You have to get rid of this.”

Another person tweeted, “What is this squawking sound in the TTC subway stations?” Those are only a few examples of Torontonians recently sharing their thoughts.

A choir of yikes to the unhinged barber-shop announcement sounds unleashed on the #TTC this week! ????‍ My kiddo and I found it deeply unsettling. He went so far as to claim it is *worse* than the morbid artwork at Union Station, and that is saying A LOT. ???? @TTChelps @TTCNewsroom

— Erica Shiner (@ericashiner) June 13, 2023

Has anyone else noticed the new music before TTC announcements on the subway? It's a choir I think? But it sounds like someone tied Danny Elfman up and made him do a 3 sec musical interstitial against his will – it sounds unhinged.

— 'drea Grabelski (@drea88) June 12, 2023

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said the transit commission understands that there is some internet outrage.

“We have to keep that in context, but we have heard from our customers and employees. We worked with our radio shop, and we got them adjusted. We understand there were some concerns about the volume, and we have brought that down a bit.”

The TTC said it partnered with “Singing Out” to produce three versions of the chime expected to be played before all station and platform announcements.

“We haven’t done anything like this before. We had Seth Rogen do announcements, but this was something different with the chime,” Green said.

“There are lessons learned here with the volume and the frequency at which these things are operating. We want to keep them up there because we need to show the TTC’s support for pride, for the community and for some new initiatives that we are undertaking.”

“Singing Out,” vice-president Noah Witenoff said the TTC approached the choir with the idea to play the jingles.

“It’s been such a great opportunity to elevate 2SLGBTQIA voices across the GTA. It’s been such a great experience to hear us across all the platforms,” Witenoff said.

“This creative sound takeover is a great way to celebrate our 30 years of singing with pride in Toronto, and we are grateful for this amazing opportunity.”

TTC CEO Rick Leary said the TTC is pleased to showcase the talented “Singing Out” choir in its many stations.