The battles involve groups of people gathering in an area with their cars, blasting music from sirens more typically used for emergency warnings. The idea is to play music from the sirens the loudest – and the clearest.

According to Paul Lesoa, one of the founders of a group that runs siren battles in Auckland, “Celine Dion is popular because it’s such a clear song – so we try to use music that has high treble, is clear and not much bass.”

Celine’s My Heart Will Go On, which featured on the Titanic soundtrack, seems to be the song of choice, with It’s All Coming Back To Me Now also a battle favourite. The cars usually have seven to ten sirens, and competitions are usually held throughout the night. They take weeks to prepare as participants must source sirens online and modify speakers and amplifiers to car-mounted frames.

“We just love music, we love dancing, and doing this is better than night clubbing or drinking in a bar in the city, where there’s fights etc,” he said.

Wes Gaarkeuken – the instigator of a petition hoping to stop the siren battles in Porirua, doesn’t seem to see things the same way. “Taxpayers are tired of the inaction and dismissive attitude shown by the council and the mayor concerning this issue.”

Even Mayor Anita Baker told Radio New Zealand she was “sick to death” of the battles and wanted the participants to go somewhere that doesn’t disturb anyone. The petition, which has received hundreds of signatures, demands that the Porirua City Council prohibit persons from playing music all night.

It could be worse. Imagine the New Zealanders were into Patricia Lewis. Exhibit A:

See?

[source:bbc]