Celine Dion has been weaponized in New Zealand’s “siren battles”

You know what it’s like when the kid in the Honda Civic rolls by at 2am withe the subwoofers thumping? Now imagine living in Porirua, New Zealand, where those thumps are replaced by speakers blaring Celine Dion at all hours of the night.

Welcome to the Siren Wars, a competition to see who can play the loudest, clearest music from their cars or bicycles using speakers and sirens. Everyone seems to be vying for the title of Siren King.

Fine, but why Celine Dion? Her music is well-produced and clearly recorded. Plus it’s very trebly and doesn’t have a lot of deep bass which requires tremendous amplifier power. (Reggae is also a favourite music, but it’s tough to get tight bass from a bunch of bullhorn speakers mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle.)

Needless to say, the locals aren’t pleased. There’s a petition to the local council demanding that someone do something. More here.