Singing encouraged in karaoke taxi

Jan 14, 2010, 12:05 GMT

Muenster, Germany - On a Friday night shortly before midnight taxi driver Nizamettin Kilincli picks up a group of women who begin singing loudly in the back of his cab.

While some drivers consider this the worst type of fare, Kilincli welcomes the women, even encourages them to sing. Seated in the back, beer bottles in hand, the six tipsy women belt out German pop hits, amplifying the fun they are having getting to their destination.

Kilincli's taxi is a bit different from others in the north-western German city of Muenster. The German association of taxi and rental car companies says his is the only karaoke taxi in Germany.

The cab is specially equipped so that customers can sing while travelling to their destination. Two years ago the 46-year-old taxi driver came up with the idea of putting a video screen on the ceiling behind the driver's seat. Passengers can request music videos and they are encouraged to sing along with the lyrics, which appear in red.

'It's important to have extras,' he said. 'The situation for taxi drivers has worsened. Fewer people take taxis.'

The number of fares in the last 10 years has dropped by one-third, Kilincli said. But the extra service doesn't make the ride more expensive.

'The passengers should feel good at the end of their ride so that they will call me again,' he said. Indeed, Kilincli has some regulars. 'They call me when they want to go to a disco, for example, in order to get into the mood.'

This was precisely the situation one recent night shortly before 1 am when Kilincli picked up seven drunk teenagers who were on their way to a disco. They were in a rambunctious mood singing Madonna's '80s hit Like a Virgin loudly and out of tune. Looking in his rear view mirror, Kilincli looked a bit perturbed, but said it's nice when his fares sing.

'Not just because of business,' he added. When his customers are drunk, they may make a scene at some point. Putting the music on encourages them to sing and that in turn keeps the peace.