Save water - sing short songs

By Nick Bryant
BBC News, Sydney

Sydney energy chiefs want shorter shower songs

Australians have been told to stop singing in the shower in an attempt to save electricity and water.

Energy Australia, one of the country's leading power suppliers, has conducted research which showed the average shower length is seven minutes.

For Australians who like to begin each day by belting out their favourite song under a steady stream of hot water, this study will come as jolting news.

Energy Australia says long showers soak up electricity like a sponge.

SHOWER-FRIENDLY TUNES The Dead Kennedys - I Like Short Songs (22 seconds) Wire - Three Girl Rhumba (1m 22 seconds) Pixies - Crackity Jones (1m 22s) The Whites Stripes - Fell in Love with a Girl (1m 50s) Eddi Cochrane - Summertime Blues (1m 59s)

Other shower time activities are also being frowned upon - shaving, brushing one's teeth, playing with toys, even day-dreaming. The emphatic message from Energy Australia is: "Don't use the shower, use the sink."

The company is distributing 500,000 shower timers in the Sydney area to remind consumers to be more energy efficient and presumably in the hope that shower-time singers will choose shorter songs.

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What are your suggestions for songs to sing in the shower? And what songs should water-starved Australians be avoiding?

I suggest They`re Red Hot by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. At around 32 seconds it's not the shortest on the list, but I suggest playing it on a clockwork stereo for extra energy efficiency
Abbie, Colchester, England

Don't Stop Me Now by Queen would be good to shower to. Bat out of Hell by Meatloaf and Blue Monday the full 12" version by New Order should both be avoided due to the length.
Suhail Amjed, Manchester, UK

How about songs by The Minutemen? Most of their tracks are less than a minute.... perfect.
Andy, Doha, Qatar

Maybe they could 'sing' John Lennon's Two Minutes of Silence. Although, on second thoughts, how would they know when they had finished?
Ian O'flaherty, Cadiz, Spain

Well, the most important piece of advice would be - beware of Wagner! He is capable of causing blackouts for half of Australia... I'd recommend Manamana from the Muppet show - nice morning upbeat piece and takes only two minutes.
Jakub Kocmanek, Trebic, Czech Republic

How about Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens, as recently heard at the end of BBC's Extras. One minute and three seconds.
Lennie Bradshaw, Bushey, Uk

Anything by the Beatles should do. I want to hold your hand is a respectable two minutes and 25 seconds and She Loves You is only two minutes 17 seconds. They'd best stay clear of 70's rock though. Queen changed the face of radio music from quick songs to the ballad with Bohemian Rhapsody in 1975 - five minutes and 55 seconds. Enough for even the fusiest of Aussie to scrub up.
Terry Robinson, Haywards Heath, Sussex