Residents of New Zealand are incensed as Siren Clubs play Celine Dion songs till the wee hours of the morning

Several groups of young people are cruising on their automobiles and bicycles around the streets of Porirua, New Zealand, in the middle of night and early morning, in a very unsettling scenario. However, it’s not that. The problem is that their cars are equipped with powerful speakers that produce the loudest noises.

These organizations, often referred to as siren clubs, are now forming communities and expressing their identities via these late-night musical competitions. Furthermore, they vie for the title of “siren king” by blaring these tunes via speakers at decibel levels much higher than those of police vehicles or emergency alert towers.

It’s interesting to note that Celine Dion’s voice is the one that stands out in the competition for that title. Still, having to listen to the singer’s voice late into the night—dubbed the “queen of power ballads”—is undoubtedly driving some Porirua locals insane.

Anita Baker, the mayor of Porirua, said that more and more locals are lodging complaints over the noise, which can be heard across the suburbs until three in the morning. Some bands have decided to cease playing music at 10 p.m., while a smaller percentage keep their sirens going into the early hours of the morning.

According to reports, Baker told The Washington Post, “They’re just making it hell for people, and they don’t want to follow the rules.”

For those who are unaware, the majority of the young men in these Siren clubs are from the Pasifika, or Pacific Islander, population in Porirua. In the end, they install public-address system speakers on their bicycles and automobiles, and they use several sirens and amplifiers to create a sound that is clear and powerful.

Classics from siren clubs include Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and “The Power of Love.” Another favorite is “Chandelier” by Sia, according to Baker.

“Any distortion or reverberation will make you lose,” Paul Lesoa, an Auckland siren club member, told the Spinoff in the meanwhile. “Celine Dion is popular… Thus, we make an effort to play music with a lot of clarity, high treble, and little bass. Our favourite music is reggae since it sounds natural and has good rhythms.

A petition requesting that the Porirua City Council “act and stop the gathering of car meets blasting music and emergency sirens noises at all hours of the night” was launched earlier this month on Change.org.