Music

Guy to friend: I'm sorry. When I see tight shorts I don't think 80s hair metal.

–23rd St

Conductor: This station is Murray Hill. If you look outside your window and don't see a platform, then you can't get off. Sorry. Please walk towards the front of the train.

–LIRR

Overheard by: PW rider

NJ transit conductor: Folks, this is the 5:50 Midtown direct. We are leaving two minutes late because some of your fellow commuters would not board the train. Some people don't understand you can walk on the train. Sorry for that.

–NJ Transit, Penn Station

Overheard by: Katherine

Extremely Brooklynese conductor: Okay, we're being held up by another f and…uh…another d. Oh, jeez! Sorry, people, it's not my fault, blame the fuckin' dispatcher! (to person in the conducting booth) What?

–F Train

Overheard by: Jasper johnson

Conductor on loudspeaker: Now arriving at Penn Station. Please exit the train promptly. And to those sitting in the first two cars, sorry about the lack of lights and air conditioner. (loudspeaker turns off, after a pause back on). Actually, we're sorry about everything.

–NJ Transit, Penn Station

Overheard by: brutal commuter

White girl #1: Do you dance hip hop?
White girl #2: I'm too white for that.
White girl #3: I can dance and I'm white.
White girl #2: But you're Russian? Russian people don't have any black people.

–32nd & 5th Ave

Angry suit: I hate Christmas music, man! You use it for three weeks, and then what do you do?
Sympathetic suit: Yeah, it's useless.

–Pizza Spot

Overheard by: Raven

Girl: See that lady over there? She's like…orgasming to her iPod.
Guy: (laughs)
Girl: No, seriously. She's so funny to watch. Who the fuck orgasms to a song?
Guy: I'd orgasm to a good song.
Girl: Yeah? What's a good song?
Guy: That one by Nine Inch Nails. Something like “I Wanna Fuck You Like an Animal.”
(little boy observing animals stares, puzzled)

–Central Park Zoo

Very loud man on cell to Mexican musicians: Can you tone your music down? I'm trying to talk here!

–E Train

Overheard by: Robyn Z

20-something stoner girl walking into room: So… Are you aware that I just had a really extensive conversation with your mother?
20-something stoner guy, playing GTA: Um… Really? … What did you guys talk about?
20-something stoner girl, seriously: Michael Jackson!

–Harlem

NYU girl #1 (singing): “Jingle bells/Jingle bells…”
NYU girl #2: Would you stop singing Christmas music, you're Jewish! Sing “Dreidel, dreidel”!
NYU girl #1: Ewwww.. No, I hate that stupid Jew song!

–Q Train

Middle-aged lady: Okay, we’re here. Do you want to do this? [Friend shakes head.] Well, you said you wanted to. Come over here with me. This is what we were planning. [Friend doesn’t move.] Let’s do this now. [Begins to sing] Imagine there’s no heaven…

–Strawberry Fields, Central Park

The music stops.

Hoochie: What happened? I was totally channeling J. Lo! Ah, whatever. I do what I want.

–Delancey Lounge, LES

Guy #1: You don’t sound British.
Guy #2: Well, I am.
Guy #1: Where are you from?
Guy #2: Scotland.
Guy #1: But you don’t sound like Oasis.

–Carroll Gardens