Um, vuvuzelas have been a running joke since the first world cup match. Given that it's still World Cup time, I wouldn't call that coincidence so much as them both making the same popular joke.
Oh my gawd, I didn't realize they were SO OBNOXIOUS!
What determines the frequency of the hum? is it tube length, or characteristics of the vocal chords or something? I ask because I can just see someone trying to make the hum span the audible frequencies, so it can't be filtered.
It is like a bugle or any of the brass instruments. The tone produced is dependent on the vibration of the player's lips as well as the length of the tube.
I haven't played one, but I'm sure you could play numerous overtones like you can on a bugle.
They seem to be mass produced, resulting in most of them having the same length. That, along with the fact that the average sporting fan probably doesn't have much embouchure, would explain why there's a single tone that is much louder than any others.
