It could have been a combo of starved, weary, overcrowded passengers, broken to tears by the sounds and smell of the baby one seat forward, suddenly and rudely awoken from a much deserved sexual reverie by a frustrated comedian-singer turned SW steward or stewardess belting out their inaugaural debut, (which sounds Exactly like the one you heard on the way to Houston Hobby).
Nail polish remover. That was it.