Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Karaoke
It's Wednesday night at Applebee's and the restaurant is rollicking with people singing other people's songs. Mike and I are in sync but out of place in our basketball gear; mostly everyone is decked out in Saturday night attire – still, music has many wardrobes.
Everyone is feeling well, it seems, and Anita Baker is the primary muse: “Angel”; “Sweet Love”; “You Bring Me Joy.” Beyoncé's “Single Ladies” keeps thing jumpin and even Maroon 5's “This Love” is upbeat despite the melancholic undertones.
It's at this point that I feel inspired to perform Elton's John's “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” in memory of what could have been my darkest night, when she said “I do” and walked down the red carpeted aisle of my heart, leaving it heaving and hemorrhaging as she cracked open the aorta doors.
In memory of what was – what could have been – what is: I look across the table. Mike takes a sip of his raspberry tea and begins to sing my song. Everyone is feeling well.
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*smile*
ReplyDeleteThe power of music should never be underestimated.
Also, a tip of my hat to you for getting up there and singing. Are you a veteran of the karaoke scene?
I felt inspired to sing, but I never did. This piece just exemplifies how I view music as people telling stories - and the extra special thing that happens when people karaoke because it's people singing other people's songs or other people telling other people's stories.
ReplyDeleteMike just happened to be with me that night just as he happens to be the only person who was with me on that wedding night (via phone), so he's the only other person who could tell that particular story for me, or "sing my song."
In reality, neither of us sung that night. I've done karaoke before, but I'm not a veteran. I doubt I could ever perform "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" because that was before Elton got his surgery done and because I'd probably start crying.
I see. I appreciate you sharing those details; it definitely adds some valuable context to the piece. It now comes across in a considerably different manner than it did the first time.
ReplyDeleteAs for whether you could actually perform that song... the second reason is what it is, but you could always solve the first the same way Elton does these days... just go a whole octave lower.