separate_wayz wrote:Just don't forget the words -- that seems to be where most people screw up .... not the singing per se.
LOL -- trust me, that was a major priority, because the last thing I'd want to do is screw up the S.S.B.. I knew the words, but just to be sure, I double-checked the lyrics a week or so ago to ensure I wasn't mixing up any "nights", "fights", etc. I'd be surprised if a noticeable percentage of today's youth knew them at all...
Second most important thing to me was keep it about the song and the occasion, and not the performance. I've seen too many singers make it about the vocal gymnastics, and it kinda turns me off. So over the past few weeks I played around with it and came up with a version I was very happy with -- basically the song with a modest amount of play to add some personal feeling and make it interesting. I literally thought, "What would JSS do?", and that's kinda what I did.
Anyway, here's the story. I mentioned it wasn't anything major, but it was for a big neighborhood 4th of July picnic and parade, and they counted about 400+ people that came and went during the event. When I sang, there were probably a good 200-250 right in front of me.
Anyway, the event starts with a parade mid-morning, with everything from a military color guard, a fire truck from a nearby station, Cub Scouts and dance teams, Kung-Fu goons (my favorite!), an eagle mascot, a convertible car with anchors from a local news channel, decorated personal vehicles, all the way down to people just dressing up and pulling their young kids in wagons -- and all with an escort by a couple of police squad cars. It is really amazing to see what these people put together, and how much it brings pride to their neighborhood.
So the parade arrives, and I've been helping the "band" set up their gear -- just a couple of very talented 12-year old boys that play guitar and drums, and they have played for the past few events -- from patriotic songs to rock staples like "Sweet Home Alabama", "Black Dog", "Back In Black", "Stairway To Heaven", etc... these two are really good! The guitar player's mother mentioned that they'd asked if I wanted to come and practice with them and work it out, but I thought it would be best to go solo with that one as my version would be hard to time with instruments.
Anyway, the plans were very loose -- I knew very little except for a rough idea that I'd sing once we got everyone's attention right before the food was served, and I wasn't even sure if I was going to use a mic. I have a killer AKG wireless mic, but no P.A. system, and I occasionally just run it thru my guitar amp at home on a lower volume. So just to be safe, I packed up my mic and guitar amp and headed over there, but even right up to the event, I wasn't sure if I was going to use it. I assured them that I was so loud that I doubt anyone wouldn't hear me... LOL! But I asked the guitar player if he'd mind if I tried connecting on a clean channel on his amp, and he didn't, so I went and got it. No sooner than I had started to unpack my mic -- it began POURING RAIN, right out of nowhere!!! I stashed that mic away in record time and started helping them move their equipment in to the first available nook, dry off the drums with towels, etc, and luckily, the rain didn't last but maybe 10 minutes, and never returned through it did become overcast. The rain was actually a good thing because it really helped cool things down -- it was getting hot out there!
So we started helping them set back up and the drummer's hi-hat stand broke, and they tried to fix it to no avail -- someone even was working on it somehow with a power drill -- but they were good after someone snuck over to Guitar Center and just bought him a new stand.
Finally, the food is just about ready and people are starting to form a line, and they tell me it's a good time to sing. I didn't even have my mic ready, but my wife told me I definitely should go get it. I asked the organizer if I had just enough time to run back to my car and get it, and she said yes, so I practically sprinted back to the car and returned with the mic. As I walked in, I realized I'd created an oxygen debt by running in that humidity, and I knew I literally had to sing in about 1 minute. It turned out not to be a problem at all. I had the mic plugged up in 1 minute and turned it on, and... instant volume! At the last minute, the organizer asked if I could welcome everyone to the event and tell them how much we appreciated them coming.
Luckily, I don't have stage fright in front of people anymore, and wasn't nervous or antsy at all... I just kinda get into a place where I say, "It's time...", and I just kinda try to keep my mind from chattering at me. I quit thinking about the song and just do what I'd do alone at home or in the car, and that always seems to work for me. Hey, I even remembered to take off my cap!
So I get everyone's attention and welcome them, thank them, etc., and every single eye in the place, including a loooooong food line that wraps around one side of this huge pool, is looking at me. I tell them I was asked to sing the National Anthem, and that it's my first time, so please be kind... haha! Always easy to break the ice with a laugh. And then I just do it, and KILLED it. Man, that song has some range to it, and I'd been more worried about my lower register than my higher one, but I got lucky and was spot on from beginning to end. What I'd worked up had a relaxed pace to it and some drawn out notes at the end of some parts for feeling. Had a few whoops from people when I hit some of the high notes, and as soon as the last note finished, capped off with a classic JSS-ism.. (of course!) they went nuts -- got a GREAT ovation, and that just really made my day. Hearing some people telling my wife that it brought tears to their eye really was cool, and being me, of course I had to respond with a joke about it being because I'd probably butchered it... lol.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone filmed it, though I was told some people took pictures, so if one gets passed back to me fairly soon, I'll post one. I did it in full tenor range, and I just found a video of Kelly Clarkson singing in the exact same key to give an idea of the range I covered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TCG5h64E8M
I also just saw a version w/Jessica Simpson singing where she kinda goes astray in places.... still, pretty cool, though I don't really like the pop-tart breathy approach applied to the SSB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cmp6toJDQk
If someone's going to monkey up the SSB with a bunch of warbling, I still consider this one the high standard against which all should be measured!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qciWEufZ2xA
Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th! I ate way too much afterwards and am paying the price for it now... but luckily, it was my cheat day... haha!
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:30 pm
