I had occasion, a long time ago, to drive to Santa Barbara with a friend. We had our iPods (of course!) and traded off driving and DJing. And we both sang along with the music. Halfway there, I realized that my husband rarely sings along. This struck me, because, I am self conscious about singing along to music in the car, but only when there are other (strange) people around. By myself or with my husband: not so much. After I mentioned this to him, he started tentatively singing along with songs he knows. He never belts it out like I do when I’m alone (but I, too, reserve that for being alone), but he sings, now.
And there’s such a joy to singing, it just takes over your whole psyche. If you’re singing a happy song, you can’t help but be happy. If an angry song, you can’t help but be angry. I’ve been told that St. Augustine said that “who sings prays twice” and I still enjoy singing at church. I’ve been known to sing in the shower, although I don’t make it a habit (but the acoustics are pretty fun!) and I fully admit to singing in the car, while cleaning, with headphones on, and others. I’ve had people at stop lights make comments about my singing. Even when I was a kid & heard a song I knew, I would sing along in my sleep.
This week: Sing. Sing as if no one was listening (that old cliche), sing as if your soul depended on it. Break out with a favorite CD of musicals, a radio station with songs you know, a recording of your favorite opera (classical orchestral music won’t work for this unless there are words), or a memory of a favorite song. Sing in the shower, if you’re so moved, or in the car (a good way to be away from people). Let the song consume you and feel it down to your toes. Choose a song that fits your mood, to enhance it; choose a song with a mood you want, to change it. And sing.
6 responses so far ↓
1 johnr // Oct 24, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I love belting out my favorite songs in the car–some of my best therapy is old Weezer songs on the 405 (I’ve had other drivers point and laugh at me as they drive past). Unfortunately, this is one of the costs of trying not to drive as much.
And the one thing I miss about Church is singing for an audience. I’ve sung in choirs in front of thousands of people as well as in musicals, duets and barbershop quartets in church shows. Small price to pay, though.
I’m going to try your advice this week. Thanks for the prodding.
2 Elaine // Oct 24, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Unfortunately, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
Well, if I’m right next to someone in a choir who is in tune, I can keep up, but if I”m on my own, forget it.
Doesn’t stop me from singing in the car…my poor mother.
If I’m in public and feel the need to sing, I do so quietly. But I still go ahead, although it gets me some weird looks sometimes. Just today my mother and I went out for lunch and Stevie Wonder’s “You Are The Sunshine of My Life” came on while we were in the restaurant and I just had to sing. Quietly, but I sang.
Does that count?
3 xJane // Oct 26, 2007 at 9:18 am
I’ve always been confused by that saying…what if you could carry a tune in a bucket, how weird would that be…? And, have you ever met someone who can carry a tune in a bucket? I think you’re in good company
4 Elaine // Oct 26, 2007 at 1:18 pm
…it would probably have a very cool echo, especially if it was an aluminum bucket. (And do you know how difficult it was for me to spell “aluminum” in American? The web sites I write for are UK-based so that I have to spell it the British way almost every day.)
But, yeah, it is a weird saying isn’t it? I guess I always just assumed that it must mean that if you can’t even carry it in a container that has deep sides to keep it in, you can’t carry it at all.
5 xJane // Oct 27, 2007 at 6:14 pm
and to beware of webcams
6 Jana // Nov 2, 2007 at 12:51 pm
So I’m late to the party, but here’s my contribution anyways… :-O
Leave a Comment