Once a Reveler, always a Reveler.
For the past two years, I have been involved in a singing group known as The Washington Revels. I got involved when my sister auditioned for their winter musical in 2007. I started as a volunteer, but quickly became an addict. I'm about to start rehearsals for May Revels and I couldn't be more excited.
What are the Revels? I always have a hard time explaining Revels to people, so I'll have to quote the Washington Revels website on this one:
"Using a colorful blend of traditional music, dance, drama and poetry, Revels creates participatory performance and educational programs centered around celebrations of important cultural events. The 'core' celebrations revolve around the cyclical renewal of life reflected in the circle of the seasons: the rebirth of Spring, and the return of light following the shortest day of the Winter Solstice. Many of the traditions and rituals surrounding these events are shared, in varying forms, by people across the world."
Basically, it's a group of fun people singing fun songs and having a fabulous time doing it.
The Revels is more than just a performance group, it's a community. There are Revels parties, Revels dances, Revels pub sings... and all this on top of regular rehearsals! Some might call it a cult... but it's a singing, dancing, celebrating life kinda cult.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wait... What The...?
You know what's awesome? Going to visit one of your best friends in Dubai...
You know what's not awesome? Accidentally entering yourself into a Karaoke competition...
Ok. Yes. I like to sing. And yes. I like karaoke. But competitive karaoke? That's a completely different story - especially when I don't know I'm competing.
Kate - my Dubai friend - and I found the Karaoke bar on one of my last nights in the U.A.E. We saw the sign and knew it was fate... our two previous karaoke attempts had been foiled by technical difficulties and a 3 hour wait.
If you've read my previous "Humpty Hump" post then you might remember my karaoke song of choice: Sweet Caroline. Since I was in a new karaoke bar I decided to go with my standard. It's easy to sing and it always gets the crowd going. I found the song in the book and wrote down the info on the little slip of paper. But then... what's this? The man behind the counter gave me a number and pointed toward a sign on a nearby column. The sign said, "criteria" at the top and listed different methods of judging the performance.
Judging!?!?!! I was not prepared. But before I could run back to the DJ and resign from the contest the music began and three judges walked into the room. There was no turning back now.
I sat through the first few performances. It was clear that these people took their karaoke seriously. Everyone had an excellent voice and they chose songs I'd never even heard of before. That's not what karaoke is about! Where was "I Will Survive" and "Baby Got Back?" I was panicking and Kate was doing everything she could to keep me from running out of the room. But then.... it was my turn.
I walked timidly up to the stage and took the microphone. I smiled at the judges and turned to face the tv screen. The music started and I did my best not to faint. It wasn't until the first chorus that I really started to gain confidence. By the end of the "Good times never felt so good..." I was back to my usual karaoke self. I did an awkward jig and sang a little louder. I don't know if I sounded okay or not, but I'm just proud of myself for staying upright.
Next time I go to a karaoke bar in Dubai, I'll know better.
And no, I did not win. Not even close.
You know what's not awesome? Accidentally entering yourself into a Karaoke competition...
Ok. Yes. I like to sing. And yes. I like karaoke. But competitive karaoke? That's a completely different story - especially when I don't know I'm competing.Kate - my Dubai friend - and I found the Karaoke bar on one of my last nights in the U.A.E. We saw the sign and knew it was fate... our two previous karaoke attempts had been foiled by technical difficulties and a 3 hour wait.
If you've read my previous "Humpty Hump" post then you might remember my karaoke song of choice: Sweet Caroline. Since I was in a new karaoke bar I decided to go with my standard. It's easy to sing and it always gets the crowd going. I found the song in the book and wrote down the info on the little slip of paper. But then... what's this? The man behind the counter gave me a number and pointed toward a sign on a nearby column. The sign said, "criteria" at the top and listed different methods of judging the performance.
Judging!?!?!! I was not prepared. But before I could run back to the DJ and resign from the contest the music began and three judges walked into the room. There was no turning back now.I sat through the first few performances. It was clear that these people took their karaoke seriously. Everyone had an excellent voice and they chose songs I'd never even heard of before. That's not what karaoke is about! Where was "I Will Survive" and "Baby Got Back?" I was panicking and Kate was doing everything she could to keep me from running out of the room. But then.... it was my turn.
I walked timidly up to the stage and took the microphone. I smiled at the judges and turned to face the tv screen. The music started and I did my best not to faint. It wasn't until the first chorus that I really started to gain confidence. By the end of the "Good times never felt so good..." I was back to my usual karaoke self. I did an awkward jig and sang a little louder. I don't know if I sounded okay or not, but I'm just proud of myself for staying upright.
Next time I go to a karaoke bar in Dubai, I'll know better.
And no, I did not win. Not even close.
A Penny For Your Thoughts...
"A penny for your thoughts... a dime for your dreams..." - Waiting for Guffman
If you haven't seen Waiting for Guffman, shame on you. If you have, you'll probably appreciate the skit my sister and I performed at a recent Revels party... oh, how I wish I had a video!
Revels parties are unusual in that everyone is required to perform. People mostly sing a song or play an instrument, but every once and a while you get a skit that is a little outside the norm. For this particular party my sister and I decided to re-enact a scene from our favorite mockumentary. In this scene a soldier - played by yours truly - is about to go off to war, but his girlfriend worries that he will fall in love with a beautiful foreigner and never return. On their final night together they sing a love song.
The song is, of course, ridiculous. Kate and I made sure to ham it up. We also found the best-est-est prop of all time - check out my soldier hat! The performance went off without a hitch and we were quite a hit - if I do say so myself. I don't know if we'll be able to top ourselves next year, but gosh darnnit... we're sure gonna try.
If you haven't seen Waiting for Guffman, shame on you. If you have, you'll probably appreciate the skit my sister and I performed at a recent Revels party... oh, how I wish I had a video!Revels parties are unusual in that everyone is required to perform. People mostly sing a song or play an instrument, but every once and a while you get a skit that is a little outside the norm. For this particular party my sister and I decided to re-enact a scene from our favorite mockumentary. In this scene a soldier - played by yours truly - is about to go off to war, but his girlfriend worries that he will fall in love with a beautiful foreigner and never return. On their final night together they sing a love song.
The song is, of course, ridiculous. Kate and I made sure to ham it up. We also found the best-est-est prop of all time - check out my soldier hat! The performance went off without a hitch and we were quite a hit - if I do say so myself. I don't know if we'll be able to top ourselves next year, but gosh darnnit... we're sure gonna try.
I Can Hear the Bells
My sister started to plan her wedding at the age of five. She obsessed over every little detail in these wedding outlines - dresses, music, flowers... Every year or so the general plan would change. One year she dreamed of an outdoor wedding with yellow bridesmaid dresses and daisy bouquets. The next, a grand ball with fancy appetizers and champagne.
Things only got worse when she got to her teenage years. Now that there were actual boys in her life the plans became much more elaborate. Within the first week of dating a boy she would have their lives planned out. She prepared names for the children, the number of pets she hoped to have... everything.
Finally, at the age of 26, Kate got her wish. Her boyfriend of two years, Chris Davenport, popped the question over a meal of Indian Curry. Now it was time to start planning... for real...
So, anyway... what does this have to do with singing? Well, it was in the months leading up to the wedding that I first heard the song "I Can Hear the Bells" from the musical, Hairspray. In the song the main character plans out the life she hopes to have with the cutest boy in school. I knew it would be a great song to sing in honor of Kate, and I had the perfect opportunity coming up... the rehearsal dinner.
When the big night came I explained why I chose the song and told everyone I had altered a few lyrics to make the piece more relevant. Then I pressed 'play' on my little stereo and the show began...
But GAH! The performance was not a smooth one. Halfway through the song my mind went blank. Lyrics? What lyrics? I had a moment of panic and had no idea what came next. I had to stop and wait until I could find my place later in the song. Since I was using a karaoke accompaniment I had no way to improvise and back up.
Somehow I managed to find my place and continue the song. I hardly remember the performance now, I think I've blocked most of it from my memory. Talk about embarrassing!
Following my forgetful crooning I felt horrible. Of all the times to stumble! I was so excited about performing for my sister and I went and messed it up! Thankfully, it was the best audience one could hope for. I was among friends and family and no one cared that I had forgotten a few lines. My sister was especially grateful. Even though I still regretted my brain freeze I could tell she was touched by the effort.
Now that she's married I suppose the wedding dreams are over. But that doesn't mean her planning has come to a halt. Maybe if I can find an appropriate song I can perform it at a baby shower...
Things only got worse when she got to her teenage years. Now that there were actual boys in her life the plans became much more elaborate. Within the first week of dating a boy she would have their lives planned out. She prepared names for the children, the number of pets she hoped to have... everything.
Finally, at the age of 26, Kate got her wish. Her boyfriend of two years, Chris Davenport, popped the question over a meal of Indian Curry. Now it was time to start planning... for real...
So, anyway... what does this have to do with singing? Well, it was in the months leading up to the wedding that I first heard the song "I Can Hear the Bells" from the musical, Hairspray. In the song the main character plans out the life she hopes to have with the cutest boy in school. I knew it would be a great song to sing in honor of Kate, and I had the perfect opportunity coming up... the rehearsal dinner.
When the big night came I explained why I chose the song and told everyone I had altered a few lyrics to make the piece more relevant. Then I pressed 'play' on my little stereo and the show began...
But GAH! The performance was not a smooth one. Halfway through the song my mind went blank. Lyrics? What lyrics? I had a moment of panic and had no idea what came next. I had to stop and wait until I could find my place later in the song. Since I was using a karaoke accompaniment I had no way to improvise and back up.
Somehow I managed to find my place and continue the song. I hardly remember the performance now, I think I've blocked most of it from my memory. Talk about embarrassing!Following my forgetful crooning I felt horrible. Of all the times to stumble! I was so excited about performing for my sister and I went and messed it up! Thankfully, it was the best audience one could hope for. I was among friends and family and no one cared that I had forgotten a few lines. My sister was especially grateful. Even though I still regretted my brain freeze I could tell she was touched by the effort.
Now that she's married I suppose the wedding dreams are over. But that doesn't mean her planning has come to a halt. Maybe if I can find an appropriate song I can perform it at a baby shower...
Stop! In The Name of Love!
A night with my high school friends usually doesn't involve singing in any way shape or form. But one particular night in 2008 was filled with more singing and dancing than I could ever wish for.
It was one of those rare occasions where (almost) the entire high school gang was back in town and free for an evening. As per usual, we piled ourselves into Kevin's basement and prepared for an evening of beer pong and flip cup.
The usual shenanigans ensued. We all shared funny stories and gossiped about our love lives. The boys started to wrestle and pose for silly pictures. You know... like you do...
But after a few hours of our reminiscent fun we heard some noises from upstairs. It turned out Kevin's mom had a few friends over and they were playing music... very loudly.
Now, my friends and I... we're a curious bunch. And since we all love Kevin's mom we decided to ascend the stairs and see what all the hub bub was about. When we arrived in the living room we were faced with a group of 6 adults getting jiggy with it. They were playing mostly Mo-town music and they were jumping around and singing their hearts out. After the initial shocked we did what only seemed natural... we joined in.
And that was that. The rest of the night we partied with Kevin's Mom. "Stop in the Name of Love" was probably the highlight of the evening. A brief attempt at swing dancing was also rather hilarious.
It was one of those rare occasions where (almost) the entire high school gang was back in town and free for an evening. As per usual, we piled ourselves into Kevin's basement and prepared for an evening of beer pong and flip cup.
The usual shenanigans ensued. We all shared funny stories and gossiped about our love lives. The boys started to wrestle and pose for silly pictures. You know... like you do...
But after a few hours of our reminiscent fun we heard some noises from upstairs. It turned out Kevin's mom had a few friends over and they were playing music... very loudly.Now, my friends and I... we're a curious bunch. And since we all love Kevin's mom we decided to ascend the stairs and see what all the hub bub was about. When we arrived in the living room we were faced with a group of 6 adults getting jiggy with it. They were playing mostly Mo-town music and they were jumping around and singing their hearts out. After the initial shocked we did what only seemed natural... we joined in.
And that was that. The rest of the night we partied with Kevin's Mom. "Stop in the Name of Love" was probably the highlight of the evening. A brief attempt at swing dancing was also rather hilarious.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
An Addiction is Born
You haven't lived until you've played Rockband. So, apparently, the first 22 years of my life were meaningless. But one December night that all changed. I found my purpose in life... to play Rockband, and to play it well.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Rockband, here is how it works - There are four instruments; guitar, bass, drums, and mic. Okay, maybe a mic isn't "technically" an instrument, but you understand what I mean. These four instruments are hooked into a gaming system. Once Rockband loads, you create your band, using as many instruments as you like. Then, you select a song and get ready to play. The screen indicates when to push the buttons on your guitar or bang the pads on your drums, or sing into the mic.
There is an option to play in competitive mode - where you try to gather fans and you actually travel to bigger and better venues with time - but you can also just rock out without consequence.
Now that I've discovered Rockband, I'm a new woman. I've been to several Rockband parties since I discovered it a year ago and every single one simply rocks.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Rockband, here is how it works - There are four instruments; guitar, bass, drums, and mic. Okay, maybe a mic isn't "technically" an instrument, but you understand what I mean. These four instruments are hooked into a gaming system. Once Rockband loads, you create your band, using as many instruments as you like. Then, you select a song and get ready to play. The screen indicates when to push the buttons on your guitar or bang the pads on your drums, or sing into the mic.
There is an option to play in competitive mode - where you try to gather fans and you actually travel to bigger and better venues with time - but you can also just rock out without consequence.
Now that I've discovered Rockband, I'm a new woman. I've been to several Rockband parties since I discovered it a year ago and every single one simply rocks.
Do the Humpty Hump
It's amazing how the craziest of schemes are often cooked up in a bar with a good group of friends. Almost two years ago my friends Melissa and Aaron came up with an idea. An awesome idea. They decided to create a semi-professional karaoke team called, 'Team Awesome.'
'Team Awesome' began as a silly joke, but the more we thought about the idea, the more we liked it... we all enjoyed karaoking, why not make it into a sport? We started to plan team names, team numbers, t-shirts, slogans... it was silly and ridiculous and absolutely fabulous.
However, after 8 months, 'Team Awesome' had yet to attend a single karaoke spot! There were no t-shirts, our facebook group had no new postings, and we hadn't recruited any new members. It was embarrassing. Here we were, ready to challenge the world of drunk off-key singing, and we hadn't even had a practice session. It was time to get our act together and find karaoke venue.
February, 2008. It happened. A group of 7 Team Awesomers walked into a sketchy bar in Alexandria Virginia and found themselves a table at the back. It wasn't long before they got their hands on the book of karaoke tunes and started to plot...
I had the pleasure of being the first Awesomer on stage. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I grabbed Melissa and Aaron and asked them to sing backup. They obliged and joined me up on the stage. I went for a classic, "Sweet Caroline." It's always a crowd-pleaser. By the first chorus I had the crowd swaying their hands in the air and yelling "So Good! So Good!"
Kevin and Learneus brought down the house with some David Bowie tunes. Who doesn't enjoy a pair of good-looking boys singing some "Lady Stardust?"
But Aaron really stole the show. He hopped up on stage and gave the best performance of the "Humpty Dance" I have ever seen. The entire bar went wild and two random girls jumped up behind Aaron to act as backup dancers . What a show!
'Team Awesome' began as a silly joke, but the more we thought about the idea, the more we liked it... we all enjoyed karaoking, why not make it into a sport? We started to plan team names, team numbers, t-shirts, slogans... it was silly and ridiculous and absolutely fabulous.
However, after 8 months, 'Team Awesome' had yet to attend a single karaoke spot! There were no t-shirts, our facebook group had no new postings, and we hadn't recruited any new members. It was embarrassing. Here we were, ready to challenge the world of drunk off-key singing, and we hadn't even had a practice session. It was time to get our act together and find karaoke venue.
February, 2008. It happened. A group of 7 Team Awesomers walked into a sketchy bar in Alexandria Virginia and found themselves a table at the back. It wasn't long before they got their hands on the book of karaoke tunes and started to plot...
I had the pleasure of being the first Awesomer on stage. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I grabbed Melissa and Aaron and asked them to sing backup. They obliged and joined me up on the stage. I went for a classic, "Sweet Caroline." It's always a crowd-pleaser. By the first chorus I had the crowd swaying their hands in the air and yelling "So Good! So Good!"Kevin and Learneus brought down the house with some David Bowie tunes. Who doesn't enjoy a pair of good-looking boys singing some "Lady Stardust?"
But Aaron really stole the show. He hopped up on stage and gave the best performance of the "Humpty Dance" I have ever seen. The entire bar went wild and two random girls jumped up behind Aaron to act as backup dancers . What a show!
An Unexpected Concert...
My semester in Australia was coming to a close, but there was still an adventure or two to be had...
While my last few days 'down under' were filled with goodbye dinners, last-minute sight seeing and an unforgettable "Under the Sea" costume party, I still found myself with a free Wednesday night. What could be better than a trip to my favorite local bar, The Rege? I rounded up a few of my favorite Aussies and we made the familiar walk down High street.
On this particular evening The Rege had some live entertainment. Two middle-aged men with long hair and Spinal-Tap t-shirts sat on a make-shift stage. They played cover songs on their guitar - mainly oldies and classic rock. Knowing how much I love to make friends with performers, I made sure we got seats front and center. True to form, I made friends with the duo and they asked me to help select raffel tickets out of a wooden barrel. From then on, I was refered to as the "Lovely barrel girl."
Later in the night I kept trying to request songs, but they kept on insisting that if I wanted to hear a tune, I would have to sing it myself. I was reluctant... but after some insistence I agreed to sing the chorus of "Sweet Home Alabama."
While my last few days 'down under' were filled with goodbye dinners, last-minute sight seeing and an unforgettable "Under the Sea" costume party, I still found myself with a free Wednesday night. What could be better than a trip to my favorite local bar, The Rege? I rounded up a few of my favorite Aussies and we made the familiar walk down High street.
On this particular evening The Rege had some live entertainment. Two middle-aged men with long hair and Spinal-Tap t-shirts sat on a make-shift stage. They played cover songs on their guitar - mainly oldies and classic rock. Knowing how much I love to make friends with performers, I made sure we got seats front and center. True to form, I made friends with the duo and they asked me to help select raffel tickets out of a wooden barrel. From then on, I was refered to as the "Lovely barrel girl."
Later in the night I kept trying to request songs, but they kept on insisting that if I wanted to hear a tune, I would have to sing it myself. I was reluctant... but after some insistence I agreed to sing the chorus of "Sweet Home Alabama."
Well, I suppose I got a little caught up in the moment. It turned into more than the chorus. I got my own mic and just went for it. I even did a dance move or two.
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