Hands you a tissue and gives you a hug. Every time I watch that video I still cry. Her courage in the face of her own fear, the way the other performers supported her (love the guy in the back), and the way the whole room came alive as she let go and SANG still astonish me. "We are so much better when we can see and support one another's gifts.
One quick question. Were you interested at all in reading the piece that followed? I am asking because if not (and that's okay) I am not going to put as much effort into writing about the subject I've chosen for each week. Is it better to keep words to a minimum and just let the music work its magic?
E.Jean, Molly, Dan and anyone else weighing in, please share your thoughts about this as well. Thank you!
Thank you E. Jean. I am so used to having others tell me what and how to write that I am like a kid turned loose in a candy store. I can try this, change that, make it long, short, post lyrics or not, include other's opinions. It's great. Oh, and FUN!
Jena, thank you for the hug and tissue! Frankly I was so deeply moved by the first piece which was like watching an ugly duckling turn into a full blown swan with all the other swans in the lake gathering around her with love as she transforms that I confess I could not move into any other music or story at that time. I wanted to solely savor that moment. You really picked an incredibly profound musical genius moment to start. 💗🙇♀️
I think so...but it is your substack so do whatever is comfortable for YOU and the rest of us will simply cry, blubber, laugh, profoundly think or sing along! Do whatever You want! You may start to see trends too. Like one piece over riding the other which is fine too. What moved me deeply today may not move another as much. So just do whatever the hell you want and the rest of us will go on the joy ride with you happily. At least I will! 💗
No no no, don't worry. I take full responsibility for my own changes, errors, and experimentation. I just deleted the other half of the post and am moving to day two. Thank you again! Love the idea of joyrides. That's exactly what I intended ;-)
In my ( very very humble opinion) I think having one piece at a time in which to fully digest and experience is good. Otherwise it becomes a sensory overload and the lesser of the profound pieces gets lost. It doesn't mean the second piece is not profound. But the first one was so deeply moving that for at least me watching it and bawling through the transformation made everything else after a soft wispy nothing. I sang in choirs all my life...sang in a Norwegian choir with Norwegians who taught me how to pronounce phonetically since I don't speak the language, was in high school musicals, was in my own little band singing my own little songs and suffered through piano and trombone lessons....music resonates in my marrow. This is going to be so wonderful! Thank you for doing this..it is such an original idea and a balm for my soul. 🤗😍💗
Thank you Jennifer! This is JUST the feedback I was looking for, and E. Jean advised me to experiment and be prepared to adjust. Since there are so few of you I think I will move most of this first post to the second day. I hope you don't mind. There will be a second song, but nothing quite as compelling as "This Is Me."
A Norweigian choir?! how cool is that? Tell me more? Is there anywhere i can listen?
The Norwegian Choir was conducted by a dear friend who went to Juilliard and did it for fun. It was all aged Norwegians and me. We sang our songs in a Norwegian Luthern Church once a month then afterwards had coffee klatch with delicious Norwegian nibbles afterwards. This is where my addiction to Norwegian Geitost cheese started. Sadly, everyone in the choir is gone now. They were all much older than me. I have only two recordings of myself singing several of the hyms Acapella. I miss them all so much. They were all so wonderfully kind and adorable and utterly sweet. I was lucky to sing and be with them all.
Thank you E. Jean. If I am honest it chose me. I first heard it more than three years ago and have been listening to it regularly ever since. It is a wonderful reminder that there is no such thing as "normal" and we each have a unique and precious part to play in this world.
You can see in Keala's face what it took to overcome her own self-doubt and fears. The world may say it doesn't want our "broken parts," but as Leonard Cohen said, "There's a crack in everything. It's how the light gets in."
Welcome home Molly! I hope the move wasn't too strenuous and that you settle in quickly.
Your description of how the song affected you is terrific. There is nothing polished or balanced about Keala's performance. It is raw and painful and at times embarrassing to watch and for that reason I cherish it. I don't know why the world only wants to see finished things. To me, the process is beautiful too (elementary school kids taught me that) and I often learn a lot more from that process than the finished piece. And, like you, I LOVED the other performers. They were there for her, throwing their hearts, souls, and talent behind her. When she concurred her fear they celebrated too! It was a perfect reminder that no one really succeeds alone ;-)
I created this Substack was so I could have conversations like these about music and the creative process. So question, comment, and suggest away. Hugs!
Hi Molly! Congratulations on the move (I think). When you are ready we will welcome you with open arms of course :-) Can't wait to hear your thoughts and stories. Hugs!
I would comment but I am still crying. That was a beautiful transformation. And now I must go blow my nose.
Hands you a tissue and gives you a hug. Every time I watch that video I still cry. Her courage in the face of her own fear, the way the other performers supported her (love the guy in the back), and the way the whole room came alive as she let go and SANG still astonish me. "We are so much better when we can see and support one another's gifts.
One quick question. Were you interested at all in reading the piece that followed? I am asking because if not (and that's okay) I am not going to put as much effort into writing about the subject I've chosen for each week. Is it better to keep words to a minimum and just let the music work its magic?
E.Jean, Molly, Dan and anyone else weighing in, please share your thoughts about this as well. Thank you!
Jena! You will experiment, week to week----long, short, ten-second cuts from songs, publishing lyrics, etc., etc. You are a very creative woman!
Thank you E. Jean. I am so used to having others tell me what and how to write that I am like a kid turned loose in a candy store. I can try this, change that, make it long, short, post lyrics or not, include other's opinions. It's great. Oh, and FUN!
Jena, thank you for the hug and tissue! Frankly I was so deeply moved by the first piece which was like watching an ugly duckling turn into a full blown swan with all the other swans in the lake gathering around her with love as she transforms that I confess I could not move into any other music or story at that time. I wanted to solely savor that moment. You really picked an incredibly profound musical genius moment to start. 💗🙇♀️
Hmmmmm....so maybe move the story to day two and let the first song stand on its own?
I think so...but it is your substack so do whatever is comfortable for YOU and the rest of us will simply cry, blubber, laugh, profoundly think or sing along! Do whatever You want! You may start to see trends too. Like one piece over riding the other which is fine too. What moved me deeply today may not move another as much. So just do whatever the hell you want and the rest of us will go on the joy ride with you happily. At least I will! 💗
No no no, don't worry. I take full responsibility for my own changes, errors, and experimentation. I just deleted the other half of the post and am moving to day two. Thank you again! Love the idea of joyrides. That's exactly what I intended ;-)
In my ( very very humble opinion) I think having one piece at a time in which to fully digest and experience is good. Otherwise it becomes a sensory overload and the lesser of the profound pieces gets lost. It doesn't mean the second piece is not profound. But the first one was so deeply moving that for at least me watching it and bawling through the transformation made everything else after a soft wispy nothing. I sang in choirs all my life...sang in a Norwegian choir with Norwegians who taught me how to pronounce phonetically since I don't speak the language, was in high school musicals, was in my own little band singing my own little songs and suffered through piano and trombone lessons....music resonates in my marrow. This is going to be so wonderful! Thank you for doing this..it is such an original idea and a balm for my soul. 🤗😍💗
Thank you Jennifer! This is JUST the feedback I was looking for, and E. Jean advised me to experiment and be prepared to adjust. Since there are so few of you I think I will move most of this first post to the second day. I hope you don't mind. There will be a second song, but nothing quite as compelling as "This Is Me."
A Norweigian choir?! how cool is that? Tell me more? Is there anywhere i can listen?
The Norwegian Choir was conducted by a dear friend who went to Juilliard and did it for fun. It was all aged Norwegians and me. We sang our songs in a Norwegian Luthern Church once a month then afterwards had coffee klatch with delicious Norwegian nibbles afterwards. This is where my addiction to Norwegian Geitost cheese started. Sadly, everyone in the choir is gone now. They were all much older than me. I have only two recordings of myself singing several of the hyms Acapella. I miss them all so much. They were all so wonderfully kind and adorable and utterly sweet. I was lucky to sing and be with them all.
You read my mind. See my reply to your earlier post. I think that is smart. Let the music do the talking on day one. Hugs!
🤗🤗🤗
Jena! What a splendid, splendid song to begin your (soon to be famous) Substack! Congratulations on chosing the perfect song!!
Thank you E. Jean. If I am honest it chose me. I first heard it more than three years ago and have been listening to it regularly ever since. It is a wonderful reminder that there is no such thing as "normal" and we each have a unique and precious part to play in this world.
You can see in Keala's face what it took to overcome her own self-doubt and fears. The world may say it doesn't want our "broken parts," but as Leonard Cohen said, "There's a crack in everything. It's how the light gets in."
Hugs!
Great Leonard Cohen line, Jena!
It was pure electricity! Those moments do not occur often. So glad it was caught on film.
Oh YES!
Welcome home Molly! I hope the move wasn't too strenuous and that you settle in quickly.
Your description of how the song affected you is terrific. There is nothing polished or balanced about Keala's performance. It is raw and painful and at times embarrassing to watch and for that reason I cherish it. I don't know why the world only wants to see finished things. To me, the process is beautiful too (elementary school kids taught me that) and I often learn a lot more from that process than the finished piece. And, like you, I LOVED the other performers. They were there for her, throwing their hearts, souls, and talent behind her. When she concurred her fear they celebrated too! It was a perfect reminder that no one really succeeds alone ;-)
I created this Substack was so I could have conversations like these about music and the creative process. So question, comment, and suggest away. Hugs!
Hi Molly! Congratulations on the move (I think). When you are ready we will welcome you with open arms of course :-) Can't wait to hear your thoughts and stories. Hugs!