"I was, in fact, homesick for wildness, and when I found it I knew how intimately - how resonantly - I belonged there. We are charged with this - all of us. For the human spirit has a primal allegiance to wildness, to really live, to snatch the fruit and suck it, to spill the juice." - Jay Griffiths, Wild: an Elemental Journey

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Sick Karaoke


After three days sick in bed, the night of the karaoke contest arrived.  My voice was not at its best.  The evil cold/flu monster had stolen my full range, so I called last minute and changed my song from Dixie Chicks to Etta James.  At least I could try and take advantage of the jazzy scratch in my throat, right?

I really wasn't up to doing this, but $300 was at stake for the winner!!  That's enough to fly to Hawaii!  That's enough to buy groceries for a month!  That's enough to get divorced!  

My adopted family came to support me (the amazing couch surfing hosts with whom I've been staying for a month), which was really the most fun part for me.  We all had a blast together.

My California parents

The rest of the fam. (Sorry for crappy lighting.)

I downed a hot lemon tea with a shot of whiskey before I got on stage.  I hadn't practiced at all - not that day, not that week.  I knew I probably only had one run of the song in me before my voice gave out altogether, and I wanted to save it for the only time it mattered.  But I had sung this song plenty of times before.  I'd be fine, right??

Well - there's really no way to say this humbly.  I killed it.  I owned that song like it was my frickin-frackin job.  You betta' believe I made it to the finals on February 9th.


I should totally get bonus points for standing up for that long at a time while my brain was pounding against the inside of my skull and I was about to break out into a coughing fit with every inhale.  They don't teach you that kind of stage presence in acting school.

Don't worry - I paid for it the next day.  I'm back in bed and even worse off than before.  TOTALLY WORTH IT.

7 comments:

  1. Fabulous singing, Melanie! How fun to get to see that video! I'm so sorry you are so sick. This flu seems to be getting the best of a lot of people. Rest up for Feb 9 -- if you could do this when you're this sick, I can't wait to see what you do in the finals!!! Get well!

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  2. Hi Melanie,

    Very nice. Way to go!

    If your symptoms are anything like the ones I experience when I'm sick, you hid it well. Good luck at the finals.

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    1. Thanks, Ray! I hid it for that two-minute song. Now it's back to bed for me. :)

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  3. Aloha, baby! Surf's up waiting for you to conquer it, too! ;-)
    You really rocked it girl! Wayyyy to go!!!

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