Sunday, December 10, 2006

Sing for the Laughter and Sing for the Tears

I'm totally exhausted. My friend S. just took off and now I need a a day or two to recover from my weekend. I've always been a big fan of the blending of sweet and salty and this weekend was a perfect combination of the two. We partook in plenty of the fun/cheesy holiday fare and then washed it down with a trip to the Picador, (the bar formerly known as Gabes) to see my friend Ed Gray play music and drink some PBR. How classy is that?

Saturday afternoon, S. and I attended Coadster's show choir performance and it turned out to be quite a spectacle. It wasn't just the choirs performing, it was a whole winter music celebration. There was a jazz band, skit introductions and some of the upper classmen sang songs with assorted forms of accompaniment. For the most part, is was a big cheese fest, but if you ever have to witness a cheese fest, make sure you bring my friend S. with you.

She was a perfect, private announcer. When one of the girls came clumsily, tromping, tripping and almost falling on her face across the stage, S. leaned over to me and whispered, "New shoes". And after two sisters sat on stools and did a duet of the song "Believe" from the movie, The Polar Express, (a film I've only been able to watch once, because an animated Steven Tyler is scarier than any clown, as far as I'm concerned) S. said, "I've never had a sister or anything, but if I did, I can't imagine I'd be too comfortable gazing into her eyes and then holding her hand in front of all my high school peers." I was forced to concur.

Once Coadster's show choir took the stage, we both quietly watched the performance. I got a little sappy and teary eyed (which S. totally called me on) after Coadster nailed her solo in the second song.

Afterward, Coadster was kind enough to wave her happy hands so I could take action shots while she was still in costume. I think it's important to capture the full effect of the sequined, turquoisey, goodness.

I promise that after this, I'll give the show choir posts a rest. I understand that not everyone is as amused by the concept of competive show choir as I am. But if you had to see Aerosmith's, "Dream On" performed by a bunch of Iowa teenagers copiously flashing jazz hands, you might just feel the need to vent about it too.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

'Jazz hands' Yes! You can never go wrong with Jazz hands. Made me remember my old high school swing choir days. Sound like a great mom weekend.

Churlita said...

Bice,

It was a great mom weekend and every other kind of weekend. I still call it swing choir too, but now they go by show choir. I'm not sure what the difference is.

rel said...

Churlita,
You can show off you motherlyness as often as you would like. I've been a singer/actor (amateur of course) since highschool. My kids were all in singing group. I could show you pictures! No Shame in showing how proud you are of Your kids accomplishments.
rel

Anonymous said...

love the sequiny-goodness!

Churlita said...

Rel,

I would love to see your pictures. My ex-husband is a musical theater actor, so my girls have pretty much grow up on stage. I wish I had the confidence they do to get up and perform in front of people.

Margaret,

Isn't it a riot?

booda baby said...

Ooh, what a fun shot!

How could you NOT got teary eyed? Hell, I'm proud of your girls and I don't even know you! Can't help it, not interested in helping it - I get all proud of anyone who does and feels and gets crazy with everything that's available. They don't call the tragically hip 'tragic' for nothing.

That's what I think on this lovely Monday morning and dammit, I'm sticking with it.

Churlita said...

Booda Baby,

Awesome. I feel the same way about people. I've never understood people who were too cool to show emotion or act like a dork.

Brando said...

I imagine Sweet Emotion or Love in an Elevator wouldn't be acceptable. Although the comedy meter would be broken if you added jazz hands to those.

Churlita said...

Brando,

Yeah, I think you'd have to be very careful using jazz hands for Sweet Emotion or Love in an Elevator. It could be exremely offensive - and that's what would make it funny.

Churlita said...

Neil,

It was actually really fun. You just have to sift through the cheese a little.

Anonymous said...

Oh, c’mon. Copious flashing of jazz hands is cute no matter what song is being sung. Admit it.

Churlita said...

Um, well...Mostly, yes. Dancing On the Ceiling can be a little tricky sometimes, though.

Jane said...

Did they do "Pinball Wizard" too??

Churlita said...

Jane,

It was the other high school in town that's doing Pinball Wizard. Hopefully, I'll never have to see that performed again.