Only Just Discovered....

Fun Lovin' Criminals....

(Don't Laugh...)

Anyway...

Enjoying...

A week filled with music, Saturday

My booking agency is run by 2 people. One of them had a 40th Surprise Party.
There would be a cover band (Jewelste), and artists were asked to sing a song with that band if they wanted to. Naturally I wanted to, so I received a list with songs that they could play.
Scanning through it, I didn't know any of the songs very well.... except Valerie, and.... Britney Spears' first single....
Let's just say I had a 'Blink' moment. Instead of choosing Valerie, a song I've performed before, and I know well enough.... I chose Britney.
Later I called my other booking agent (who was organizing it) and checked what he thought of the choice. He had to speak in code, (she was in the office) but the message was clear... Green Light.
It seemed funny at the time...
Singing... 'Hit Me Baby One More Time...'
By Saturday I'd lost that feeling completely. However, I decided on a 'Melissa Etheridge' approach to the song. At work that day, I ran the idea by 2 of my colleagues.... I believe one instantly cracked up, but both had a strong air of disbelief that any approach could make that song even remotely ok...
So I want to the venue, still not quit believing I was really going to do this. As I had to work, I didn't get to soundcheck, so it was all going to be one big surprise.
I checked the setlist... I was half way down, so I used that time to loose my nerves in 2 glasses of gin-tonic.
The party was so much fun, that by the time it was my turn, I didn't care anymore. I mixed up the energy of Melissa with the vocals of Britney, without the nerves to stand in my way, and...
ripped it up.... :D
It was a total success!
Thank God for 'Blink'-moments!
The Birthday girl loved it, the audience loved it... and quit frankly, I loved it...
It was really cool!

I promised Ester (one of the disbelievers) that if I'd pull it off, I'd blog it. So here it is... :)
Now I'm gonna get some sleep...
(on vacation tomorrow, and I've still got lots to do)

A week filled with music, Friday

I got a call Friday from Kemna Casting (Casting agency for Joop v/d Ende), asking if I'd like to audition fro Hairspray in Germany.

However honored that I was called, I had to decline....

A week filled with music, Wednesday

So then Wednesday I get a call from a girlfriend who I haven't seen in ages, telling me there's 'The Hague Jazz' warm up in The Hague, and Frank McComb is playing.
Now, some people love Luther Vandross, some love Barry White, some love Marvin Gaye, some love Prince.... I love Frank McComb (Ok, I love Prince too, but you know what I mean...). He has written songs that have touched me to my core, in ways that gives me goose bumps time & time again. He moves me. I played his song when I lost my son. His voice is like a mix between Donny Hathaway & Stevie Wonder, and then that taken to another level...
Anyway,
The first time I ever saw him perform, in Paradiso, he was playing my favorite song, so here I am, in the audience, eyes closed, swaying to this song, and in the middle of his piano solo he says: "Yeah, you get your groove on girl." It didn't really register, certainly didn't think he was referring to me. But then he said, "Yeah, you with the glasses on..." So I look up, and he's actually looking at me!.... That night I went home a happy chick.
Then in Feb. 2007 I went to Java Jazz in Jakarta with 'Daughters of Soul', and I met him. ( I don't think he knew I was that same girl, though.... :-)
We were singing with Lalah Hathaway (daughter of Donny) as she was one of the Daughters, and they are friends, so I got to meet him. (I also got to chill in the hotel room of Chaka Khan!!!!!! at a sort of 'after party'.... looking back it seems like another life) anyway...
Me and Deidre, one of the backing vocalists, were both nuts about his voice, so we went to check out his rehearsal with the band, & later had a bite to eat with them, crazy...
That's 2 years ago. Now last year, I went to check his show in Amsterdam. After the show he came to the lobby and I bought the CD's I didn't have yet, & had him sign them, it kinda felt like the groupie stalking the celeb-thing, so I kept it short.

But now Wednesday, I'm here 'op t Plein' in the Hague, waiting for this show to start, and I'm chatting with my friends while waiting, and I look up, and Frank is there looking at me, like 'is that you?' Baffled that he'd spot me 'in a crowd' while he's on stage I couldn't help but grin, so he goes: "See! I knew it was you! How are you!" Still a little shocked I mumbled something, close to a "Great & you?" and then made myself as small as i could, as he continued with the set up.
Half way the show, he says to the audience: "What song do you want me to sing... 'Keep Pushing on?' Then he turns to me (I kid you not..) and asks, "What song do you want to hear?" Now, 'Keep Pushing On' was that favorite song, so naturally I said 'Keep Pushing On'...
Inwardly grinning the compete rest of the show.
After the show he even came to the 'front' and gave me and my girlfriend (who in a way looks like Deidre who he met in Jakarta, so I think he got them mixed up) a quick hug before running off again.

Once again I went home a happy chick.

A week filled with music, Tuesday

Tuesday a friend of ours popped by unexpected to show of his new motorbike. He and I are also working together on a music project, so after my hubby & he had spent some time outside admiring his Ducati he came in for a drink. (The bike is bright Red with Black & White.... As flashy as a Ferrari on 2 wheels... Pretty Cool.... Have I ever mentioned someone gave me a ride in a bright Red Ferrari? It only took about 5 minutes, but a nice memory none the less)

So even though he'd meant for it to be a short visit... we got talking about the song we're working on, came up with some new ideas... it was fun.

The great thing about it is. The style of music is, well, I guess... Trance. Not the kind of music I generally listen to, but it seems I've heard it enough to understand it & to create the vocals that fit a trance song. It's really been fun. This is the second song we're working on and it's really catchy. It's so different lyrically from my own style, that it makes me feel 'proud' that I can pull it off... Kinda like vocal-acting.

Grey Day Today...

There's something lovely about a grey day in Spring.

When you're at home all day in your PJ's, sipping a warm cup of tea & reading a book,
while you're little girl is listening to reggae music in her rocking chair &
you're hubby is taking a nap, 'cause he had a 'late night with the boys', and needs to catch up on some sleep...

Who needs the sun all day every day?
Nothing wrong with Grey ;-)

Over-Qualified

Yesterday I was part of a singing contest at the CKC in Sweet Lake City (where I follow singing lessons).

It's my first year and this is my first contest. So I signed up.

I want to improve my technique, so I try to sing songs by women that vocally intimidate me, like Christina, Whitney, Beyonce, Mariah.... 

So for this contest my teacher suggested I sing 'Beautiful'. Great song, but the bridge is killing. I did my best at the contest, hit some interesting off-key notes and at times sounded like a kettle with boiling hot water, but apart from the bridge, it went well, so I was pleased.

Today I got the call..... They kicked me out of the contest.

(They brought it as subtle as they could, and hoped I understood, which I did.... still do...)

See, before you start singing, they ask you how long have you had singing lessons (since September) and do you intend to go pro (well, more like continue what I'm doing, but work on my technique).

So after hearing me, they decided that as I was more or less pro already, I was out of balance with the other contestants....

Hmmm....

I didn't really enter to compete, I just wanted to challenge myself, so I don't mind not getting the chance to 'go to the finals'. It's a compliment really. I mean, I was worried that I wouldn't make the next level due to the awful notes I hit in the bridge....

So initially I was cool with it.

But now that I've had 2 glasses of Grappa, and watched 2 episodes of Gilmore Girls (feeling a lot more honest), I do find it a little shame.

I guess if you can't test your abilities at the school where you're trying to grow, (some kids had 5-6 years of singing lessons...) it seems the only option is to throw your face on tv and compete with people that are trying to be famous... A bit too grand scale for me, with way too many side effects that I'm not too keen on.

Guess I'll continue practicing in my classroom.

Just for the record, I hope to one day sing:

-'Listen' from Beyonce

-'You Put a move on my heart' from Tamia

-'One moment in time' from Whitney

So after 'Beautiful' that's what I'm going for.

If you have any suggestions for challenging songs, let me know.

I'll diligently and silently work on them in my classroom.

Kind regards,

A somewhat sad Nyjolene...

(Time for 3rd episode of Gilmore Girls.... then 'bed'... need to be on time for work tomorrow)

A month later...

.... never did mention if the bread was good.
(It was!!!!)
I didn't make 6 loves, just 2, and it was really good.
Really filling too.

It was my intention to repeat this bread-making success last Sunday at Billekens-Fennema Residence, as I had been informed that there's a pretty good bread baker there.
But when I got to the Hague (don't ask how, the trip was disastrous), and had settled a little (changed diaper, fed hungry baby and had a cup of tea), we decided that a stroll to the private Billekens-Fennema Garden Complex was a better idea.
(Why bake bread when you can relax in the sun & watch friends plant carrots & onions & clean out weed & such).
It was perfect. The garden is bigger than I imagined, and filled with all kind of plants & flowers & strawberries to be (wild & tamed). There was even a plant that smelt like Maggie (the weirdest, never heard of it before).
There's still lots to be planted & maintained & grown, but it looks 'lived in'. Like a home you've just moved into, you're still working on, but already feels cozy.
We (Deyora & I) enjoyed watching them (Bart, SophieB & Liels) work away while we sat in the shade, humming & relaxing.

As much as I'd like to bake bread there one day, I really look forward to spending an afternoon in their garden again.