Monday, September 19, 2005

vocal showboating

so last week at the office i overheard some coworkers talking. there was a story in the newspaper about the ridiculously long line of contestants aspiring to make the cut at the American Idol tryouts. one woman started asking people who walked by which song they would choose to sing as a competitor.

one guy my age said 'old man river.' the woman sort of scoffed at that and thought it silly that he'd pick such a dated song. but dude has a thick baritone speaking voice, it seemed a natural choice. he followed that up by saying he doesn't really sing. yeah, sure he doesn't -- he just had an answer ready? check his back pocket for the sheet music. regardless, it was smart move; you never want to arm a coworker with the idea that you sing (very bad in cases of christmas parties, especially). everyone else said they had no idea. smart answers, but also LIES. c'mon, people. i refuse to believe that even those who claim inability to carry a tune can't come up with something. then again, i even sing along with commercials. bad ones. and let's not even get started on my rap-along skills ('mumblemumblemumble, uh, um... WOW HOW NOW, WOWHOWNOWBROWNCOW!')

god bless those who put up with me.

the first thing that came to mind for me was that old standby, 'killing me softly' in the style of lauryn hill. i love that one. and my heart leaps at stevie wonder's 'if you really love me.' mariah carey's always fun, too, but i can't always hang with accuracy on the superdupermelismas, so i probably would have to go with something much more straightforward, karen carpenter-style, like 'merry christmas darling' or 'superstar,' but ole boy rueben already covered that one. then there's pretty much anything by sarah mclachlan or la oreja de van gogh and hundreds others i adore bellowing along to.

the more i thought about it, the more reality started to settle in -- i pretty much should keep the singing to small enclosed spaces like cars and showers. but hey, the brainstorming made dungeon duty move along a little more quicky.

14 comments:

Lia said...

Y'know, I do sing (although my brothers tell me I shouldn't), but I don't think I would know offhand what song I would sing in an audition - you have to think about what you sound good singing. like the baritone with omr. lots of fun songs don't make you sound good, and american idol is only about sounding good, not about having fun.

Unknown said...

yeah- Audio post!!!! yeeeahh!

you know what i would sing?....


SHAKIRA! and shake my bootey too!
hehehe

...donde estas corazooooon....

cadiz12 said...

yeah, it's definitely not about fun. shakira's 'moscas en la casa' was always my favorite.

i'm not sure about the audio post. the Internet really isn't very small and enclosed.

MEP said...

I love signing along to songs in the car and Mariah is one of my favorites to belt. I also have to admit that I like Celine Dion and Faith Hill because they are fun to sing along with.

omar said...

Cadiz, you mentioning Tribe lyrics is what makes me love this place.

I go old school when I sing, with some Al Green, Jackson 5, and the occasional Marvin Gaye.

"check his back pocket for the sheet music." That's hilarious!

glo said...

One place I guarantee you'll never find me is at the American Idol tryouts.

But if I had to, I'd sing "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" by Monty Python. Reason? If they're gonna laugh, at least be able to blame the song.

Mike said...

Haha, Monty Python! Good call!

I got dibs on the lumberjack song!

jazz said...

i often think of the perfect american idol song...

i still haven't thought of it...

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I don't care what is playing, I sing out loud.

Anonymous said...

i still think bathroom 'n car are still my best bet :D

lucasjackson7 said...

since i dearly love the beatles, i've been singing their songs for years in the car and bathroom.

but i don't think anything is a match for memorizing the lyrics to ll cool j's "the boomin' system" in the seventh grade. i'd need a drum machine, lots of dry ice, and some sweet adidas getup.

Lia said...

go beatles!

highcontrast said...

If I could get by without slaughtering Portuguese, Desafinado.

Syar said...

I'd probably sing an NSYNC oldie. cause I remember them best. like, I drive myself crazy, even though I have neither the balls nor vocal ability to pull anything off because I am, I think, tone deaf. maybe if they came up with shower singer idol.