BS: Never too old to start

Subject: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:23 PM

My partner surprised me recently when I asked her whay she'd like for her forthcoming 43rd birthday.
SINGING LESSONS?
In all the time we've been together I'd never realised that she felt she lacked the confidence to sing.
She doesn't harbour any desire to be a "performer"(I don't think) but would like to feel more able to join in during the more informal get-togethers. I'm no singer myself but I've always been able to carry a tune without being too cringe-making and I've never considered how difficult it must be for some people who, either through lack of ability or more often just lack of confidence, don't feel able to sing unless they're alone in the shower.
I should add that my partner, Julie, is in every other respect a very confident and out-going person and through her work is required to do a fair amount of public speaking and presentations, which is why I was so surprised that she'd felt uncomfortable when it came to singing.
I'm hoping that, come Christmas, when we have a big family gathering, which usually ends in a sing-song, that Julie will sing a duet with me with her new-found(hopefully) singing voice.
Any suggestions for her debut?
We'll both (no doubt) be going on a diet soon after and I'm tempted to write a spoof of the "Something Stupid" song, along the lines...
"and then I go and spoil it all
by eating something stupid like a ...."
Any other suggestions gratefully received.
C-flat

P.S.I wonder if singing lessons would help with public speaking? Maybe help her career too!

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:29 PM

Go for it, Julie! Singing is such a joy, and singing WITH someone is even better!:-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:49 PM

Bound to help, projection, sustain and phrasing - all good for public speaking.

I'm afraid you've started something with the song too.... I've been squirrelling it all day and it's now mutated into

And then I had to go and spoil it all
by eating something stupid like a doughnut.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 05:25 PM

Oh, I'd say for certain will help with all the above! It is a ton of fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 05:36 PM

i like doughnuts, if you go to MOrisons you can get 10 for 50p, if you wait till they are nearly closing on saturdats you can get some bread for only 10p.john

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 11:31 PM

Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Mudlark
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 01:14 AM

Singing is such a joy I'll bet once she starts she wont want to stop! What a lovely present.

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 01:56 AM

Congratulations! That's wonderful!

You asked for suggestions. What kinds of songs do you both like? Does it need to be Christmasy? Does she have favourites that you both might work up?

Have fun!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 06:56 AM

Hey, C: Howzabout Jackson? The old Johnny and June Carter Cash hit? I bet it would sound great with English accents... :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Hollowfox
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 09:09 AM

As an added bonus...it's a gift she wants.

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 01:27 PM

Jerry, the very thought of Julie and I doing a "Johnny and June Cash" creases me up!
Kat, as far as musical tastes goes, we're both pretty broad, although Julie has a love of anything "Elton". I might have the figure to "do an Elton" but I'm not sure it's really me!
I trying to go through the hundreds of songs I've learned over the years (never bothered to write them down) to come up with something with a nice easy dual melody line.(maybe that should read DUEL melody line?!)

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 02:14 PM

Singing lessons will definitely help with things like public speaking. A little side-benefit of the lessons I took was that, later on, I worked for eight years as a radio announcer and newscaster. I don't see how learning good voice production and crisp diction has any down-side. Go for it!!!!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 02:56 PM

Thanks to all for the positive comments,
I've done a little work on the "Something Stupid" spoof,

I look at my waistline and I know that it's a sign
of advancing years,
and when I try new pants then I know that there's a chance
it will end in tears,
So I promise to begin by throwing out the biscuit tin
and make a brand new start,
but then I go and spoil it all by eating something stupid
like a treacle tart,

(Middle)
You can see it in my eyes that the sight of those mince pies will make me salivate,
and though it's just a pie to you, to me it's something I can't have upon my plate,

I struggle every day to shed the pounds that I have gained
since I took up with you,
but when it's very late I creep downstairs and feed my face
with crisps and greasy food,
the time is now, my mind is set, I will be thin and lovely,in a month or two,
but then I go and spoil it all by eating something stupid
like a vindaloo,

It needs a bit of work yet but I'm starting to feel hungry so I'll have to come back to it later,
C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 03:28 PM

Who wrote "Something Stupid"?

Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 03:33 PM

It's credited to Carson Parks.

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 03:34 PM

Something Stupid was written by C. Carson Parks and recorded by Frank and Nancy Sinatra

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 03:37 PM

Her's a bit more info on C.Carson Parks

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 05:51 PM

Carson wrote plenty of songs apart from Something Stupid but, looking through the site, I can't remember any of these other tunes. Were any of these big hits? Maybe they were only hits in the U.S.?

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: C-flat
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 04:54 PM

To update this old thread I thought I'd let you know how much Julie is enjoying her singing lessons.
While still not confident enough for public singing, (which was never the object of the lessons anyway), Julies' voice is developing remarkably and, more importantly, she is absolutely hooked on singing!
She is positively glowing after her lessons and recently remarked "It's like having a blood transfusion and half a bottle of champagne!"
Her job as a local government officer can, at times, be very stressful and the lessons are a great outlet for all that anxiety, giving her the opportunity to let off steam.
If anyone out there is considering taking lessons or looking for a "different" gift to give, this is a winner!

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: leprechaun
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 12:31 PM

This thread looks like it's about music. How dare you label it BS! We'll have to hang you by your toenails.

I love the Something Stupid spoof.

Wish I could sing.

Subject: RE: BS: Never too old to start
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 01:38 PM

ELton? Why not learn to do a duet of "Candle in the Wind"?


A