Singing the Blues, "Improv Style"!
This is actually from the #freewrite prompt "Sound Check" from today...
So my daughter @abyni likes to go to open mic nights. I love to sing as well, but since I can't play an instrument, I couldn't think of a way to participate for a while. Only original music/material was allowed and I had nothing to do unless I wanted to do it acapella.
Well, the weeks went by and every week I had more and more of a desire to really get up there and SING. Performing is in my blood and I was becoming more desperate to think of something I could do as well. I could have learned the ukulele well enought o perform something, but no... I went to an entirely different place.
I asked the house band if they would participate with my crazy idea. Keep in mind that I know nothing about the techincal side of music. I can sing and carry a tune... but I know nothing about anything else. So, one week I went to the band leader guy and said, "Hey, would you guys mind playing some of the bluesy sounding stuff that you play before Open Mic starts so I could sing something?"
He said, "Sure, what kind of blues?"
"I don't know... something slow-ish?"
He looked a bit confused, "Okay... like 12 bar blues?" (I think that's what he said)
I said, "Um, sure! I just need some music and then I'll make up words and sing something..."
He was all for it, although I could tell he thought I might be just a little bit crazy. He asked the other band members and they asked what key... I said "I don't have any idea. Just what you usually play?"
When I say I know nothing about music, I really mean it!
Anyway, my turn finally came and I asked the crowd what I should sing about. Someone said "YOUR EX" and I thought they said "SEX" so I just said, "Well, my 16 year old daughter is here, so I don't think she'd like me to sing about that, but I will sing about what happened BECAUSE of sex!"
The band was doing a bit of a sound check and I didn't know what to sing for it, so I just kind of did a random few sounds and "sang" my name...
And then I sang this slightly rambling improv, totally unplanned song about each of my kids.
IT WAS SO MUCH FREAKING FUN!!! I did it a couple of times before school started for my daughter and we stopped going for Open Mic. I need to get back to it!
I like a lady who grabs life by the sac and does what she wants! Way to go @byn.
This might just be the best compliment/comment I've seen! :) Thank you! <3
oh u got a good music i like the blues tooo
Live life, have fun and heal souls with songs. @byn
“I’ll sing about something that happened because of sex.” Hahaha I think that would be enough to weird me out if my mom said it on stage, but we are an easily wigged out awkward family! Great story!
Waiting for your rap!
Hahahaha... my family is SO not awkward about that stuff. We're way to open about all of it and have always talked about pretty much ANY topic openly.
Thank you and the rap will be forthcoming soon!
That’s amazing! I will try to be like that when I have kids. No fun being awkward! Awaiting your rap!
That took a lot of guts and not a little bit of raw talent! I had no idea that you were so young lol, I guess I feel like everyone should be close to my age 😎
I really enjoyed this @byn, I wish the sound was a little better because I couldn't hear everything, but I liked what I did hear. I need to follow your daughter on Steemit also so that I can listen to her sing sometime, maybe you can do a mother-daughter song together sometime. 🙂
Well I thought you were my age, too! I'm not so young, so it's nice to hear that someone thinks of me as being young :)
(I'm 46, btw)
@abyni and I are often saying we'd like to sing together. We've actually written a song that we need to record. I'll get on her about that!
Thank you so much :)
60 here. BTW, the closer you get to my age the younger you look. 😉
Well, awesome! Maybe I will look younger than my children someday, then! :)
It's funny how we assume people's ages online (or in person, I think I'm even worse at guessing peoples' ages in person!!!)
Well, looking at the photo I would have guessed 25-26 for you and 18-19 for you sister. lol 😮
Holy freaking shit @byn! I am in awe and inspired by this!
You were fan-fucking-tastic and more than that I could see how much fun you were having. And what an awesome mom to be able to just belt out such a fantastic song about your kiddos :)
Thank you for this. It made my day <3
I'm glad you liked it! :) Thanks for the awesome compliment!
Byn, not only is freewrite awesome... You're singing and doing it impromptu is amazing... I can't imagine having the courage to get up and just create a song with a tune I don't even know! Congratulations! Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you! I kinda have no fear when it comes to performing. Now asking me to make a phone call or go introduce myself to someone in person? NOOOOOO way!!! I'm weird that way. Anything is fine as long as I'm on 'stage' :)
I like the way you roll Lady!!! You also seem to have grown 2 flowers with 1 seed with your Freewrite and your Improv Blues...Oh Ya!! :)
I like to feel super productive, so I kinda cheated by getting two things done in one post! Thank you!!!
That's super cool, loved the story and if I just saw a video I would have no idea you consider yourself non-musical as your singing kicked ass, but most importantly was genuine and heartfelt :) Thanks for sharing!
I can sing, but I just have ZERO knowledge about anything else. I have always felt really intimidated by those who are more educated musically. That was probably my biggest challenge, being willing to approach the band and ask them to play something for me, knowing that I would have no idea what lingo to use! Thanks for stopping by and listening !!!
Well that's what happens when you stepped out of your comfort zone - magical moment!
And I can definitely relate, as for the longest time I have hard time considering myself a musician, because I don't have any sort of formal education in it, but if you think about it, no one can really tell you otherwise and music is a very subjective thing, it is first and foremost a form of expression, and that is however you wanna define it. I do agree that having a common lingo helps to talk to musicians, but as far as your ways of showing your musicality - that part no one can take away from you :)
energized, enjoyable.
Thank you! :)